The Functions and Roles of the Seeing Essence in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra

Question: In the Śūraṅgama Sūtra, it speaks of the essence of seeing reflecting material form. What does "essence of seeing" refer to?

Answer: The essence of seeing refers to the seeing-nature of the tathāgatagarbha, formed from the element of seeing among the seven great elements. The seeing-nature can reflect and present material form; reflecting does not mean generating, but rather revealing already-generated, existing dharmas — this is the function of the seeing-nature. The character "reflect" in "the essence of seeing reflects material form" means to illuminate, just as sunlight illuminates the myriad things. The essence of seeing of the tathāgatagarbha illuminates all material form, just as an electric lamp emits light, and the lamplight makes forms appear. Only when forms appear can the eyes see them; without the lamplight's illumination, the eyes cannot see forms.

The essence of seeing is the function of the element of seeing; "essence" means essential spirit. The essential spirit of seeing is the Buddha-nature. The Buddha-nature can manifest all dharmas, and only then can the seven consciousnesses see all dharmas, after which the functions of the five aggregates come vividly into play. The tathāgatagarbha gives birth to all dharmas, and the Buddha-nature manifests again all the dharmas generated by the tathāgatagarbha, so that the five aggregates can operate, lively and vigorous. The dragon and tiger are false appearances; they can only appear by relying on the tathāgatagarbha and the Buddha-nature — all are wondrous functions of the tathāgatagarbha and the Buddha-nature.

Question: The Śūraṅgama Sūtra says: "Ānanda, when you see me, the essence of seeing with its luminous origin — although this seeing is not the wondrous, refined, luminous mind, it is like a second moon, not a reflection of the moon." Seeing is the eye consciousness; why is it said to be like a second moon? Does this mean that He has no essence and is illusory? Why does it first say "the essence of seeing with its luminous origin" and then "the wondrous, refined, luminous mind"?

Answer: When Ānanda sees the Buddha, he does not see merely with his eyes; mainly he sees with the seeing-nature of the tathāgatagarbha, seeing with the Buddha-nature. Only after the Buddha-nature has seen can the seven consciousnesses see. If there were no tathāgatagarbha and no Buddha-nature, first, there would be no eyes, and second, the sense-object of form would not appear, and the function of the eyes could not operate. When the eyes see form, the tathāgatagarbha together with the manas, the mind consciousness, and the eye consciousness must combine in order to see form. Moreover, the seeing-nature of the tathāgatagarbha must function: the electric lamp emits light, and the light illuminates material form; when faculty and object make contact, the eye consciousness and the mind consciousness can then see form.

The tathāgatagarbha is the wondrous luminous true mind; the seeing-nature of the tathāgatagarbha is the essence of seeing with its luminous origin, existing in dependence on the true mind. It is the essential spirit of seeing dharmas, the root and origin of illuminating dharmas. The tathāgatagarbha and the seeing-nature of the tathāgatagarbha are like the relationship between the lamp and the lamplight, the relationship between the first moon and the second moon. The seeing-nature functions in dependence on the essence of the tathāgatagarbha; He is not generated by the tathāgatagarbha — with the tathāgatagarbha He is one substance with two functions, just like the second moon seen when one presses the eye. The second moon is not born of the first moon; like the first moon, it is real, so one cannot say the second moon is illusory. The seeing-nature is also like the lamplight on the lamp: the lamplight is not born of the lamp; it is the wondrous function of the lamp. Therefore the seeing-nature is not illusory; it is real. As long as the tathāgatagarbha is to see dharmas and illusory dharmas exist, the seeing-nature will manifest.