成唯識論述記 7.565

7.565

The Commentary states: It has no real active functioning; all dharmas are like this, because there is no active functioning and no agent. When mind conditions an object, it is not like a hand or tongs directly grasping an external object separate from the body, nor is it like the light of the sun, moon, or fire extending its rays to directly illuminate an object outside its substance. When the mind and the like condition, it is only like a mirror and the like in your school illuminating an object: appearing to resemble an external object is called "knowing another's mind." An image of another's mind appearing upon one's own mind is called "knowing another's mind"; it is not that the mind is directly able to know another's mind. That which is directly known refers to one's own transformed nimittabhāga, because there is no active functioning and it cannot genuinely apprehend an external object.