眾生無邊誓願度
煩惱無盡誓願斷
法門無量誓願學
佛道無上誓願成

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Dharma Teachings

19 Sep 2018    Wednesday     2nd Teach Total 834

The First Seven Consciousnesses Cannot Discover Tathāgatagarbha and the Four Great Elements

Form dharmas are generated by the four great seeds. If science and technology advance to the point of infinitely subdividing form dharmas, can the four great seeds ultimately be discovered?

The four great seeds are formless and without characteristics, corresponding only to the Tathagatagarbha and not to the seven consciousnesses. Regardless of the method used, the seven consciousnesses cannot discover the four great seeds. Scientists, relying on technological means, can neither discover the Tathagatagarbha nor the seeds; they can only discover material form dharmas. Only through the methods and means of Buddhist practice and realization can the Tathagatagarbha be discovered, but even then, the seeds cannot be discovered. Only the Tathagatagarbha can discover the seeds; the seven consciousnesses cannot discover them, otherwise the seven consciousnesses would possess the same function as the Tathagatagarbha.

The anu (临虚尘) is the smallest particle composed of the four great seeds; it is a material form dharma and can be divided into external dust and internal dust. The Buddha stated in the Shurangama Sutra that form and empty space cannot transform into each other; both are born from the Tathagatagarbha and cannot give birth to each other. The four great seeds are fundamentally the functional activity of the Tathagatagarbha. Therefore, the so-called material form dharmas accomplished by the four great seeds are also shadows manifested by the Tathagatagarbha. Not only is the internal dust form dharma a shadow, but the external appearances of the six dusts are also actually shadow-like appearances.

Therefore, from the perspective of the realm of true reality, there is fundamentally no such thing as the universe or the realm of vessels. The first seven consciousnesses are dharmas manifested by the seeds of the Tathagatagarbha consciousness. When all dharmas are traced back to their source, everything is entirely the Tathagatagarbha.

Form dharmas are generated by the four great seeds. If science and technology advance to the point of infinitely subdividing form dharmas, can the four great seeds ultimately be discovered?

The four great seeds are formless and without characteristics, corresponding only to the Tathagatagarbha and not to the seven consciousnesses. Regardless of the method used, the seven consciousnesses cannot discover the four great seeds. Scientists, relying on technological means, can neither discover the Tathagatagarbha nor the seeds; they can only discover material form dharmas. Only through the methods and means of Buddhist practice and realization can the Tathagatagarbha be discovered, but even then, the seeds cannot be discovered. Only the Tathagatagarbha can discover the seeds; the seven consciousnesses cannot discover them, otherwise the seven consciousnesses would possess the same function as the Tathagatagarbha.

The anu (临虚尘) is the smallest particle composed of the four great seeds; it is a material form dharma and can be divided into external dust and internal dust. The Buddha stated in the Shurangama Sutra that form and empty space cannot transform into each other; both are born from the Tathagatagarbha and cannot give birth to each other. The four great seeds are fundamentally the functional activity of the Tathagatagarbha. Therefore, the so-called material form dharmas accomplished by the four great seeds are also shadows manifested by the Tathagatagarbha. Not only is the internal dust form dharma a shadow, but the external appearances of the six dusts are also actually shadow-like appearances.

Therefore, from the perspective of the realm of true reality, there is fundamentally no such thing as the universe or the realm of vessels. The first seven consciousnesses are dharmas manifested by the seeds of the Tathagatagarbha consciousness. When all dharmas are traced back to their source, everything is entirely the Tathagatagarbha.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
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