Seventeen. Question: Some say that dharma objects arise solely within the subtle sense organs, and after the mental faculty contacts them, consciousness arises to cognize these dharma objects. Is this the case?

Answer: The dharma objects within the subtle sense organs are transmitted simultaneously with the five external sense objects through the five physical sense faculties into the subtle sense organs, becoming the six internal sense objects. These are provided for the mental faculty to contact and are also simultaneously cognized by the six consciousnesses. The internal dharma objects do not arise solely within the subtle sense organs. If that were the case, dharma objects would bear no relation to the five sense objects. Dharma objects arising solely would seem abrupt, lacking basis, somewhat fabricated, and unable to reveal the nature and essence of the five sense objects. The five concomitant consciousnesses would also lack a close relationship with the five sensory consciousnesses.

After the five concomitant consciousnesses cognize the dharma objects, make decisions, and judgments, they convey information to the mental faculty. The information about the five sense objects cognized by the five sensory consciousnesses is also conveyed to the mental faculty together with consciousness, because the mental faculty is also the co-existent basis for the arising of the five sensory consciousnesses. Only when the mental faculty decides to cognize and process the five sense objects can the five sensory consciousnesses arise. Therefore, the actions and functions of the five sensory consciousnesses are directed by the mental faculty, accountable to it, and serve as references for it.

The five sense objects and dharma objects combine to form the complete six-object realm of form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and dharma. The five sensory consciousnesses cognize and process the relatively coarse aspects of the six objects, while consciousness cognizes and processes the more subtle aspects. The combined coarse and subtle information is conveyed to the mental faculty, which simultaneously receives information about both coarse and subtle dharmas. Through its own independent deliberation, it makes its own judgments and decisions regarding the six objects as a whole.

For example, when going to a store to buy clothes and seeing garments of various colors, the mental faculty will choose a color that suits oneself. The eye consciousness and consciousness will simultaneously cognize the clothes. The eye consciousness only cognizes the color, while consciousness cognizes the dharma objects beyond color, including the style, material, and essence of the clothes. After the information about the form object and dharma objects is conveyed to the mental faculty, the mental faculty considers the color, style, and material. It then directs consciousness to separately analyze and judge which color, such as red or black, is more suitable, and which style is more appropriate. This falls within the scope of isolated consciousness. The isolated consciousness then imagines the effect of wearing the clothes and conveys the result of this imagination and analysis to the mental faculty. The mental faculty again deliberates and judges, making its own decision. Finally, the several consciousnesses function together to purchase the clothes that satisfy the mental faculty, completing the service of the six consciousnesses to the mental faculty.

The manifest color aspect that constitutes the overall clothing is the form object cognized by the eye consciousness. All parts beyond color, including the shape, apparent form, and non-manifest form, are the dharma objects cognized by consciousness. These two combine to form a single garment. When the clothes are produced and manufactured, the form object and dharma objects coexist simultaneously. When each person cognizes them, the form object and dharma objects are simultaneously transmitted through the five physical sense faculties into their own subtle sense organs, forming the internal form object and internal dharma objects, provided for the eye consciousness and consciousness to cognize separately. It is not that when clothes are produced, only color exists without the dharma objects such as style, material, length, fit, size, essence, etc. If that were so, it would not be called clothing, nor would sewing and cutting equipment be used to process the fabric, and the concept of fabric itself would not exist. Therefore, dharma objects are combined with the five sense objects; they are not produced solely within the subtle sense organs.