1209

phyi rol don gyis stong pa

emptiness of external objects; Comment: This is one of two different subtle emptinesses set forth in Mind-Only literature. The emptiness of external objects is also called the emptiness of apprehended-objects and apprehending-subjects existing as different substantial entities (bzung 'dzin rdzas tha dad kyis stong pa). This is explained as meaning that, for instance, a form such as a table appears to be a different substantial entity from the eye consciousness apprehending it but is not. A table appears to be distant and cut off (rgyang chad du snang ba) from the apprehending consciousness but is not; thus, a table is said to be empty of being a different entity from a valid consciousness, such as an eye consciousness, cognizing it; this is the emptiness of the table. Similarly, the eye consciousness apprehending the table is not a different entity from the table that it apprehends, and thus, from this point of view, the consciousness' absence of being a different entity from the table it perceives is the emptiness of the consciousness. Both the table and the consciousness exist, but both lack a certain quality — difference of entity — in relation to each other. See also "the emptiness of factors imputed in the manner of entity and attribute" (ngo bo dang khyad bar du kun btags pas stong pa'i stong pa nyid).

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