The Profound Meaning of Vijñapti-mātratā in the Diamond Sutra (XI)

Once, as the World-Honored One had just taken his seat upon the Dharma throne, Bodhisattva Manjusri approached and struck the lecture table with the mallet, declaring, "The World-Honored One's Dharma talk is concluded." Upon hearing this, the World-Honored One immediately descended from his seat. Indeed, the teaching was complete—the profound Dharma of Tathagatagarbha had been transmitted. In truth, the Dharma had been fully imparted the very moment the World-Honored One entered the lecture hall and pushed open the door; he could have simply turned around and exited, leaving the disciples utterly dumbfounded. Venerable Fu during Emperor Wu of Liang's reign and Chan masters of the Tang Dynasty performed similar acts, yet ordinary people could not penetrate the profound meaning hidden within. Only Bodhisattvas with profound virtuous roots could comprehend it.

The Second Patriarch of Chan Buddhism was Ananda. After the World-Honored One's parinirvana, Ananda asked Mahakasyapa, "Besides passing you the gold-threaded kasaya, what else did the World-Honored One transmit to you?" He was inquiring about Tathagatagarbha. Mahakasyapa then called out, "Ananda!"—implying, "This is it!" Yet Ananda did not understand. He reflexively responded, "Yes?" Having answered, he should have realized, but he still did not grasp it. Mahakasyapa, left with no choice, continued, "Go and lower the flagpole in front of the gate." Upon hearing this, Ananda thought, "I ask about the secret meaning, and you tell me to lower the flagpole?" As soon as he turned his mind, he understood—"So it is like this!" He experienced a great awakening and thus became the Second Patriarch of Chan. From then on, the lineage was passed down through the Twenty-eight Patriarchs in the West, continuing until the Sixth Patriarch in the Tang Dynasty and persisting until the end of the Ming Dynasty. Thereafter, those who awakened to this truth became exceedingly rare, though even now they still exist. The Buddha would never abandon the sentient beings of this world.

The first chapter of the Diamond Sutra itself is a Chan gong'an (public case). The World-Honored One transmitted the Dharma without uttering a single word, yet it is profoundly difficult to comprehend—only those of the highest spiritual capacity can perceive it. The ultimate aim of all Chan practice is Tathagatagarbha. Throughout the ten directions, regardless of which Buddha-land, all Buddhas awaken to this very Mind—its location, its mode of operation, how it gives rise to all phenomena, and how it generates the five aggregates and eighteen realms. Any practice deviating from this misses the mark. Merely understanding the theory intellectually, without knowing the essence of Tathagatagarbha or observing its functional principles, does not constitute genuine realization; at best, it is intellectual understanding, which cannot overcome birth and death.