大乘百法明門論開宗義決 1.35

1.35

Regarding "present aggregates are real because they are aggregated dharmas," and so forth: This school asserts that dharmas such as form and mind are subtly real and coarsely nominal. An infinitesimal atom is real because it is the essential nature of form; coarse form is nominal because it is assembled together. A single real infinitesimal atom is not an object of the visual consciousness; only when combined into coarse form is it an objective condition for visual consciousness. Even a single infinitesimal atom is subsumed under the aggregates; "aggregate" has the meaning of accumulation, therefore the aggregates are real. Coming together to produce consciousness is called āyatana and dhātu; therefore dharmas within the gates of the āyatanas and dhātus are all nominal.