The Relationship Between Tathāgatagarbha and Memory (Part 1)

Within the eight consciousnesses, the Tathāgatagarbha (Buddha-nature storehouse) is the storehouse. The source of all dharmas, which are the seeds, is extracted from the Tathāgatagarbha. All the deeds we have previously performed, the people, affairs, and phenomena we have experienced, are stored as seeds within the Tathāgatagarbha. If the mental consciousness (the sixth consciousness) wishes to perceive and discern past people, affairs, or phenomena again, it must retrieve and examine the records from the Tathāgatagarbha.

However, only the mental consciousness possesses the ability to examine these records; the function of memory belongs to the mental consciousness. The Tathāgatagarbha itself lacks the function or capacity for memory. When karmic seeds manifest and become dharmas (objects of mind), it cannot perceive these dharmas; it does not perceive any specific dharmas. Although the mental consciousness possesses the function of memory and recollection, without developing spiritual powers (abhijñā), the sixth consciousness can only recall all the people, affairs, and phenomena experienced in this present life; only the sixth consciousness can recall the events it has experienced.

How is the mental consciousness able to recall past events? The events we experience, the physical, verbal, and mental actions we perform, are instantly stored as seeds within the storehouse of the Tathāgatagarbha. Later, when the mental consciousness wishes to retrieve them for perception and discernment, it must also retrieve them from the storehouse. There must be a certain connection between the mental consciousness and the Tathāgatagarbha, and the mental faculty (manas, the seventh consciousness) serves as the bridge and link between the two.

The mental faculty is like a chief steward. For the mental consciousness to retrieve any 'goods' (seeds/dharmas), it must obtain the permission and consent of the mental faculty. If such 'goods' exist within the Tathāgatagarbha storehouse, and the conditions and causes allow, the Tathāgatagarbha will unconditionally offer them out. The mental faculty will then present them to the mental consciousness for it to experience and use. If the storehouse happens to lack such 'goods', or if the goods are compressed and cannot be retrieved temporarily, the mental consciousness can only wait empty-handed and blankly, obtaining nothing and enjoying nothing.

The dharmas cultivated and the experiences of all people, affairs, and phenomena from our past lives are also stored as seeds within the Tathāgatagarbha storehouse. Can we retrieve them in this present life? Certainly, it is possible! However, the mental consciousness must develop spiritual powers (abhijñā), becoming unobstructed and unaffected by the physical body. Without relying on the brain (the subtle material faculty), it can directly perceive and discern the dharmas manifested by the Tathāgatagarbha according to the intention (manasikāra) of the mental faculty. Without developing spiritual powers, the mental consciousness remains obstructed by the physical body. The events experienced in past lives cannot be perceived or recalled by the mental consciousness.