Are We Within the Tathāgatagarbha, or Is the Tathāgatagarbha Within Us?

If the Tathagatagarbha is within our sixth and seventh consciousnesses, do these consciousnesses have a center? How is the location of the center determined? If our sixth and seventh consciousnesses are within the Tathagatagarbha mind, does the Tathagatagarbha have a center? How is the location of the center determined?

The entire five aggregates and eighteen elements of each individual are all formed by the Tathagatagarbha using the seven great elements. These seven great elements are dharmas within the Tathagatagarbha. While it is said that the seven great elements manifest outwardly to form various dharmas, in reality, the seven great elements never depart from the Tathagatagarbha. If they did, dharmas would exist independently outside the Tathagatagarbha, not upheld by it, which is impossible. Since the seven great elements never leave the Tathagatagarbha yet ceaselessly undergo birth, cessation, and transformation within the five aggregates and eighteen elements of sentient beings, how could these aggregates and elements exist outside the Tathagatagarbha? Can dharmas exist independently outside the Tathagatagarbha?

The meaning of the One True Dharma Realm is that the entire world of sentient beings is a single true Dharma Realm—the Tathagatagarbha. All are dharmas within the Tathagatagarbha; there are no dharmas independent of the Tathagatagarbha. Although the terms "inside" and "outside" are used, the Tathagatagarbha ultimately has no inside or outside. The entirety is Suchness; since no "outside" can be found, there is consequently no relative "inside."