The Onefold Mirror Image and the Twofold Mirror Image of Tathāgatagarbha

What each person can come into contact with is the internal, individually private sense-object realm, which is closely connected to the external sense-object realm shared outside the seven consciousnesses. If the external shared sense-object realm changes, the private sense-object realm will inevitably undergo the same change simultaneously. The private represents a second transformation—illusory upon illusory. Whether external and shared or internal and private, all are illusory and false, without any reality; all are images formed by the mirror of tathāgatagarbha. It is merely that the mirror reflections are divided into first-layer reflections and second-layer reflections, and the function of the sense-object realm merely differs between true function and false function.

The first-layer reflection is more primordial, appearing more real, clearer, and more practical. The second-layer reflection is the private mirror of the individual reflecting and capturing the first-layer reflection, manifesting it on one's own separate mirror surface; it is not as clear, real, and practical as the first-layer reflection. Yet for sentient beings, this is already quite precious—they all treasure these second-layer reflections, craving and loving them endlessly, clinging to them beyond measure. This is exactly the case for those who cannot recognize the essence. Of course, truly realizing the contemplation of mirror-images requires being at the stage of the full mind of the first bhūmi, at which point the dharma cultivated at the first bhūmi is completed.