Apart from Tathagatagarbha, There Are No Phenomena

There is nothing beyond the mind; things do not exist independently, for it is due to the mind that things exist. Therefore, all phenomena are not of a self-nature, nor are they of dependent nature, but rather of the nature of Tathagatagarbha, as the Buddha taught in the Śūraṅgama Sūtra. Thus, do not say that there exists any phenomenon in the world that can function independently, separate from Tathagatagarbha—no such thing exists. The wind does not blow by itself, water does not flow by itself, mountains do not stand by themselves, fire does not burn by itself; all are enabled by Tathagatagarbha.

Do not say that objects possess gravitational force apart from Tathagatagarbha, for without Tathagatagarbha, not even objects exist—how then could there be any talk of gravitational force? Whether physical interactions or chemical reactions, none can occur apart from the function of Tathagatagarbha within them. Without Tathagatagarbha, there are no material forms; how then could there be any physical or chemical reactions? All reactions and transformations among material things are the results of changes within Tathagatagarbha, all brought about through the regulating function of the four great elements by Tathagatagarbha.