Attaining Bodhi Without Abandoning Kleshas Was Never Said by the Buddha

The second volume of the Lankavatara Sutra states: At that time, the great bodhisattva Mahamati addressed the Buddha, saying: "World-Honored One, the World-Honored One has said in the sutras that the Tathagatagarbha is inherently pure. It transforms into the thirty-two marks and enters into the bodies of all sentient beings. Like a priceless treasure wrapped in soiled garments, the Tathagatagarbha is eternally abiding and unchanging. It is just like this. Yet it is wrapped in the soiled garments of the aggregates, elements, and entrances, and defiled by the unreal delusions and afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion. This is what all Buddhas expound."

Explanation: The inherently pure Tathagatagarbha is like a priceless treasure, wrapped in the soiled garments of the five aggregates, eighteen elements, and twelve entrances, and defiled by the afflictions of greed, hatred, delusion, false thoughts, and mental disturbances. To perceive the pure Tathagatagarbha, one must eliminate the five aggregates, eighteen elements, and twelve entrances, and cleanse the afflictions of greed, hatred, delusion, false thoughts, and mental disturbances. Only then can the Tathagatagarbha manifest. This passage clearly indicates that to realize the Tathagatagarbha, one must eradicate the view of self and eliminate the afflictions of greed, hatred, and delusion. Therefore, without eradicating the view of self and without removing afflictions, one cannot realize the Tathagatagarbha. Thus, the notion of realizing enlightenment without eliminating afflictions is not a teaching of the Buddha.