Which Aspect is Transformed First After the Operation of the Six Consciousnesses: Internal or External?

There is a saying: Afflictions are precisely bodhi. On one hand, afflictions refer to greed, hatred, delusion, killing, arson, and other unwholesome dharmas; on the other hand, they refer to mundane trivialities like eating, drinking, defecating, and urinating. Bodhi refers to the Tathagatagarbha. All dharmas are manifested and sustained by the Tathagatagarbha, including the external perceived division (bāhyavijñapti). Therefore, the arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing of the external perceived division are all accomplished by the Tathagatagarbha. Likewise, the internal perceived division (adhyātmavijñapti) is also manifested and sustained by the Tathagatagarbha. All changes in mountains, rivers, and the great earth are the doing of the eighth consciousness, the Tathagatagarbha; the arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing of all dharmas are the doing of the eighth consciousness, the Tathagatagarbha. 

The six consciousnesses can never directly alter the external perceived division, because the six consciousnesses contain no seeds (bīja), do not correspond to the external perceived division, and moreover, the six consciousnesses are dharmas born subsequently. The internal perceived division must exist first before the six consciousnesses can arise. Therefore, the six consciousnesses cannot directly alter the external perceived division. The Tathagatagarbha, however, contains the seeds of the four great elements and the six great elements. Thus, all dharmas are determined by the Tathagatagarbha. Consequently, the direction for investigating these matters is already quite clear. Since the six consciousnesses can only contact the internal perceived division and cannot contact the external perceived division, why can the actions and karmic formations of the six consciousnesses still bring about changes in the external perceived division? Herein lies a great secret. 

When I pick up a book from the table with my hand, the body consciousness of the hand can only contact the internal perceived division of the book. What is picked up is the book of the internal perceived division, yet the book of the external perceived division is no longer on the table; others cannot see it or pick it up. What, then, is the relationship between the internal and external perceived divisions? Which comes first, the internal perceived division or the external perceived division? Of course, the external perceived division comes first. Which changes first, the external perceived division or the internal perceived division? Of course, the external perceived division changes first. Where does the internal perceived division come from? It is, of course, manifested by the eighth consciousness, the Tathagatagarbha, based on the external perceived division. Therefore, any change in dharmas must begin with a change in the external perceived division. This changed external perceived division is then transmitted through the physical sense faculties (fleshly sense organs, mūrdhendriya) to the subtle sense faculties (subtle sense organs, sūkṣmendriya), thus forming the internal perceived division. 

However, since my hand cannot contact the book of the external perceived division, how can it cause the book of the external perceived division to change first, thereby causing the book of the internal perceived division to change? Furthermore, for example, when the six consciousnesses create the karma of killing a person, the six consciousnesses can only contact the internal perceived division of the person, not the external perceived division of the person. So how do the six consciousnesses cause the external perceived division of the person to cease? Moreover, the external perceived division of the person must cease or be destroyed first, before the internal perceived division of the person can subsequently cease or be destroyed. Since the internal perceived division arises from the external perceived division and is manifested based upon it, it is certain that the external perceived division changes first, and only then can the internal perceived division follow suit and change. The great secret herein is left for those with affinity to investigate carefully; further elaboration cannot be provided here.