The Manas Leads the Tathāgatagarbha to Accomplish Buddhahood

The tathāgatagarbha is too mysterious and too profound and subtle; it completely does not shift according to our will. However, after understanding the nature of the tathāgatagarbha, and especially after realizing the tathāgatagarbha, we can lead the tathāgatagarbha by the nose—performing wholesome karma so that He stores wholesome karma and generates wholesome retribution. When the body is wholesome, speech is wholesome, and mind is wholesome, the tathāgatagarbha has no choice but to cooperate in creating wholesome karma, storing wholesome seeds, and generating 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 the other—walking along the path of learning Buddhism, finally arriving home to rest. Is this road arduous? Contending with the karmic force accumulated over beginningless kalpas, it is simply too arduous. Because the karmic force is too great, the karmic obstructions too heavy, ignorance too deep, good roots too thin, merit too small, and vows too shallow, we advance and retreat over three great immeasurable kalpas on the path of cultivation, like rowing a boat against the current. Without firm perseverance, it cannot be accomplished.