III. Question: After visualizing the lotus for a long time, it appears without actively thinking about it. Is this the image-only dharmas formed by the grasping of the solitary consciousness?

Answer: Image-only dharmas are not form included within the mental sphere, nor are they mental objects arising from the five sense objects; they are unrelated to the five sense objects, yet they are still form composed of the four elements. The lotus can appear in the mind because the manas (mind-root) has stirred and grasped at it, and the consciousness has also recollected and imagined it. Otherwise, the image-only lotus could not appear. Whether image-only dharmas appear depends on the manas and is controlled by it. If the manas wants it to appear, it appears; if it wants to extinguish it, it is extinguished. Consciousness, directed by the manas, also visualizes and recollects the lotus; otherwise, the image-only lotus could not manifest. However, with deep concentration and profound practice of visualization, image-only dharmas can manifest according to one's will. Consciousness does not need to exert much effort; the manas, through recollection, can grasp the seeds from the tathagatagarbha and bring them forth.