Pitāputra Samāgama Sūtra: Discourse 42

The Seed of the Fire Realm Is Formless and Without Characteristics

The seed of the fire realm is formless and without characteristics, and the Tathagatagarbha itself is also formless and without characteristics. If something with form and characteristics were to exist within the formless and characteristic-less Tathagatagarbha, could it be contained? Firstly, it cannot be contained. Secondly, if it could be contained, the Tathagatagarbha would then become something with form and characteristics, making it visible to the eye and tangible to the touch. Attaining realization of the Tathagatagarbha would then be extremely easy, and everyone could become a realized Bodhisattva. The Tathagatagarbha is not a bag or a container; it is formless and without characteristics and cannot contain a form-body with characteristics. Yet, it can manifest such a form-body, which is truly inconceivable. The reason it seems inconceivable is due to our lack of wisdom. When our wisdom becomes complete, it will become conceivable. The Buddha possesses wisdom and can conceive it. When we, through learning the Buddha Dharma, manifest great wisdom, ultimately all dharmas become conceivable. There will be no problem, no need for surprise, no need for wonder, and no more delusion or inversion.

Not knowing the true reality is delusion and inversion. Believing that all dharmas are worthy of greed and attachment, and striving to grasp them, results in drifting in the ocean of suffering in the cycle of birth and death, unable to attain liberation. Knowing the true reality of all dharma, one is no longer deluded or inverted. When one possesses wisdom, one must recognize the truth and not cling to false appearances with inverted attachment.