Is the Rūpa-Kāya Neither Different from Nor Identical to the Ālayavijñāna?

After the Tathagatagarbha gives birth to our material body, how does the present material body exist? Is it still born from the Tathagatagarbha, and is the Tathagatagarbha continuously giving birth to the material body? If this question cannot be answered, how can one know that the material body is neither the eighth consciousness nor different from the eighth consciousness, and that it does not coexist separately with the eighth consciousness?

When the Tathagatagarbha initially gives birth to the material body, it delivers the seeds of the four great elements while simultaneously delivering the seeds of consciousness for the manas, followed by the seeds of consciousness for the mental consciousness, all while continuously delivering the seeds of the four great elements. After the material body is born, the Tathagatagarbha continues to deliver the seeds of the four great elements unceasingly, which is equivalent to the Tathagatagarbha continuously giving birth to the material body. Once the Tathagatagarbha ceases to deliver the seeds of the four great elements, the material body is no longer born and ceases to exist.

The Tathagatagarbha gives birth to all dharmas. As long as any dharma exists, the Tathagatagarbha is continuously giving birth to that dharma. After a dharma appears, its subsequent arising is called upholding and maintaining, but in essence, it is still birth, without interruption. The seeds of the four great elements arise and cease upon birth, then arise again and cease again, cycling continuously in this manner of arising and ceasing. Consequently, the material body continues to exist and undergoes constant change. The function of the Tathagatagarbha regarding the material body is to continuously deliver and withdraw the seeds of the four great elements and the seeds of consciousness. The function of the Tathagatagarbha regarding all dharmas is to deliver seeds, continuously giving birth to dharmas, thereby sustaining their existence and transformation, enabling dharmas to undergo birth, abiding, change, and cessation.

An entire material body is composed solely of the seven types of seeds delivered exclusively by the Tathagatagarbha. Thus, the material body is like a holding company solely invested in and controlled by the Tathagatagarbha, or it can be called a wholly-owned enterprise. However, there is no harvest, no profit, and no loss. The Tathagatagarbha is indifferent to its rise, fall, success, or failure because it does not regard the material body as self or as belonging to self.

From the perspective that the Tathagatagarbha wholly invests in and controls the material body, is the material body not the eighth consciousness, the Tathagatagarbha? No! Is the material body not different from the eighth consciousness, the Tathagatagarbha (meaning it is not owned by the eighth consciousness)? No! Does the material body not coexist with the eighth consciousness? No!

The entire seeds of the material body originate from the eighth consciousness; a portion of the seeds within the eighth consciousness constitutes the material body. The material body is the eighth consciousness, belonging to the eighth consciousness. The entire material body is Suchness; this is what is called the One True Dharma Realm! Among all conditioned dharmas in the world, which one is not the eighth consciousness? The entirety is Suchness, the One True Dharma Realm!

Since the entire material body is constituted by the seeds of the eighth consciousness, and the material body is regulated and controlled by the eighth consciousness, then the material body neither coexists separately with the eighth consciousness nor does it not coexist with it! How can the boss be separated from his own company?

But is the material body truly solely invested in by the eighth consciousness, with no partners or co-owners? Are there no second or third bosses? No! There is also a false boss who superficially manages and controls it, thinking that the material body is the self or belongs to the self, and that it is subject to his command.

Upon what basis does the eighth consciousness deliver the seven types of seeds to invest and control? Naturally, it is based on karmic seeds. Where do the karmic seeds come from? They are obtained through karmic actions committed by the six consciousnesses under the direction of the manas. If the manas directs the six consciousnesses to commit wholesome karma, one obtains a favorable material body—a successful company that generates profits. If the manas directs the six consciousnesses to commit unwholesome karma, one obtains a material body in the evil destinies, a body fraught with calamities—a failing company that suffers losses. The rise, fall, success, or failure of the material body company entails risks borne by the manas; responsibility lies with the manas; profits and losses are attributed to the manas.

The Tathagatagarbha is a hands-off investor; after investing, it concerns itself with nothing else. If the company needs funds, it will reinvest and manage as long as there is inventory. On the other hand, does the material body company deposit profits into the treasury? If profits are stored in the treasury but the company operates poorly, debts become the responsibility of the manas, repaid from the deposits in the treasury. If the treasury is depleted, the material body survives by wandering and begging, and the second boss, the manas, and the third boss, the six consciousnesses, are reduced to slaves.