Visible forms

visible forms (Skt. rūpa; T. gzugs གཟུགས་; C. se; J. shiki; K. saek 色) are a subset of the skandha of rūpa (forms) that bear the same name as the skandha (i.e. rūpa).

Visible forms are the class of forms that are the objects of the eye faculty, and are cognized by the eye consciousness.

Visible forms are characterized by shape and color.

Visible forms are identified as:

• one of the five sense objects
• one of the six sense objects
• one of the eighteen dhatus
• one of the twelve ayatanas
• belonging to rupa skandha (the aggregate of forms)

The Khenjuk states:

Visible forms are the sense objects of the eye. They can be divided into two types: color-forms and shape-forms.

Concerning the first [color-form], the four primary colors are blue, yellow, white, and red. The secondary colors are cloudy and smoky, dusty and misty, sunny and shady, light and dark.

Spatial [form] is a visible form, for example, pure, clear space, free from something tangible that impedes other things. Reflections and so forth belong to this type.

Perceptible [forms] such as the act of prostrating and the uniformly colored blue sky are also said to be included under visible forms.

Many different secondary colors come about by mixing the primary colors.

Shape-forms are, in general, said to be long or short, square or round, concave or convex, fine or gross, even or uneven. There are many subdivisions such as triangular, crescent-shaped, oblong, and so forth.

These shapes and colors can be classed as attractive, repulsive, or neutral.

Sources

• Buswell, Robert E.; Lopez, Donald S. (2014), The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism, Princeton University 
• Mipham Rinpoche (2004), Gateway to Knowledge, vol. I, translated by Kunsang, Erik Pema, Rangjung Yeshe Publications