The Cooperation of Eye-Consciousness, Manas, and Mind-Consciousness in Perceiving Visible Forms

Eye consciousness perceives visible forms, such as blue, yellow, red, white, light, darkness, clouds, smoke, mist, and void. Light itself is a material substance, composed of the four great elements, undergoing momentary production, cessation, and change; it is illusory.

Eye consciousness inherently possesses the mental factor of volition (cetanā). Upon receiving the form object, it cognizes the form object and then gives rise to the mental factor of volition, determining the action to be taken—whether to avoid it or gaze longer. Eye consciousness operates simultaneously and in close coordination with the manas (seventh consciousness) and the sixth consciousness (mano-vijñāna). Without the attention (manasikāra) and volition (cetanā) of manas, neither eye consciousness nor the sixth consciousness would arise or engage in discernment; consequently, the five universal mental factors (pañcaviṣayāḥ) of eye consciousness and the five universal mental factors of the sixth consciousness would also be absent. Eye consciousness perceives forms; the seventh consciousness (manas) cannot perceive forms. The sixth consciousness analyzes, reasons, and judges; the seventh consciousness cannot perform these functions. All seven consciousnesses possess the nature of discrimination (vikalpa); it is precisely because consciousness discerns and differentiates that it is called "consciousness" (vijñāna); without which, it would not be called consciousness.