The Black Box World (15)

The same applies to hearing sounds. In the first, second, and third moments, when sound is about to enter the ear faculty, the auditory consciousness unconsciously perceives the sound. If the manas deems it inappropriate to listen, it will divert attention or extinguish the cognitive mind, ceasing to hear the sound. Of course, there are also instances where the consciousness or auditory consciousness lacks interest, transmitting the information to the manas, which then decides not to listen. At that point, it is as if there is no sound, or one simply pays no attention to it. This all depends on whether the manas is interested and whether it directs attention. When the manas directs attention, giving rise to the volitional mental factor, the Tathagatagarbha perceives this and subsequently gives rise to the eye consciousness, ear consciousness, nose consciousness, tongue consciousness, body consciousness, and mental consciousness to discern the six sense objects within the inner manifestation.

There is also "varna" (appearance-color), which refers to the photons formed by the four great elements at the back of the head. This is discerned by the eye consciousness. Building upon this varna, these particles are reintegrated, and the Tathagatagarbha also integrates them based on the four great elements within our brain cells. After integration, "samsthana" (form-color), "vikriya" (action-color), and "avijnapti" (non-indicative form) are formed. This is called "dharmayatana rupam" (form included in the mental sense base), also known as the mental sense object (dharma dust). This mental sense object is what the mental consciousness discerns.

If the manas directs attention to this mental sense object, giving rise to the volitional mental factor, the Tathagatagarbha will manifest mental consciousness to discern this mental sense object. The mental consciousness arises slightly later than the eye consciousness, emerging just after it. Although the mental consciousness arises slightly later than the eye consciousness, in our perception, the two seem to arise almost simultaneously. As these two consciousnesses arise and cease moment by moment, they simultaneously discern the form sense object. If the manas does not direct attention and does not wish to discern this mental sense object, the eye consciousness will not manifest, nor will the mental consciousness. When a form sense object arrives, we cannot see it and remain unaware of its presence.