Can Ordinary Beings Turn to Tathagatagarbha?

The preliminary success of turning to rely on the Tathāgatagarbha occurs at the first ground bodhisattva stage. Bodhisattvas below the first ground are diligently striving to turn to rely upon it, learning how to do so. Ordinary beings, not having realized the Tathāgatagarbha, cannot rely upon it. Not knowing where the Tathāgatagarbha is, what its characteristics are, how can they rely upon it? It is like relying on empty space—a Tathāgatagarbha imagined in the mind is not a tangible reality that can be perceived and thus cannot be truly relied upon.

Furthermore, ordinary beings cannot actively utilize the Tathāgatagarbha. Not knowing its location, characteristics, functions, or how to employ it, everyone is merely imagining the Tathāgatagarbha. This is called conjecture and fantasy, or simply guessing. Ordinary beings are permitted to guess, and they may even guess with seventy or eighty percent accuracy, but it is ultimately useless. Once consciousness ceases, they will be plunged into darkness, bewildered and at a loss.

The sign of successfully turning to rely is a transformation in mental nature, becoming similar to that of the Tathāgatagarbha, where afflictions are eradicated and wisdom increases. When turning to rely is not yet successful, one is gradually changing oneself, subduing one's afflictions, and bit by bit increasing wisdom. Accumulating to a certain degree, a qualitative leap occurs: afflictions are eradicated, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses transform into wisdom—this is the success of turning to rely, but it is still preliminary. Complete turning to rely results in Buddhahood. Therefore, one cannot judge whether the Mind has been clearly realized or enlightenment attained based solely on the success of turning to rely. The clear realization of Mind and enlightenment have their own criteria and content; turning to rely is not that criterion.

The Dharma has become greatly confused. The reason for this confusion is that many people have not traversed that path. They rely solely on understanding, reasoning, and conjecture. Even if their guesses are eighty or ninety percent correct, they remain quite inaccurate because, after all, they have not seen it with their own eyes. Their minds certainly lack a solid foundation. A tiger drawn from a cat's image is not a tiger.