What Does the Direct Realization of Tathāgatagarbha Mean?

Question: After realizing the tathāgatagarbha, one can directly realize its nature. How should this "direct realization" be understood—is it observed with the mind consciousness, or with the flesh eyes born of one's parents?

Answer: The tathāgatagarbha is formless and without characteristics, so it certainly cannot be observed by the flesh eyes, because eye consciousness can only see material form with shape and substance; only the mind consciousness can observe Him. When the mind consciousness gives rise to great wisdom, it can observe the operating modes of the tathāgatagarbha. After observing, we come to know His various natures, and we know how, in every aspect, He cooperates with the seven consciousnesses and the five aggregates to accomplish all dharmas.

In this way, one possesses the wisdom of the specific characteristics of the tathāgatagarbha, and further, the wisdom of the varieties of paths can arise in us. When the wisdom of the varieties of paths is complete and perfect, the wisdom of all aspects (sarvākārajñatā) is accomplished; at that point, one is a perfectly complete Buddha.

Because the tathāgatagarbha has operating modes in its functioning, and these operating modes are the dharma-marks, only the mind consciousness can discern and realize these dharma-marks; this is the function of the mind consciousness's perceiving-aspect and self-cognition (svasaṃvitti). The operation of each of the eight consciousnesses itself has operating modes, all of which the mind consciousness can discern and observe. When the mind consciousness observes its own operation, that is self-validating cognition (sva-saṃvitti-saṃvitti-bhāga); it can verify its own existence and functioning, as well as the state it itself is in—this is called introspection. This introspective nature of the other consciousnesses cannot be observed before enlightenment, and even before attaining the bhūmis it is very difficult to observe.