Tathagatagarbha and Material Form

The four great seeds are the inherent seeds within the Tathāgatagarbha. When combined, they generate various material rūpa (form). The four great particles are the minutest particles formed by the combination of the four great seeds. These particles then aggregate, forming larger granules. Through continuous aggregation, they constitute a specific material rūpa. When these particles coalesce, different arrangements result in different material rūpa. The configurations of these particles are exceedingly diverse, thus giving rise to a brilliantly colorful world where everything has its purpose, and sentient beings each have their needs. In essence, all are utilizing the Tathāgatagarbha, yet sentient beings remain unaware of this.

Before sentient beings arrive in this world, their own Tathāgatagarbha, together with the Tathāgatagarbhas of other sentient beings, outputs the four great seeds, participating in manifesting the external appearances (bāhya-pratibhāsa) of the universe and the container world (bhājana-loka). It then continuously upholds these external appearances. When the fully endowed five sense faculties of a sentient being come into contact with a specific external appearance, the Tathāgatagarbha, through the first five sense faculties, captures the four great particles of the external appearance, transmits them to the supramundane roots (lokottara-indriya) at the back of the brain, and manifests the internal appearances (adhyātma-pratibhāsa). When the supramundane roots contact the internal appearances, the Tathāgatagarbha further manifests the six consciousnesses. The three factors—faculties, objects, and consciousness—then come into contact, enabling the six consciousnesses to cognize the internal six sense objects (adhyātma-ṣaḍ-viṣaya).

Why does the output of the four great seeds by the Tathāgatagarbha form material rūpa? The four great elements cannot automatically form material rūpa apart from the functioning of the mind-consciousness. It is the Tathāgatagarbha that utilizes the four great seeds to transform and create rūpa. All dharmas would instantly vanish without a trace if separated from the Tathāgatagarbha for even a moment. The four great seeds are transmitted, forming the four great elements. Then, the Tathāgatagarbha collectively uses the four great elements to transform and create material rūpa, collectively maintains the material rūpa, and collectively continuously alters the material rūpa. So, who determines the sequencing of the four great seeds? It is certainly determined by the Tathāgatagarbha. Does the Tathāgatagarbha actively decide the sequencing of the seeds? No, it is determined by the karmic seeds of sentient beings.