The Cause of All Phenomena Lies in the Fluctuation of the Mind Faculty

Since it is the mind consciousness that stirs, bringing forth all phenomena, what then is meant by "stirring of the mind"? Stirring of the mind refers to the arising of thoughts, the intention to engage in action, the emergence of the mental factor of deliberation, which the tathāgatagarbha perceives and immediately cooperates with to manifest all phenomena. Thus, the result of the mind's stirring appears. All phenomena are the outcome of the mind consciousness stirring, without exception. Now, does the mind consciousness possess thoughts? Does it possess desire? Does it possess resolute conviction? If the mind consciousness were devoid of mental thoughts, completely free from any deliberation, could that be called stirring of the mind? That would instead be the absence of mental activity. If the mind consciousness lacked desire and thoughts, could phenomena arise merely through the stirring of the mental consciousness? That would be impossible. Even the mental consciousness itself is a result of the mind consciousness stirring; it too is one of the phenomena. Moreover, before the mental consciousness stirs, the objective realm has already appeared—the realm precedes the mental consciousness. Furthermore, even if the mental consciousness stirs, if the mind consciousness remains unmoved, the tathāgatagarbha cannot comply with the mental consciousness to manifest phenomena. It invariably complies with the mind consciousness to manifest phenomena. The manifestation of all phenomena occurs precisely because of the desire and thoughts of the mind consciousness.