How Does the Realm of the Six Dusts Arise?

Although one closes the eyes and does not see forms, or plugs the ears and does not hear sounds, the realms of the six sense objects are not manifested by the five consciousnesses, the sixth consciousness, or the seventh consciousness; they are all conjured forth by the tathāgatagarbha. The five consciousnesses, the sixth consciousness, and the seventh consciousness can only display the forms created and produced by the tathāgatagarbha within the mind; they cannot create forms. And the manifestation of forms requires certain conditions; when the conditions are not complete, there are no forms in the mind.

The eye consciousness cannot see a flower because, with the eyes closed, there is no light; without light, the eye consciousness does not see the flower with its appearance of light, but it can see the darkness that lacks light. If one's practice has broken through the region of the aggregate of form, this does not apply. Likewise, the ear consciousness cannot hear sounds because the sense objects of sound do not enter the ear; then the ear consciousness cannot hear the sounds transmitted from outside, but it can hear the buzzing inside the eardrum.

When the tathāgatagarbha creates all forms, it relies not only on karmic seeds but also on various conditions, including the mental factors (caittas) of the sixth and seventh consciousnesses, and the intentions and thoughts of the sixth and seventh consciousnesses. Then the seven consciousnesses cooperate with the tathāgatagarbha to manifest the forms, and only then can the sixth consciousness have cognition.