Encyclopedia of India–China Cultural Contacts v2.c12.s3.t4.32

v2.c12.s3.t4.32

state of tranquil abiding (*Samadhi*) free of external influences, because the five mind activities are actually the product of external influences (“Xiang”). Both correct perception and incorrect perception are reflection of external objects and manifestation of people’s consciousness with regard to their interaction with the external world. The “correct perception” mentioned here refers to a mind activity that correctly reflects the worldly characteristics of external objects, while the “incorrect perception” is a mind activity that incorrectly reflects the worldly characteristics of external objects. “Imagination” is a mind activity that arises out of differentiating external objects; “sleep” is a mind activity that is actually spawned from sleepers’ interaction with external objects when he or she is awake; and “memory” is also a mind activity that stems from external objects, since it is mainly a product of recollection of external objects. All-in-all, these five mind activities cannot exist apart from external objects and what external objects manifest is mainly of an insubstantial, illusive nature, which can only harass and disturb. In the opinion of yogis, only by isolating oneself from the influences of illusive, unreal external objects can one truly attain a state of physical and mental tranquility.