The World of Black Boxes

Chapter 2  The Shadows of the Inner Object-Aspect           

I. Which Dharmas in Daily Life Are Shadows

All the dharmas we come into contact with and cognize are shadows of the inner object-aspect (nimitta) within the black box. The so-called inner object-aspect refers to the images manifested by the eighth consciousness at the supreme faculty (indriya) based on the object-aspects of the external six sense objects. For example, when we sit on a bed, we are actually sitting on the shadow of the external bed, not truly sitting on the substantial external bed. That relatively real bed composed of the four great elements—our body cannot touch it at all; our body consciousness cannot touch the real external bed; only the eighth consciousness can touch the external substantial material form. And the external substantial material forms of the six sense objects were jointly created and manifested by the tathāgatagarbhas of sentient beings with karmic connections; they do not belong to us alone—every sentient being with a connection has a share.

Therefore, that external bed can also be sat on by others, and others may move it into their own homes; but the bed others sit on is the shadow of the inner object-aspect manifested anew by their own eighth consciousness based on the external bed, likewise not the relatively real external bed. The body consciousness of all of us sentient beings can only come into contact with the shadow of the bed's inner object-aspect. This shadow is a false image, manifested once more separately by our own eighth consciousness based on the relatively real bed, for our own separate enjoyment; no other person, no matter what, can enjoy it. Only this shadow is private property; everything else is public property.

We feel that the bed we sit on is truly real, and we really are sitting on it. In fact it is just a shadow, a composite of electrical signals formed from four-great-element particles; our body consciousness is merely contacting and feeling the shadow signals. Since beginningless kalpas, sentient beings have been taking various shadows as real, giving rise to mental activity and thoughts within them, with all kinds of discrimination, attachment, and delusives. It is like animated cartoons and film images: there is no movement or stillness of scenery and characters, only many pictures being projected and played rapidly. Similarly, in the black box, the consciousness-mind and the realms have neither movement nor stillness; it is only various pictures and images flashing by rapidly. The director is the manas, the producer is the tathāgatagarbha, and the six consciousnesses are the actors and audience. So what we watch are all cartoons, all dramas; there is nothing real to speak of. Even the five-aggregate behavior of watching is directed; the director lets the six consciousnesses do as it wills. And the director too is not in control—at most it is the head of the play, and when the play ends and the music finishes, it too will exit the stage.