Suchness Not Abiding in Self-Nature Is Not Suchness Devoid of Self-Nature

The statement "tathata does not maintain its intrinsic nature" means that the tathagatagarbha does not abide in its original state of absolute emptiness but instead emits seeds from within the mind, thereby forming the phenomenal existence of the myriad dharmas within the three realms. This tathata refers to the essence of the tathagatagarbha. The essence of tathagatagarbha certainly possesses its own intrinsic nature, which differs from the nature of all mundane dharmas. If the tathata, the eighth consciousness tathagatagarbha, had no intrinsic nature, it would be a conditioned dharma, a dharma that is produced. Any dharma that is produced is conditioned and lacks an independent intrinsic nature; lacking an independent intrinsic nature means it is conditioned. However, the tathata, the eighth consciousness tathagatagarbha, inherently exists, not born from causes and conditions. It eternally possesses its unique intrinsic nature, which never changes; therefore, it is unconditioned and supremely autonomous.

The statement "nirvana has no intrinsic nature" means that since nirvana is a state of pure, solitary existence of the tathagatagarbha, this state is not a dharma with intrinsic nature but rather a manifesting dharma used to reveal the tathagatagarbha. If tathata does not refer to the essence of tathagatagarbha but rather to its attribute of true suchness, its unchanging nature—a quality—then this tathata has no intrinsic nature; it is without intrinsic nature.

Since it is said that tathata does not maintain its intrinsic nature, this indicates that tathata tathagatagarbha possesses intrinsic nature, which is emptiness (śūnyatā). Yet, tathagatagarbha contains seeds and thus has non-emptiness, enabling it to manifest all dharmas according to conditions. However, while manifesting all dharmas, it remains inherently empty; it is not characterized by existence, nor is it itself the myriad dharmas. Precisely because tathata tathagatagarbha possesses the intrinsic nature of emptiness, it can accomplish all dharmas. If tathata tathagatagarbha lacked the intrinsic nature of emptiness, it could not accomplish all dharmas. If tathagatagarbha were unable to accomplish the myriad dharmas, it would merely be tathata tathagatarbha itself.

No matter how many dharmas tathagatagarbha tathata manifests, it still retains its original nature. It is like gold not maintaining its inherent state as gold but transforming into the shapes of gold ornaments; yet no matter how many gold ornaments are crafted from it, the gold always retains the attributes of gold, possessing the essential nature of gold. Precisely because tathata has intrinsic nature, it is said that it "does not maintain" it; this "not maintaining" still implies existence. Tathata is originally utterly empty, possessing nothing, yet it can give rise to all dharmas according to conditions. While giving rise to all dharmas, it still retains its original nature. Tathagatagarbha does not lose the attributes of its essential nature because it gives rise to the myriad dharmas. The attributes of the tathagatagarbha essence never change; otherwise, tathagatagarbha would not be an unchanging dharma.

The phrase "tathagatagarbha adapts to conditions without changing, and does not change while adapting to conditions" illustrates that regardless of conditions, tathagatagarbha's essence never alters; it possesses intrinsic nature, and this nature is immutable. The three intrinsic natures—the parikalpita-svabhava (imagined nature) of the seventh consciousness, the paratantra-svabhava (dependent nature) of the first six consciousnesses, and the parinispanna-svabhava (perfectly accomplished nature) of tathagatagarbha—are all without intrinsic nature; they are dharmas that can only exist depending on the essence of tathagatagarbha.