The Object-Aspect of the Tathāgatagarbha

When the object-realm appears, that is the object-aspect. Apart from the substance of tathāgatagarbha itself, every dharma is an object-aspect of tathāgatagarbha and can be discerned by tathāgatagarbha. Only afterwards is it discerned by the manas, and only after that is it discerned by the six consciousnesses. However, tathāgatagarbha also possesses self-validating cognition (sva-saṃvitti-saṃvitti-bhāga); it can also discern and introspect upon its own functioning, which likewise is its own object-aspect. The object-realm object-aspects discerned by the eighth consciousness, the seventh consciousness, and the sixth consciousness become progressively more false and increasingly unreal.

All dharmas are object-aspects of tathāgatagarbha, including the minds of the seven consciousnesses and the mental factors (caittas). Tathāgatagarbha is also an object-aspect discerned by the manas and the mind consciousness, including the mental factors of tathāgatagarbha. Seeds are object-aspects of tathāgatagarbha; after attaining buddhahood, they may perhaps also be object-aspects of the seven consciousnesses.