The Black Box World (Part 51)

All phenomena in the mundane world are illusory appearances manifested by the Tathagatagarbha. Yet, these illusory appearances possess their own functions. Skillfully utilizing these phenomena leads to the attainment of true and genuine Bodhi. We cannot dismiss all illusory appearances simply because they are illusory. Leaving aside whether we even possess the capability to eradicate these illusions, if all illusory appearances were eliminated, how could the true reality of Bodhi manifest its path? Bodhisattvas should cultivate the skill to utilize illusory appearances to perfect all merits, transforming the defiled into the beautiful, the evil into the pure. Some feel dissatisfied with the mundane dharmas, finding their living environment severely obstructing them, and thus wish to abandon and eradicate all mundane phenomena to attain purity. However, these mundane dharmas correspond to one's own karmic seeds. Only by transforming one's karma and changing one's mind can everything surrounding oneself become agreeable and satisfactory.

When cultivation reaches a certain level, mundane dharmas will no longer obstruct or affect oneself. The mind gradually becomes free from the bondage of these illusory appearances. Through effective practice, we can also transform these illusory aspects of the six dusts, turning evil into good, ugliness into beauty, the undesirable into the desirable. When the mind changes, both the internal and external aspects simultaneously transform. Because the mind-ground changes, the karmic seeds change, and the aspects can then change accordingly. The internal and external aspects of the six dusts are entirely transformable. As long as mental power is sufficient, turning stone into gold is not difficult. Great Bodhisattvas with deep samadhi can perform countless transformations, turning the earth into gold or lapis lazuli. Even Eighth Ground Bodhisattvas can manifest the three thousand great thousand worlds to benefit and bring joy to sentient beings. Cultivating until the mind's capacity is vast and mental power is strong allows one to alter the proportional structure of the four great elements (earth, water, fire, wind). When the proportions of the four elements change, the structure of matter changes; when the structure changes, the properties of matter change. Thus, white snow can be transformed into white sugar, dust can become gold powder. Upon reaching a certain stage in cultivation, transforming the internal and external aspects of all dharmas is not difficult.