Not abiding in marks can only be achieved after attaining the first bhūmi

Question: Is it only after attaining realization of the Path that, upon seeing the appearance of rain, the mind can naturally be free of the rain-appearance—still knowing it is raining, yet without dwelling on it? Whereas before realization, one easily dwells on it, unless something else diverts one's thoughts, or one simply does not care about the rain?

Answer: Being non-attached and non-dwelling must be an inner skill exercised when facing the appearance of rain and all appearances. Avoiding appearances precisely demonstrates that one is unable to be free of attachment to appearances, unable to not dwell on appearances. After enlightenment, bodhisattvas at the three stages of the wise ones (the Three Virtuous Stages) will still attach to the rain-appearance when seeing it, only more lightly than before. Only from the first bhūmi onward can one gradually become free of attachment to the rain-appearance; that is, only at the eighth bhūmi does a bodhisattva truly become free of attachment to the rain-appearance and all other appearances.

Therefore, after enlightenment one must undertake the transformation of the basis as tathāgatagarbha (suchness), and only upon reaching the first bhūmi can one genuinely accomplish the transformation of one portion of the basis, because by that time the sixth and seventh consciousnesses have already been transformed into wisdom. Only with wisdom can one recognize and take refuge in suchness; the transformation of consciousness into wisdom is the hallmark of the transformation of the basis as suchness. Only an eighth-bhūmi bodhisattva can transform a large portion of the basis, yet this is still not ultimate. Pre-bhūmi bodhisattvas (pūrvabhūmika bodhisattvas) shout about transforming the basis, but because afflictions obscure and obstruct them, the transformation of the basis cannot succeed. And since suchness has no afflictions—are the mind-natures of the sixth and seventh consciousnesses similar to suchness? Not at all, because their defilements are heavy; hence they cannot transform the basis. They shout slogans until the first bhūmi, when only then does it partially correspond. As for those who have not awakened, shouting such slogans is pure nonsense—they cannot even see clearly their own face, yet they exalt themselves by speaking of transforming the basis. When one has not found one's support, what can one rely upon? And one cannot exalt oneself; only the tathāgatagarbha and cause and effect can exalt one, and only then can one be lifted up.