Black Box World (LIII)

The principle applies similarly to the ear hearing sounds, the nose smelling scents, the tongue tasting flavors, and the body sensing touches. Thus, the Diamond Sutra states: "All phenomena are illusory." All forms we recognize, discriminate, and perceive are false appearances—reflections manifested for us by the Tathagatagarbha. Like a mirror, the Tathagatagarbha, upon contact with the external six dusts (objects of sense), can produce reflections identical to those external six dusts; these reflections are the internal six dusts. Only when we truly realize that all phenomena are reflections, all are false appearances, can the mind's clinging nature diminish. Afflictions then become attenuated, and we cease to be overly concerned with gains, losses, or benefits. The mind can thus become tranquil. Thereafter, when the six sense faculties again contact the six dusts, the discriminating mind no longer gives rise to defiled afflictions, and gradually the mind attains purity. Therefore, purity refers to the purity of the mind, not the purity of the sense faculties. The sense faculties lack the nature of discrimination; the mind possesses it. When the mind discriminates, it carries with it mental activities that are either pure or impure.