The Sustaining of Embryo and the Indriya-Body World by Tathāgatagarbha (Part III)

All dharmas are the Tathagatagarbha. From the perspective of superficial phenomena, it may appear that one dharma gives rise to another, but in reality, all are produced by the Tathagatagarbha through specific conditions. All external phenomena are illusory surface appearances; their essence is the function of the Tathagatagarbha. For example, within the twelve links of dependent origination, does ignorance condition formations? Can ignorance produce physical, verbal, and mental activities? Ignorance has no substantial entity; it is merely a concept, a provisional designation. It is not the conscious mind, nor does it possess seeds; therefore, it certainly cannot give birth to any dharma. The fact is, because sentient beings possess ignorance, physical, verbal, and mental activities arise, and subsequently, formations condition consciousness.

Who produces these physical, verbal, and mental activities? It is the Tathagatagarbha that, relying on specific external conditions combined with the sentient being's ignorance, enables the birth and existence of physical, verbal, and mental activities. Can physical, verbal, and mental activities produce the six consciousnesses? Certainly not. It is because sentient beings possess physical, verbal, and mental activities that the six consciousnesses are compelled to continuously manifest and operate. Who gives birth to the six consciousnesses? Naturally, it is the Tathagatagarbha, not the physical, verbal, and mental activities. Because physical, verbal, and mental activities lack substantial entity and seeds, they cannot give birth to any dharma. The essence is that due to the condition of sense faculties and objects, the Tathagatagarbha produces the six consciousnesses. The twelve links of dependent origination form a chain, one link conditioning the next. The preceding link is the condition, but the cause for the birth of the subsequent link is always the Tathagatagarbha.

Any dharma within the Triple Realm, if not upheld by the Tathagatagarbha, would decay, perish, and cease to exist; we would be unable to perceive it. Without the Tathagatagarbha, first and foremost, even we ourselves would not exist, let alone the entire Triple Realm. Every dharma in the world is upheld by the Tathagatagarbha. The external phenomena are conditions; the internal essence is all the Tathagatagarbha.

The arising, abiding, changing, and ceasing of all dharmas, including the destruction of the Earth, are all functions performed by the Tathagatagarbha within them. Not a single dharma can possess its own inherent nature or exist independently apart from the Tathagatagarbha. Do not be misled by the apparent reality of surface phenomena, which seem to exist independently or to arise and cease on their own. In truth, this is not the case; it is all due to the upholding function performed by the Tathagatagarbha. The Earth seems to arise and destroy itself; the windows, chairs, stools, and other objects in a home seem to gradually change and finally perish on their own. In reality, none of this is so. It is only because the Tathagatagarbha projects the seeds of the four great elements, producing arising, abiding, and change, that those superficial phenomena can appear.