The Manas Leads the Tathāgatagarbha to Accomplish the Buddha Path

The tathāgatagarbha is too mysterious and too profound and subtle; it is entirely beyond the sway of our will. Yet after understanding the nature of the tathāgatagarbha—especially after realizing the tathāgatagarbha—we can lead it by the nose: by performing wholesome karma we cause Him to store wholesome karmic seeds and bring forth wholesome retribution. When bodily, verbal, and mental actions are wholesome, the tathāgatagarbha has no choice but to cooperate in creating wholesome karma, storing wholesome seeds, and producing wholesome retribution.

Where is the tathāgatagarbha's nose? The manas is the hand that leads the tathāgatagarbha by the nose. The mind consciousness leads the manas, and the manas leads the tathāgatagarbha—one leading another—walking along the path of learning Buddhism, until finally arriving home to rest. Is this road arduous? To contend with the karmic force accumulated over beginningless kalpas is simply too arduous. Because karmic force is so immense, karmic obstructions so heavy, ignorance so deep, wholesome roots so thin, merit so small, and the power of vows so shallow, we have advanced and retreated again and again over three countless great kalpas on the path of cultivation—like rowing a boat against the current. Without firm perseverance, it cannot be accomplished.