The first seven consciousnesses are unable to discover the tathāgatagarbha and the seeds of the four great elements

Material form is generated from the seeds of the four great elements. If technology advanced to the point of subdividing material form infinitely, could the seeds of the four great elements ultimately be discovered?

The seeds of the four great elements are formless and without characteristics; they correspond only to the tathāgatagarbha and do not correspond to the mind of the seven consciousnesses. No matter what method the seven consciousnesses employ, they cannot discover the seeds of the four great elements. Through technological means, scientists can discover neither the tathāgatagarbha nor the seeds; they can only discover material form. Only through the methods and means of Buddhist practice and realization can the tathāgatagarbha be discovered, but even then the seeds cannot be discovered. Only the tathāgatagarbha can discover the seeds; the seven consciousnesses cannot, otherwise the seven consciousnesses would have the same functions as the tathāgatagarbha.

The particle approaching voidness is the smallest kind of particle composed of the seeds of the four great elements; it is material form and can be divided into outer sense-objects and inner sense-objects. The Buddha said in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra that form and space cannot transform into each other; both are produced by the tathāgatagarbha and cannot produce each other. The four great elements are originally the functions and operations of the tathāgatagarbha, so the so-called material form constituted by the four great elements is also a shadow manifested by the tathāgatagarbha. Not only is the inner material sense-object a shadow, but the appearances of the six outer sense-objects are in fact also shadow appearances.

Therefore, from the perspective of the realm of suchness, there is fundamentally no such thing as a material universe or the inanimate world; the first seven consciousnesses are dharmas manifested from the seeds of the tathāgatagarbha consciousness. In the end, all dharmas, without exception, are entirely the tathāgatagarbha.

Material form is generated from the seeds of the four great elements. If technology advanced to the point of subdividing material form infinitely, could the seeds of the four great elements ultimately be discovered?

The seeds of the four great elements are formless and without characteristics; they correspond only to the tathāgatagarbha and do not correspond to the mind of the seven consciousnesses. No matter what method the seven consciousnesses employ, they cannot discover the seeds of the four great elements. Through technological means, scientists can discover neither the tathāgatagarbha nor the seeds; they can only discover material form. Only through the methods and means of Buddhist practice and realization can the tathāgatagarbha be discovered, but even then the seeds cannot be discovered. Only the tathāgatagarbha can discover the seeds; the seven consciousnesses cannot, otherwise the seven consciousnesses would have the same functions as the tathāgatagarbha.

The particle approaching voidness is the smallest kind of particle composed of the seeds of the four great elements; it is material form and can be divided into outer sense-objects and inner sense-objects. The Buddha said in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra that form and space cannot transform into each other; both are produced by the tathāgatagarbha and cannot produce each other. The four great elements are originally the functions and operations of the tathāgatagarbha, so the so-called material form constituted by the four great elements is also a shadow manifested by the tathāgatagarbha. Not only is the inner material sense-object a shadow, but the appearances of the six outer sense-objects are in fact also shadow appearances.

Therefore, from the perspective of the realm of suchness, there is fundamentally no such thing as a material universe or the inanimate world; the first seven consciousnesses are dharmas manifested from the seeds of the tathāgatagarbha consciousness. In the end, all dharmas, without exception, are entirely the tathāgatagarbha.