The Relationship Between Karmic Seeds and Mental Factors

The Tathāgatagarbha perceives the mental activities of sentient beings, but in reality, it only perceives the mental activities of the manas. Only when the mental activities of the manas arise can the Tathāgatagarbha perceive them and then produce the seeds for the arising of the first six consciousnesses and so forth. All dharmas are brought about by the manas taking charge and initiating them. If the manas does not choose and act, the six consciousnesses will not arise. Therefore, the Tathāgatagarbha necessarily cooperates with the manas and necessarily perceives the mental activities of the manas; only then can it give rise to the six consciousnesses to fulfill the mental activities of the manas. In the operation of all dharmas, the Tathāgatagarbha primarily interacts with the manas, while simultaneously following karmic seeds. When karmic seeds ripen, regardless of whether the manas needs, likes, or dislikes them, the Tathāgatagarbha must manifest the karmic conditions.

Karmic seeds are the records of the functioning of mental factors. Physical, verbal, and mental actions are mental factors; all behaviors are mental factors. If the mental factors are pure, the actions are pure, and the karmic seeds are pure. If the mental factors change, the karmic seeds change. Body and mind correspond; for example, when the mental factor of anger arises, the body undergoes changes; when the mental factor of tranquility in meditation arises, the body undergoes changes. Who changes the mental factors? It is the mental factors themselves that change the mental factors; they change themselves. It is not the Buddha who changes them, nor is it the Tathāgatagarbha that changes them. Therefore, in cultivation, it is always oneself who cultivates, no matter what. Do not expect anyone else to substitute for you, thinking that receiving blessings once will cause you to ascend to heaven; it is not like that.