The Definition of Seed

The seed possesses the meaning of arising and manifestation, just as the seeds of flowers, plants, and trees, having these seeds, can take root, sprout, and grow into flowers, plants, and trees. Seeds are the root from which all phenomena originate, also called causes or elements, and are categorized into innate seeds and karmically conditioned seeds. Seeds are formless and markless; only formless and markless dharmas can abide within the formless and markless Tathāgatagarbha. The intrinsically formless Tathāgatagarbha cannot contain form-bearing and mark-bearing dharmas. When the Tathāgatagarbha encounters conditions based on karmic seeds, it can emit seeds, thereby giving birth to all phenomena and the three realms.