Discourse on the Father and Son Compendium Sutra (Part XXI)

The Earth Element and Its Nature Are Inherently Without Gender Characteristics

The earth element can form the material bodies of sentient beings. Among sentient beings in the desire realm, material bodies are differentiated into male and female forms. However, the earth element itself possesses neither male nor female characteristics, nor any characteristics at all. After the seed of the earth element forms the material body, it then differentiates into male and female forms. The characteristicless earth element can form objects and living beings with characteristics.

In our material bodies, bones, muscles, skin, hair, and nails all belong to the solidity of the earth, known as the earth nature. The earth nature itself has no male or female characteristics. After forming our material bodies, it divides into male and female forms, yet both male and female forms are ultimately illusory. The earth element is originally without characteristics and without distinctions, yet the forms it manifests acquire differences. Why? Because the forms are determined by the karma we create. If we create the karma of a man, the Tathagatagarbha manifests the physical appearance of a man. If we create the karma of a woman, with the karmic seeds stored in the Tathagatagarbha, the Tathagatagarbha projects the earth element to form the physical appearance of a woman for us.