Is the Mind in the Eyes?
Ananda said to the Buddha, “Indeed, World-Honored One, since I do not see inside my body, my mind is not located there, and because the body and mind work together without separation, my mind is not outside my body either. Now that I think of it, I know just where the mind is.”
The Buddha said, “Where is it, then?”
Ananda replied, “Upon reflection, since the mind sees nothing of what is inside but can see what is outside, I believe that the mind is hidden in the eyes. The eye-faculty is like two transparent crystal cups over the mind – although covered by the cups, the mind’s vision is not obstructed. In this way the mind can see and make discernments accordingly. So, my mind that knows yet does not see inside must be hidden in the eye-faculty, through which it gazes at what is outside of the body, seeing clearly and without impediment.”
The Buddha said, “Let us assume the mind is hidden in the eyes, as you asserted in your analogy of the crystals. When someone places crystal cups over his eyes and looks at the mountains, the rivers, and all else on this great earth, does he see the crystal cups too?”
“He does, World-Honored One. He sees the crystal cups when he places them over his eyes.”
The Buddha said, “Then why don’t you see your own eyes when you look at the world of perceived objects, if your mind can be compared to someone’s eyes being covered with crystals? Since you cannot see your own eyes, how could you say that the mind is concealed within the eye-faculty, like being covered by crystal cups? On the other hand, if you could see your eyes, your eyes would be part of your external surroundings. In that case your mind and eyes would not be able to work together to make distinctions. So, in either case, you’re stating what is impossible.”
阿难白佛言：世尊！如佛所言，不见内故，不居身内；身心相知，不相离故，不在身外。我今思惟，知在一处。佛言：处今何在？阿难言：此了知心，既不知内，而能见外；如我思忖，潜伏根里。犹如有人 ，取琉璃碗，合其两眼。虽有物合，而不留碍，彼根随见，随即分别。然我觉了能知之心，不见内者，为在根故；分明瞩外，无障碍者，潜根内故。
佛告阿难：如汝所言，潜根内者，犹如琉璃。彼人当以琉璃笼眼，当见山河，见琉璃否？如是世尊！是人当以琉璃笼眼，实见琉璃。佛告阿难：汝心若同琉璃合者，当见山河，何不见眼？若见眼者，眼即同境，不得成随。若不能见，云何说言，此了知心，潜在根内，如琉璃合？是故应知，汝言觉了能知之心，潜伏根里，如琉璃合，无有是处。
Buddha Mind 