Manas Is the Driving Force That Gives Rise to All Phenomena in the Three Realms

The manas prompts the tathāgatagarbha to generate the universe and the vessel world; it is also the karmic seeds that prompt the tathāgatagarbha to give rise to the universe and the vessel world. The manas corresponds with the karmic seeds, and the manas represents karma—whether good karma, evil karma, or neutral karma.

The arising of the universe and the vessel world is prepared for the birth and existence of the five aggregates and is also a phenomenon of the three realms. Due to the karmic seeds, when karmic conditions ripen, they prompt the tathāgatagarbha to emit the four great seeds, forming the four great elements. The tathāgatagarbha of all sentient beings collectively manifests the vessel world. Only after this vessel world is formed can sentient beings be born. The purpose lies with the manas. If the manas has no purpose, the karma of the three realms ceases, and one enters the remainderless nirvana like an arhat, causing the three realms to vanish as well.

The Twelve Links of Dependent Origination explain this principle: when karmic causes and conditions ripen, sentient beings are born; without the vessel world, there is no environment for existence, and the conditions for the birth of sentient beings do not ripen. This condition is also brought about by the manas, which is the driving force that manifests all phenomena of the three realms.