The Perceiving and Perceived Aspects of Tathagatagarbha

The discerning capacity of the Tathāgatagarbha is exceedingly profound; there is not a single dharma that the Tathāgatagarbha fails to discern. This is because the Tathāgatagarbha manifests all dharmas, sustains all dharmas, and if it lacked discernment, it would be incapable of manifesting, transforming, or sustaining all dharmas. Any dharma that the Tathāgatagarbha cannot discern is a non-existent dharma. As long as something exists in the conventional realm and is phenomenally present, the Tathāgatagarbha can discern it.

Wherever the Tathāgatagarbha can discern, there is the seeing aspect (dṛṣṭi-bhāga). The Tathāgatagarbha possesses the nature of seeing (dṛṣṭi-svabhāva). This nature of seeing is the very knowing and apprehending nature of the Tathāgatagarbha itself, which is the function of the thought mental factor (saṃjñā-caitta). Where there is a seeing aspect, there must necessarily be an object of seeing. The object seen by the Tathāgatagarbha is all dharmas without exception; not a single one is missed, all are seen. Yet, whether it is the seeing aspect or the appearing aspect (nimitta-bhāga), both are none other than the Tathāgatagarbha itself. There are no dharmas external to it; both are intrinsic aspects within the mind of the Tathāgatagarbha, and thus both are the Tathāgatagarbha. The Tathāgatagarbha does not see outwardly; it does not perceive external dharmas, it only sees its own mind. In the ultimate sense, essentially, there is no appearing aspect; all is the very essence of the Tathāgatagarbha, including the seeds (bīja). If there were no appearing aspect, the Tathāgatagarbha would have no seeing aspect, and the seeing aspect would be meaningless. What would it see? It would see itself.