Therefore, when saying mind-only, what is emphasised is that mind alone is primary, and this scripture is not at all implying that there is no physical form. And to indicate how it is mind that is primary, it is said:
It truly is the mind that makes the spectacle
That is the worlds of beings and environments.
It’s stated that all beings’ states are karma-born –
Dispense with mind and there will be karma no more. (6.89)
Here, the world of beings refers to the individual states of existence sentient beings meet with due to their karma and afflictions. The world of the vessel refers to everything from the wind-maṇḍala up to the celestial realm of Akaniṣṭha produced by their shared karma. The variegated facets of such things as the patterns on a peacock’s feathers are produced from the particular karma of that peacock. The varieties of such things as lotus flowers are produced from the shared karma of all sentient beings. Take this to apply to all things in general. As stated:
Just as when one is born on Mount Black,
It is their karma that decides whether
A being is in hell or realms divine,
If trees will be of weapons or of gems.1
Since this is the case, all states of existence arise from karma and karma again is dependent on mind, the reason for this being that it is only sentient life that can accumulate karma, and without mind there is no karma.
Title
Chapter 1: Pramuditā
