Can Ordinary Beings Turn to the Tathāgatagarbha?

The preliminary success of the revolution of the basis (āśraya-parāvṛtti) into the Tathagatagarbha is attained at the stage of the First Ground Bodhisattva. Bodhisattvas below the First Ground are diligently working towards this revolution, learning how to accomplish it. Ordinary beings, because they have not realized the Tathagatagarbha, cannot rely upon it. Not knowing where the Tathagatagarbha is, what its characteristics are, or how it functions, how can they rely on it? It is like trying to rely on empty space; the imagined Tathagatagarbha is not a tangible reality that can be perceived and thus cannot be genuinely relied upon.

Furthermore, ordinary beings cannot actively utilize the Tathagatagarbha. Not knowing its location, characteristics, functions, or how it operates, how could they possibly make use of it? Everyone is merely imagining the Tathagatagarbha, engaging in conjecture and fantasy, which is also called speculation. While ordinary beings are permitted to speculate, and even to guess with seventy or eighty percent accuracy, it is ultimately useless. Once the conscious mind ceases, everything goes pitch black before them, leaving them bewildered and at a loss.

The sign of a successful revolution of the basis is a transformation in one's mental nature, becoming akin to the nature of the Tathagatagarbha, where afflictions are eradicated and wisdom increases. Before the revolution is fully successful, one gradually changes, subduing their afflictions bit by bit, incrementally increasing wisdom. Accumulating to a certain degree, a qualitative leap occurs: afflictions are eliminated, the sixth and seventh consciousnesses transform into wisdom. This marks the success of the revolution of the basis, though it is still preliminary. Complete revolution of the basis results in Buddhahood. Therefore, one cannot judge whether the Mind has been clearly perceived and realized (明心证悟) based solely on the success or failure of the revolution of the basis. The clear perception and realization of the Mind has its own criteria and content; the revolution of the basis itself is not that criterion.

The Buddha Dharma has become very muddled. The reason for this confusion is that many people have not traversed the actual path. They rely solely on understanding, reasoning, and speculation. Even if their guesses are ninety percent close, they remain quite inaccurate. After all, not having seen it with their own eyes, their minds inevitably lack certainty. Drawing a tiger based on a cat still doesn't produce an actual tiger.