How Does Tathāgatagarbha Record and Store Karmic Seeds?

Then we must examine what the Tathāgatagarbha accomplishes within the actions of body, speech, and mind of these six consciousnesses. Because the Tathāgatagarbha possesses seven great seeds, one of which is the seed of consciousness, the Tathāgatagarbha holds seeds of consciousness. These seeds of consciousness are divided into the seeds for the seven consciousnesses. It can simultaneously and distinctly deliver the respective seeds of consciousness to each of these seven consciousnesses. Once delivered, these seven consciousnesses manifest and become operational. The functioning of the seven consciousnesses relies on the operation of the five universal mental factors and the five particular mental factors, as well as the functioning of afflictive mental factors such as greed, hatred, and ignorance. For example, during their operation, the six consciousnesses not only involve the five universal mental factors; sometimes they also involve the five particular mental factors; and sometimes the eleven wholesome mental factors, although these eleven wholesome mental factors may not always manifest fully; additionally, afflictive mental factors such as greed, hatred, and ignorance may all manifest.

The seventh consciousness, the mental faculty, is likewise. Apart from the five universal mental factors, it also involves other afflictive mental factors, such as greed, hatred, ignorance, arrogance, doubt, and so on. As soon as the seven consciousnesses operate, their corresponding mental factors manifest. Consciousness functions in the form of mental factors. Mental factors can be pure, defiled, or neither pure nor defiled, and sometimes all of them manifest. Once the seeds of consciousness arise, the seven consciousnesses can operate, and they arise and cease instantaneously. Their arising stems from the Tathāgatagarbha. When the seeds of consciousness cease, where do they cease to? If such a seed ceases, does it mean it naturally vanishes? Then how many seeds of consciousness would the Tathāgatagarbha continuously produce without them being depleted? Those seeds of consciousness arise and cease, arise and cease—does the Tathāgatagarbha need to continuously generate new seeds of consciousness? It is not so; there is no longer any dharmic existence that produces seeds of consciousness.