How to Understand That Every Dharma Is Tathatā

Answer: Since all dharmas are illusory, who projected them illusorily? How were they illusorily projected? Once this is made clear, you will understand why it is said that every dharma is tathatā. All dharmas—every dharma—are illusorily projected by the tathāgatagarbha; they are illusorily projected by the tathāgatagarbha using the seven intrinsically existing great seeds. And the tathāgatagarbha together with its seeds does not move or turn along with dharmas; it is real and unchanging—this is called tathatā. All the dharmas that are generated are in substance of the nature of the tathāgatagarbha, and therefore they too are tathatā. This is the meaning of "every dharma is tathatā."