On What Basis Does Tathagatagarbha Sustain and Transform the Rupa-Kaya?

The Tathagatagarbha abides eternally in quiescent extinction without movement. If it manifests any dharmas, it must be the result of the activity of the manas, and there must be the simultaneous conditioning factor of the manas. Superficially, when the Tathagatagarbha forms the name-and-form fertilized egg, transforms the fertilized egg, and repairs the material body tissues, it may seem devoid of the manas' function. In reality, the function of the manas is always present. The manas perpetually corresponds with karmic seeds, and the Tathagatagarbha accords with these karmic seeds—it accords with both meritorious and non-meritorious karmic seeds, which is equivalent to according with the manas. The Tathagatagarbha, for the vast majority of the time, gives rise to worldly dharmas based on karmic seeds. Even if the manas continuously thinks and makes choices, when the Tathagatagarbha cooperates with the manas, it must still rely on karmic seeds, meritorious causes and conditions, and other conditioning factors.

If the causes and conditions are not sufficient, merit is lacking, there are no karmic seeds, or the karmic seeds have not yet ripened, the Tathagatagarbha cannot manifest dharmas according to the choices of the manas. For example, many people wish to rise in official rank and gain wealth, desiring superior worldly retributions, but lacking the karmic seeds and with conditions unripe, they can only continue their former ways, living ordinary common lives. Another example: some people are destined for the retribution of frequent illness; no matter how hard they strive, how much money and effort they expend, they cannot repair the body and make it healthy. Even the merit of an emperor is insufficient. Moreover, once an emperor exhausts his merit, he might commit suicide, be killed, or have his throne usurped. In the world, many people are born with great merit, but because they excessively enjoy and deplete this merit from childhood, once they grow up and the merit is exhausted, they either die young, live in poverty, or suffer from various disasters.

The retributions within the three realms are pulled along by karmic force, and the Tathagatagarbha revolves according to karmic force. However, if the power of vows exceeds that of karma, it can pull the Tathagatagarbha along according to the vow. When ordinary beings make great vows, they gradually break free from the bonds of karma, undergo a fundamental transformation to become sages, and ultimately attain Buddhahood. Therefore, repentance and making vows constitute a powerful practice method. As long as there is a vow, as long as the manas holds a vow, it will inevitably be fulfilled one day. No vow is empty; all will be realized—it is only a matter of when the causes and conditions become complete. After these great vows are made, the Tathagatagarbha records them. When the seeds ripen, the wish will be fulfilled. What we need to do is, first, to make pure, great, and wholesome vows, and second, to diligently work to ripen the seeds of the vow power. In the future, we will attain the fruit of the vow.