The Conjunction of the Five Consciousnesses and Mind Consciousness in the Discrimination of Complete Rūpa

Question: The six internal sense objects are form, sound, smell, taste, and touch, along with the form included in the mental sense-base. Is the form included in the mental sense-base the same as the mental object? What is its specific definition? Regarding the relationship between the five sense objects and this mental object, is it one of equality, parallelism, or subordination?

Answer: The form included in the mental sense-base is indeed the mental object. It is a mental object that arises again based on the five internal sense objects. It is also composed of particles of the four great elements, belongs to material form, and combines with the five sense objects to constitute the complete forms of color, sound, smell, taste, and touch. The five sense objects alone represent only a small portion of color, sound, smell, taste, and touch; they are not the complete material forms. The mental object constitutes the major part of color, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Only when combined do they form the complete material form. For example: The form sense object combined with the mental object on that form sense object constitutes the complete internal form sense object. The sound sense object combined with the mental object on that sound sense object constitutes the complete sound sense object. The five sense objects and the mental object have a parallel and co-existing relationship, one of mutual dependence. The mental object depends on the five sense objects for its birth and existence. The internal five sense objects are perceived by the five consciousnesses, while the mental object is perceived by the mental consciousness. From this, it becomes clear that the five consciousnesses alone cannot perceive the complete color, sound, smell, taste, and touch, nor can the mental consciousness alone perceive the complete color, sound, smell, taste, and touch. Only when the five consciousnesses and the mental consciousness function together can the complete color, sound, smell, taste, and touch be perceived.