Whether the Four Subtle Primary Elements Are a Permanent Principle

The only permanently abiding dharma is the Tathāgatagarbha. The material four great atoms are always arising and ceasing; since they arise and cease, they are not permanently unchanging. The four great seeds that constitute the four great atoms belong to the innate seeds within the eighth consciousness. If they rely on the eighth consciousness, they can also be said to be permanent. However, the four great seeds cannot function without causes and conditions. For example, in the state of Nirvana without remainder, the four great seeds lie dormant and useless, unable to produce any dharma whatsoever. If the four great seeds were subject to arising and ceasing, then the four great seeds within the Tathāgatagarbha in Nirvana without remainder would disappear. Yet when an Arhat emerges from the state of Nirvana, the four great seeds can again manifest a material body. Where would these four great seeds come from? If the four great seeds are said to permanently abide within the Tathāgatagarbha, then the four great seeds are indeed permanent dharmas free from arising and ceasing.

The Tathāgatagarbha is formless and markless. The four great seeds or the seven great seeds within the Tathāgatagarbha are also formless and markless. These seeds permanently abide within the Tathāgatagarbha. If they were not permanent, what dharmas could the Tathāgatagarbha use to regenerate the seeds? The Tathāgatagarbha can utilize the four great and seven great seeds to give rise to all dharmas. Without these seeds, the Tathāgatagarbha would have no means to produce any dharma, for there are ultimately no dharmas or seeds that could give birth to these seeds again.

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