Three Spheres and Three Measures

The six consciousnesses discern the internal six dusts, which are material dharmas composed of the four great elements, known as the objective realm. The illusory realm arising based on the objective realm is the realm of perceived essence.

The objects of the five consciousnesses are the objective realm, discerned through direct perception. The objects of the mental consciousness include the objective realm, the realm of perceived essence, and the realm of mere image, discerned through direct perception, inferential perception, and non-valid perception. The mind faculty mistakes the perceiving aspect of the eighth consciousness for its own perception and regards all dharmas manifested by the eighth consciousness as its own possessions. This constitutes erroneous knowing and erroneous grasping, hence it is non-valid perception.

Examples of the realm of perceived essence discerned by the mental consciousness are as follows:

The second moon that appears when rubbing the eyes—in reality, there is no second moon, only one moon; the second moon is an illusory realm of perceived essence.

The mental consciousness mistaking a distant lamp’s light for ghost fire in the dark night—in reality, there is no ghost fire, only lamplight; the ghost fire is an illusory realm of perceived essence.

The mental consciousness mistaking a seen rope for a snake—in reality, there is no snake, only a rope; the snake is an illusory realm of perceived essence.

The mental consciousness mistaking person A for person B—in reality, there is no person B, only person A; person B is an illusory realm of perceived essence.