Black Box World (34)

It seems as if we are in contact with all phenomena, as if observing one scene after another, hearing one sound after another; as if smelling one fragrance after another, along with various scents diffused in the air; as if feeling strand after strand of sunlight and wisp after wisp of gentle breeze. Various states continuously change one after another. In truth, no matter how they change, no matter how myriad the transformations, they are all images within the black box.

Has the relatively real external state changed? The external states are also ceaselessly changing. One form-dust after another continuously appears, one sound after another continuously arises, one scent after another continuously wafts in. Because the external states are constantly changing, the internal states consequently undergo transformation. The six consciousnesses must continuously make contact, perceive, and feel. What the six consciousnesses perceive and discern are precisely these states manifested for the second time. Therefore, the internal images within the black box are based on the seemingly real appearances of the external world. Without the external aspect (nimitta), there would be no internal aspect (pratibimba).

The scenes of the external aspect are bound to change; it is only a matter of whether our five sense faculties (the body’s five roots) can apprehend them. For instance, in a certain place, there truly exists an external form-dust, a mountain. However, our eye faculty cannot actually touch that mountain; it cannot make direct contact with it, nor can the mountain enter into the eye faculty. Yet, we are able to see that mountain—this matter is truly wondrous to speak of.

Similarly, sound-dusts arise in a distant place, such as thunder and bird calls. These sounds do not come into direct contact with the ear faculty, yet we clearly hear the thunder and bird calls—this too is truly wondrous. The round sun suspended high in the Trayastrimsa Heaven is so distant from our bodies, yet our body faculty can constantly feel the touch of its radiant light—this is truly inconceivable. The distant sandalwood fragrance is so far from our nose faculty, yet our nose consciousness can still perceive the scent of sandalwood—this too is inconceivable. The five sense faculties do not actually contact the external five dusts, yet the five consciousnesses are able to perceive the five dusts. What do these phenomena indicate? They indicate that what our six consciousnesses contact and perceive are all the internal five dusts manifested by the Tathāgatagarbha based on the external five dusts. They are images of the external five dusts, shadows within the black box—not the real state of phenomena, but illusory appearances conjured for the second time by the Tathāgatagarbha.