The Single-Layered Mirror Reflection and Double-Layered Mirror Reflection of Tathāgatagarbha

Everything accessible to each individual is an internal, privately owned dust realm, which is intricately connected to the external, collectively shared dust realm beyond the seventh consciousness. If the external, shared dust realm changes, the private dust realm inevitably undergoes the same transformation simultaneously. The private realm represents a second-level illusion, illusory upon illusion. Whether external and shared or internal and private, both are illusory and devoid of true reality; both are merely images manifested by the mirror of the Tathagatagarbha. It is just that the mirror reflections are divided into a first-level reflection and a second-level reflection, and the functions of the dust realms differ only in terms of genuine utility and illusory utility.

The first-level reflection is more primitive, appearing more real, clearer, and more practical. The second-level reflection occurs when the individual’s private mirror captures the first-level reflection again, projecting it onto its own separate mirror surface, lacking the clarity, reality, and practicality of the first-level reflection. Yet, for sentient beings, this is already quite precious. They all treasure this second-level reflection as a rare jewel, clinging to it with insatiable greed and profound attachment. This is how those who fail to perceive the essence behave. Of course, genuine realization of the mirror-image contemplation is attained at the stage of perfecting the mind at the First Ground. At this point, the Dharma practices cultivated at the First Ground are fully completed.