Why Are There More Fish in the Monitor Than in Reality?

Zhu Qingshi said: Our world is like a large fish tank, inside which a goldfish is swimming. Suppose there are at least two cameras: one observing the fish tank from the side, and another observing it from behind. In another room, there are two monitors. Imagine a person entering the room with the monitors; he will see two fish inside the tank on the screens. These two fish appear different because one is captured from the tail and the other from the side. These two fish are peculiar: whatever action one takes, the other immediately responds, and they do so simultaneously.

The monitors are equivalent to black boxes, and the person is equivalent to the six consciousnesses. The six consciousnesses perceive the six dusts within the black boxes, analogous to a person seeing the images on the monitors. The monitors are surveilling a single fish in the tank in another room. Given that there is only one fish in the tank, why do the monitors show two different fish? It is because the two cameras are filming the same fish from different angles, capturing distinct images that make it seem as if there are two fish. Thus, two fish are seen on the monitors.

The monitors are equivalent to black boxes. Everything within the black boxes is an illusory false appearance resembling the external world, but it may not be entirely accurate and could contain significant errors. The six consciousnesses are unaware of this and believe they are perceiving true appearances; this misunderstanding can be substantial. If ten cameras are placed in different positions in the room, ten fish will be captured. If a hundred cameras are placed, a hundred fish will appear, and the monitors will display ten or a hundred different fish. When a sufficient number of cameras are used, the fish captured from various angles combine to form one complete fish. This is the principle behind the Buddha’s instruction in the Shurangama Sutra to place octagonal mirrors when setting up the Shurangama mandala in the practice hall.