Śūraṅgama Sūtra: Exposition of Selected Passages

Original text: The frenzied mind ceases abruptly, and in that cessation lies bodhi. Pūrṇa, the nature of delusion is thus; why does it persist? If you simply do not follow the distinctions of the three kinds of continuity—the world, karmic retribution, and sentient beings—then because the three conditions are severed, the three causes do not arise. Then, the frenzied nature of Yajñadatta in your mind will cease of itself. In that cessation lies bodhi. The supremely pure and luminous mind is originally pervasive throughout the dharmadhātu. It is not obtained from others. Why rely on arduous cultivation and realization?

Explanation: To "cease" means to cease the frenzied nature of the mind; it does not mean annihilating the sixth and seventh consciousnesses. Yajñadatta saw the head in the mirror, mistook it for the loss of his own head, and ran about everywhere searching for it. Mistaking the five aggregates for the self, mistaking all perceived realms for the self, mistaking the seventh consciousness for the self—thus craving for the self and craving for all dharmas—this is the frenzy of the mind.

Because the mind is frenzied, it fails to recognize its inherent tathāgatagarbha, mistaking the functions and operations of the tathāgatagarbha for the functions and operations of the manas (the seventh consciousness) itself. When one cultivates to the point of ceasing this frenzied mind, one can realize the fundamental mind, the tathāgatagarbha.

Sentient beings have always been searching outwardly for their true self, unaware that the tathāgatagarbha is right within their own five aggregates, and that all dharmas are it. When we stop searching outwardly and turn back to seek within ourselves, it is very easy to find. It turns out it is not elsewhere. Finally, we arrive at the conclusion: The supremely pure, luminous, and wondrous tathāgatagarbha originally pervades the eighteen dharmadhātus. It is not obtained from others, nor is it realized through expending so much effort and paying such a high price through cultivation. It is the family treasure originally present within one's own treasury, obscured only by karmic obstacles, remaining undiscovered.