The Mind Is Not Inside, Outside, or in the Middle of the Physical Body.

Although the six consciousnesses discriminate the inner six sense-objects within the supreme faculty (indriya) and make contact with the inner six sense-objects, the mind-consciousnesses are not inside or outside the material body, nor are they in between. In the first volume of the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, the World-Honored One addressed this very issue, saying that the mind-consciousness is not inside, outside, or in between the material body. This is because the mind-consciousness is formless and without mark, and cannot dwell within the material body; if it dwelt within the material body, then by dissecting the body one would be able to discover the location of the mind-consciousness.

However, even when you cut the body apart piece by piece, you cannot find the mind-consciousness; therefore the mind-consciousness is not within the material body. The mind-consciousness is also not outside the material body. If the mind-consciousness were outside the material body, then it would be in empty space, and in that case the six consciousnesses would have nothing to do with oneself and would not belong to oneself. If the six consciousnesses in empty space could act upon oneself, they could likewise act upon other sentient beings, and the mind consciousness would be something shared in common—which is impossible. If the mind-consciousness were in between the material body and empty space, yet there is no place that is truly called "in between," and no so-called in-between position can be found; therefore the mind-consciousness is not inside, outside, or in between the material body.

You are welcome to join Liberation Prajñā Yogācāra Group 7  238324425  where complete documents are available for download and study.