眾生無邊誓願度
煩惱無盡誓願斷
法門無量誓願學
佛道無上誓願成

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Dharma Teachings

14 Apr 2018    Saturday     4th Teach Total 354

Can the Seventh Consciousness Give Rise to Other Dharmas?

The seven consciousnesses are generated from the seed consciousness within the tathāgatagarbha; they are that which is produced. Therefore, they lack self-sovereignty and autonomy, and thus cannot generate other dharmas, for they themselves possess no seeds capable of generating other dharmas, nor do they contain seeds. Only the tathāgatagarbha possesses seeds and can use them to generate the five aggregates, the eighteen elements, and all dharmas. The five aggregates, the eighteen elements, and all dharmas cannot further generate other dharmas, since they are subject to birth and cessation, lack self-sovereignty, and do not contain seeds. The seven consciousnesses serve as the supporting conditions for the tathāgatagarbha in producing the dharmas of the six dusts. Together with the tathāgatagarbha, they constitute the three transforming consciousnesses, thereby enabling the transformation and creation of all dharmas.

——Master Sheng-Ru's Teachings
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The Tathāgatagarbha and All Dharmas Are Neither Identical Nor Different

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