Does Tathāgatagarbha Transmigrate into the Six Realms?

Question: Some say: "The inherently pure Tathagatagarbha emptiness contains the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses; thus, it drifts along with the winds of karma, taking rebirth within the three realms and six paths—either ascending to the heavens, descending into hell, or being born among humans. Due to denying the true Dharma, one may again manifest in hell." Can Tathagatagarbha take rebirth? Does taking rebirth imply it has birth and cessation?

Answer: First, although the Tathagatagarbha mind is empty, it should not be called "emptiness" but rather the "empty nature mind." This is because Tathagatagarbha is the substance of the mind, not a property representing the substance. Properties are subordinate to the mind-substance; they are used to describe the substance and are not entities themselves. The properties of the mind exist only in dependence on the mind.

Second, emptiness is the property of the principle-substance, not an entity itself. Therefore, it cannot contain seeds. It is the mind-substance that contains the karmic seeds, whether defiled or pure.

Third, neither emptiness nor the mind-substance can contain the defiled seeds of the seven consciousnesses, because the seeds of the seven consciousnesses are consciousness-seeds. They are intrinsically pure, being the pure nature of Tathagatagarbha, and can never be defiled. It should be said that the mind-substance of Tathagatagarbha contains the defiled karmic seeds generated by the seven consciousnesses.

Fourth, Tathagatagarbha does not take rebirth. Although Tathagatagarbha contains the defiled karmic seeds of the seven consciousnesses, it is the seventh consciousness that undergoes rebirth according to karma. Tathagatagarbha merely follows the seventh consciousness and the karmic seeds, manifesting the realms of the six paths and the five-aggregate body. Only then does the seventh consciousness take rebirth. When the seventh consciousness takes rebirth, it is Tathagatagarbha that selects the seventh consciousness to undergo rebirth. Without Tathagatagarbha’s cooperation in projecting the karmic seeds and the seven great seeds, the seventh consciousness cannot take rebirth. Therefore, it cannot be said that Tathagatagarbha undergoes rebirth in the heavens, hell, or the human realm; rather, it is the seventh consciousness that continuously undergoes rebirth in the heavens, hell, and the human realm.

Fifth, since Tathagatagarbha does not take rebirth, it does not cycle within the six paths. The realms of the six paths are illusory appearances manifested within the mind-substance of Tathagatagarbha. Tathagatagarbha does not enter the six paths; rather, the six paths continuously manifest within Tathagatagarbha. The nature of Tathagatagarbha is non-coming, non-going, and immutably still. All dharmic phenomena arise and cease within Tathagatagarbha, all being manifestations of Tathagatagarbha. Even empty space is but an insignificant and illusory phenomenon within Tathagatagarbha—how much more so the realms of the six paths. Therefore, it is said that Tathagatagarbha does not take rebirth and does not undergo transmigration.