The Delineation Between Real Dharmas and Unreal Dharmas

Dharma can be categorized into several levels, and so can unreal dharma. The most real dharma is that which neither arises nor ceases—the Tathāgatagarbha, the true reality of the Dharma realm. It is called "real" precisely because it neither requires arising nor can it cease. Compared to the Tathāgatagarbha, all other dharmas are unreal, for they are subject to arising and ceasing.

Within unreal dharma, there are relatively real dharmas. These are the most fundamental dharmas formed when the Tathāgatagarbha, either individually or collectively, projects the six great seeds. For instance, the physical bodies of sentient beings and their seven consciousnesses, as well as the six-dust realms of the material universe—the external world perceived by the seven consciousnesses before the six consciousnesses engage—are examples. Compared to the Tathāgatagarbha, these are illusory and unreal. Yet, compared to what is perceived by the six consciousnesses, they are relatively real, being dharmas generated by the real seeds of the four great elements, the five great elements, or the six great elements.

The dharmas that the Tathāgatagarbha further transforms and manifests based on this relatively real part constitute an even more unreal level of dharma. These are the entire six-dust realms perceived within the subtle sense faculties (indriyas) by the six consciousnesses.

However, due to the obstruction of karmic hindrances and issues with the six sense faculties, the six-dust realms perceived by the six consciousnesses become distorted. This constitutes the most utterly illusory and unreal dharma. Within these levels, there are further gradations of real and unreal, but they are so profound and subtle that they are difficult to observe directly. Only when specific conditions arise can they be partially analyzed.