The Unborn and Undying Nature of Tathāgatagarbha

The Tathagatagarbha true mind cannot be attained, nor can it be lost. What does "neither lost nor attained" mean? It signifies the meaning of neither arising nor ceasing. Since it does not arise, it cannot be attained, for it is inherently existent. Since it does not cease, there is no need for it to arise, and thus no need to attain it. The true mind itself is the unconditioned dharma; there is no need for you to cultivate anything to achieve the unconditioned. The unconditioned dharma achieved through cultivation is the unconditioned state of the seventh consciousness, which still has moments of cessation; thus, it remains within the realm of arising and ceasing.

The True Suchness unconditioned neither arises nor ceases, accompanying the Tathagatagarbha like a shadow following a form. The Tathagatagarbha is formless and markless, mutually inclusive and mutually cooperative, jointly accomplishing all dharmas. Yet, though mutually inclusive, there is no mark of inclusion—it is merely non-rejecting. The Tathagatagarbha of the Buddha and the Tathagatagarbha of sentient beings are likewise mutually cooperative and mutually inclusive. Therefore, the Tathagatagarbha of sentient beings need not merge into the Tathagatagarbha of the Buddha. The Tathagatagarbha is not a material dharma; it has no inside or outside. They cannot enter or merge into one another, for only material dharmas can mutually merge and enter.