Even Good Medicine Cannot Cure Disease

A: Precepts, meditation, and wisdom are the main thread of practice; the three must be cultivated in equal measure, and none may be neglected.

B: The tathāgatagarbha originally keeps no precepts, cultivates no meditation, and cultivates no wisdom; precepts, meditation, and wisdom are superfluous words.

A: The goal of studying Buddhism is to attain liberation, liberating oneself from all the entanglements of the world.

B: The tathāgatagarbha is originally liberated, originally without bondage.

A: Only with meditative concentration (samādhi) fully accomplished can one realize the Path; you must cultivate meditative concentration well.

B: The tathāgatagarbha is inherently endowed with meditative concentration; there is no need to cultivate it.

A: If one can resolve to leave home and practice, subduing afflictions becomes relatively easy, and meditative concentration grows rapidly.

B: The tathāgatagarbha is originally one who has left home; there is no need to leave home again.

A: Attaining buddhahood through practice takes three great asaṃkhyeya kalpas. 

B: The tathāgatagarbha is originally a Buddha; there is no need to become a Buddha again.

A: Frequently introspect into your own mind, subdue afflictions, and remove defilements.

B: The tathāgatagarbha is originally pure, without afflictions or defilements.

A: Then do you still need to practice?

B: The tathāgatagarbha is originally a Buddha; there is no need to practice.

A: Why are you sowing discord and breaking the precepts today?

B: All of this was done by the tathāgatagarbha.

A: Let's not speak of the tathāgatagarbha; let's just talk about you.

B: I rely on the tathāgatagarbha; I transform the basis as tathāgatagarbha (āśraya-parāvṛtti-tathāgatagarbha).

A: How have you transformed the basis?

B: ·········

Tathāgatagarbha: B, I seriously doubt that you were born from me—how is it that you have not the slightest resemblance to me? I also doubt that you truly want to study Buddhism and practice at all; you merely wave my banner while doing nothing yourself. The difference between us is so great: I am intrinsically pure in self-nature—why are your afflictions so heavy? I am a Buddha—why are you still struggling bitterly in the six realms of rebirth? I am liberated—why are you bound everywhere? I never commit verbal karma—why do you constantly sow discord, speak falsely, engage in divisive speech, and use harsh words? I am always in meditative concentration—why is your mind everywhere grasping at conditions and scattered? I have left home by nature—why can you not renounce your attachments to family and loved ones, and give up worldly fame, gain, splendor, and riches? I am endowed with wisdom—why are you so foolish?

B: As long as you are fine, that's enough; I transform the basis to you.

Tathāgatagarbha: Transforming the basis with empty words? Be careful—if you fall again into the three evil paths, I will not accompany you. Each person must bear their own karma; even your own mother cannot help you. I hope you will conduct yourself properly. From now on, stop using me as an excuse, and don't blame all your misdeeds on me. I will not receive retribution on your behalf, nor become a Buddha on your behalf.

B: ··········

A: Don't think that relying on the tathāgatagarbha makes you invincible. Do whatever needs to be done; laziness is useless, and there are no shortcuts. Glib talk and mere verbal platitudes cannot withstand karmic power and cause and effect. The dharma of the tathāgatagarbha is a supreme medicine for curing illness, yet you only play with it without taking it—then there will be no medicine left to cure you.