Lecture Notes on the Sūtra of the Collection of the Father and Son (42)

The seeds of the fire element are formless and without mark

The seeds of the fire element are formless and without mark, and the tathāgatagarbha itself is also formless and without mark. If something with form and mark were stored within the formless and markless tathāgatagarbha, could it be stored there? First, it cannot be stored; second, if it could be stored, the tathāgatagarbha would then become something with form and mark, and could then be seen with the eyes and touched with the hands—realizing the tathāgatagarbha would become extremely easy, and everyone could become an enlightened bodhisattva who has realized it. The tathāgatagarbha is not some kind of bag or vessel; He is formless and without mark, and cannot store a form body with marks. Yet He can manifest and produce a form body—this is truly inconceivable. It is inconceivable because we lack wisdom; when our wisdom is complete, it can be conceived of. The Buddha has wisdom, and the Buddha can conceive of it. When we study Buddhism and manifest great wisdom, in the end all dharmas can be conceived of—no problem, no need for surprise, no need for wonder, and no longer confusion and delusion.

Not knowing ultimate reality is confusion and delusion; believing that all dharmas are worthy of craving and grasping, one ends up drifting in the ocean of saṃsāra and karma, unable to escape. Knowing the true reality of all dharmas, one is no longer confused and deluded. When one has wisdom, one should recognize the truth and no longer be deluded and attached to false appearances.