The Principle and Sequence of the Transformation of Internal and External Dusts

External faculties contact external dusts, internal faculties contact internal dusts. Not only are the internal and external faculties interconnected, but the internal and external dusts are also interrelated, extending to the point where internal and external consciousnesses are all interconnected. When the six consciousnesses contact internal dusts and engage with them, do the external dusts change? If they change, do the external dusts change first, or do the internal dusts change first?

Careful contemplation and observation reveal that the mental faculty acts as the master, exerting a driving force both upon the internal dusts and simultaneously upon the external dusts. This proves that the mental faculty is both an internal consciousness and an external consciousness.

After taking a book away with one's hand, the external dust of the book is no longer in its original place, becoming invisible to others, and the location of the internal dust of the book within oneself also changes. The change in the external dust is certainly directed by the mental faculty, and the change in the internal dust is also directed by the mental faculty. For instance, when bread is eaten, entering the mouth and then the stomach, it is definitely directed by the mental faculty that it is consumed; the internal dust is broken down and enters the stomach. The disappearance of the external dust outside the mouth is also due to the directing force of the mental faculty. If the mental faculty does not act as the master and exert its driving force, neither the internal nor external dusts will change in the short term.

Internal dusts eternally depend on external dusts for their arising and existence; without external dusts, there are no internal dusts. External dusts come first, followed by internal dusts. The exclusive mental realm is an exception, not relying on external dusts for its existence, hence it is very active, unstable, unpredictable, and for the most part, consciousness cannot grasp or control it. Why can it not be controlled? Consciousness lacks the capability to subdue the mental faculty and lacks the ability to control it.

Since internal dusts depend on external dusts for their existence, then changes in the dust realm must occur first in the external dusts, with the internal dusts subsequently changing; their transformations are nearly simultaneous. If the external dusts are altered, the external dusts of related sentient beings are simultaneously altered, thereby changing the internal manifestations of related sentient beings. If this change is not permitted by others, it infringes upon the related interests of others.

For example, damaging public property alters both one's own external and internal dusts as well as those of others. If others do not permit this, it infringes upon their interests. Destroying or altering another's physical body not only changes one's own internal and external manifestations but also alters the internal and external manifestations of others. Others may suffer harm and become angry, or benefit and feel joy. If one damages one's own physical body, it not only changes one's own internal and external dusts but also alters the internal and external dusts of others; one's own relatives will also suffer pain and not permit it.

If only one's own internal dusts are altered, without involving the internal or external dusts of others, then it is unrelated to others. Only the exclusive mental realm belongs entirely to oneself and does not involve the internal or external dusts of others. No matter how it changes, others remain unaware. For instance, when visualizing Buddha images to attain the Buddha-recitation samadhi, and the Buddhas of the ten directions stand before one, others cannot perceive this scene. If one recites until the Pure Land appears before one's eyes, others similarly cannot see it; otherwise, they would simultaneously attain the merit of the Buddha-recitation samadhi. If it were so, then when one person practices, all sentient beings could benefit from the radiance and attain accomplishment.