The Black Box World (22)

Since the Tathagatagarbha is formless and shapeless, pervading the five aggregates, pervading all places, pervading all realms, pervading all times, pervading all lands, pervading all dharmas, and throughout the entire world, universe, and vessel of the mundane realm, traces of the Tathagatagarbha are found everywhere. Thus, there is no concept of where the Tathagatagarbha is or is not, nor any notion of where it goes or does not go. It neither comes nor goes. Given that it neither comes nor goes, yet possesses these six pervasions, would the Tathagatagarbhas of sentient beings overlap with one another? Do they influence and communicate with each other?

Although the Tathagatagarbha of each sentient being possesses these pervasions, the Tathagatagarbhas do not overlap with one another because they are all formless and shapeless. However, the Tathagatagarbhas do communicate with each other, for they belong to the same category of consciousness-mind. Therefore, they certainly interact and are able to communicate mutually. When conditions arise, they perceive the seeds stored within each other’s mind-essence, thereby perceiving the five-aggregate body sustained by the other. When the Tathagatagarbha perceives the seeds within another Tathagatagarbha, it perceives all the conditions of the five aggregates of that sentient being manifested by the other Tathagatagarbha, including matters across all lifetimes. Thus, there are no secrets between one Tathagatagarbha and another.

Our Tathagatagarbha, when conditions connect with another Tathagatagarbha, can perceive everything within that other Tathagatagarbha. The seeds within the other Tathagatagarbha can be discriminated by our Tathagatagarbha, and the seeds within our Tathagatagarbha can be perceived by the other Tathagatagarbha. Therefore, between the Tathagatagarbhas of sentient beings who share karmic connections, they can discriminate each other’s karmic seeds. This prompts their respective sustained five aggregates to become alert, resulting in resonance between the five aggregates. With virtuous conditions, harmony and tranquility arise, and the five aggregates of the two sentient beings feel profoundly joyful. If there are adverse conditions, however, the Tathagatagarbhas mutually perceive the seeds of adversity, alerting their respective sustained five aggregates. The relationship between the two five-aggregate sentient beings becomes strained. If their respective Tathagatagarbhas output seeds of adversity, the five aggregates of the two sentient beings will clash when together, leading to discord and opposition.