The Meaning of Directly Perceiving Tathāgatagarbha

Question: After realizing the Tathāgatagarbha, one can directly perceive its intrinsic nature. How should this "direct perception" be understood? Is it observed with the mind-consciousness or with the physical eyes born from one's parents?

Answer: The Tathāgatagarbha is formless and without characteristics; it certainly cannot be observed with physical eyes, as the eye-consciousness can only perceive forms with material substance. Only the mind-consciousness can observe it. When the mind-consciousness gives rise to great wisdom, it can observe the operational characteristics of the Tathāgatagarbha. After observing it, we can understand its various intrinsic properties and comprehend how, in all aspects, it collaborates with the seven consciousnesses and five aggregates to accomplish all dharmas.

In this way, one attains the distinctive wisdom regarding the Tathāgatagarbha. Subsequently, this gives rise to the wisdom of the path-seed (bodhicitta). When the wisdom of the path-seed is perfected and fully possessed, one accomplishes the wisdom of all modes (sarvajñā). At that time, one becomes a perfectly accomplished Buddha.

Because the Tathāgatagarbha possesses operational characteristics during its functioning, these characteristics are the dharmic appearances. Only the mind-consciousness can discern and realize these dharmic appearances; this is the function of the seeing aspect (darśana-bhāga) and the self-witnessing portion (svasaṃvitti-bhāga) of the mind-consciousness. The operation of all eight consciousnesses inherently possesses characteristics, and the mind-consciousness can discern and observe them all. When the mind-consciousness observes its own operation, it is the self-witnessing portion of self-awareness (svasaṃvitti-bhāga). It can verify its own existence, functioning, and its current state; this is called introspection. The introspective nature of the other consciousnesses cannot be observed before enlightenment and is difficult to observe even before reaching the first bodhisattva ground (bhūmi).