宗鏡錄 36.12

36.12

Answer: In both the states of concentration and distraction, it is a solitary image object, because it transforms a provisional characteristic. This provisional nimittabhāga is born from the seed of the contemplating darśanabhāga and lacks its own seed; hence it is called a solitary image. It is unlike the realm of the thing itself, which is actual form and mind, each born from its own seeds, as when visual consciousness takes form as its condition. Nor is it like an object with a substance, for when mind takes mind as a condition, there is definitely a substance; the intermediate nimittabhāga arises from both substance and vision. As for the solitary image object, there are of themselves two classes: 1. Having a substance: namely this contemplating mind relying on that as substance; 2. Lacking a substance: taking conditions such as the hair of a tortoise.