Why Does Tathāgatagarbha Gradually Withdraw from the Physical Body at the Time of Death?

The physical body is formed from the four great elements, which are the seeds within the Tathagatagarbha. At the time of death, the four great elements within the physical body must disperse so that the physical body can cease to exist and no longer function. At the moment of death, the four great elements decompose and scatter, with the seeds returning to the Tathagatagarbha. This process is not instantaneous; its duration varies depending on the individual's good and evil karma. The decomposition of the four great elements means that the seeds of the four elements gradually withdraw from the physical body, causing bodily functions to progressively diminish and the body to gradually stiffen. This process is conventionally described as the Tathagatagarbha withdrawing from the physical body, no longer sustaining it, so that the body loses its vitality.

The Tathagatagarbha is formless and without characteristics; no one can see it enter or exit the physical body. The seeds of the four great elements are also formless and without characteristics; no one can see how these seeds form the physical body or witness their decomposition and withdrawal from it. One can only observe changes in the physical body and infer the functional changes of the seeds and the role of the Tathagatagarbha from these bodily transformations. Where the Tathagatagarbha functions within the physical body, there is life force, warmth, and consciousness. Without the Tathagatagarbha, there is no life force, warmth, or consciousness. At the moment of death, life force gradually diminishes, body temperature slowly fades away, causing the body to grow increasingly cold and stiff. Consciousness gradually weakens and vanishes, the mind becomes increasingly confused until it reaches a state of unconsciousness, and the being enters the bardo body. The point where the Tathagatagarbha finally departs from the physical body is where the four great elements ultimately decompose, where life force lingers for the last time, and where body temperature finally disappears. This determines the karmic path of rebirth in the next life. Regarding this final point in the body, the higher its location, the more virtuous the karmic path of rebirth; conversely, the lower its location, the more unwholesome the karmic path.

The dharmas unseen by sentient beings are true, while the dharmas seen are false. Seeing the false but not the true is called ignorance. If one can constantly perceive the true in all places, then nothing in the world matters. All is empty; not a single dharma can be grasped emotionally. The world itself ceases to exist. The mind fully returns to its self-nature, endowed with wisdom. This is called wisdom. Wisdom is not emotional; where there is emotion, there is no wisdom.