The State of Samādhi Is a Subjectively Imagined Realm

(There is an accompanying image below, Image Two) When the recollection of the Buddha (buddhānusmṛti) meditative concentration (samādhi) is accomplished, the Buddhas of the ten directions stand before you, clearly and distinctly seen by the eye consciousness, yet others cannot see them. What kind of state is this?

After the white-bone contemplation has been cultivated to completion, one sees all people as rows of white bones, very distinctly, yet others cannot see them. What kind of state is this? In the Contemplation Sutra (Amitāyurdhyāna Sūtra), after the first contemplation—the contemplation of the sun—is accomplished, whether the eyes are open or closed, the setting sun appears before you and in your mind like a suspended drum, yet others cannot see it. What kind of state is this? After each of the sixteen contemplations is accomplished, a corresponding state appears, seen by the eye consciousness, yet others cannot see it. What kind of state is this?

Stars flash before the eyes, specks dancing before one's vision, yet others cannot see them—what kind of state is this? A mirage can be seen by everyone—what kind of material form is it? For example, with stars flashing before the eyes, can the eyes actually see golden stars or black stars? The white bones of the white-bone contemplation, the brilliant red color of the setting sun, and so on—what is going on here?

The eye consciousness sees colors: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, purple, black, and white. Whatever is seen with the participation of the eye consciousness cannot be a subjectively imagined realm. But the material form seen in any kind of meditative concentration is seen by the solitary consciousness (mano-vijñāna-eka-citta), without the eye consciousness. The colors that manifest in memory, and the colors seen in dreams, are all seen by the solitary consciousness, not by the eye consciousness—there is no eye consciousness involved here.