How Can the Sixth Consciousness Be Considered to Realize Tathagatagarbha? (Part 1)

The sixth consciousness has a perceiving aspect, which is its knowing and discerning nature. This perceiving aspect can sense and comprehend all dharmas, including form dharmas and mental dharmas. The perceived aspect of the sixth consciousness refers to the objects it can know and discern; any dharma that can be perceived and observed by the sixth consciousness constitutes its perceived aspect. The objects known and discerned by the sixth consciousness include the six dusts (form, sound, smell, taste, touch, and dharmas) as well as the mental dharmas and mental factors of the seven consciousnesses. Additionally, the sixth consciousness can also perceive Tathāgatagarbha and its mental factors, but this is only possible after the sixth consciousness has located and realized Tathāgatagarbha, which constitutes the enlightenment of mind.

When the sixth consciousness possesses prajñā wisdom, it can realize Tathāgatagarbha, awaken to Tathāgatagarbha, locate Tathāgatagarbha, attain realization of Tathāgatagarbha, and observe Tathāgatagarbha. Thus, Tathāgatagarbha can become the perceived aspect of the sixth consciousness. However, Tathāgatagarbha itself has no form or appearance, nor any color that would allow the eye consciousness, ear consciousness, or nose consciousness to perceive it. It can only be detected and realized by the sixth consciousness through discerning its functional manifestations, thereby realizing Tathāgatagarbha through its operational dharmas.

Although the operational dharmas of Tathāgatagarbha are also formless and without characteristics, the sixth consciousness can perceive and comprehend them. The sixth consciousness’s detection of Tathāgatagarbha and its functioning depends on many prerequisites. Without these conditions being fulfilled, the sixth consciousness cannot perceive Tathāgatagarbha or discern its operations. After bodhisattvas have fulfilled these conditions, how does the sixth consciousness perceive the functioning of Tathāgatagarbha? How can one be considered to have realized and located Tathāgatagarbha?

Realizing and locating Tathāgatagarbha does not occur through the eye consciousness perceiving its color or form, nor through the ear consciousness hearing its sound, because Tathāgatagarbha has no color, no form, and no sound. However, Tathāgatagarbha still possesses operational principles; it has ceaselessly functioned since beginningless time, and thus it has manifestations that can be discerned by the conscious mind. Even formless dharmas can be recognized. This means Tathāgatagarbha has functional manifestations and operational dharmas.