Black Box World (26)

After we have seen the mind and seen our nature, if we continue with contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), we will come to know that all the functions of the seventh consciousness are, in the end, entirely the functional nature of the tathāgatagarbha; all the functions of the six faculties are, in the end, entirely the functional nature of the tathāgatagarbha; and all the phenomena of arising and ceasing of the six sense objects are also the functional nature of the tathāgatagarbha. In the end, we will know that these dharmas are not the self; the self is the tathāgatagarbha, and we can then know that all the functions of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha) are entirely the tathāgatagarbha. What illusory functions of the five aggregates and eighteen realms could there be? The functions of the five aggregates and eighteen realms are all functions of the tathāgatagarbha.

When contemplative practice reaches its end, one will come to accept that all dharmas are entirely functions of the tathāgatagarbha, and not the functions of any other dharma; the discriminating functions of the seven consciousnesses must all be traced back to the tathāgatagarbha, and the knowing nature of the seven consciousnesses is entirely the great function of seeing of the tathāgatagarbha. This kind of direct contemplation cannot be conveyed through language so that others may likewise realize it as it truly is; only when one has the capacity for direct contemplation oneself can one have some realization of it. Upon attaining the first bhūmi, one will know that the tathāgatagarbha itself, He, is able to see the six sense objects, transform the six sense objects, and condition upon the six sense objects; He knows all states of experience. However, this seeing and knowing of the tathāgatagarbha does not know the specific appearances of the six sense objects; He only knows all the circumstances at the seed stage, and then transforms the body faculty and conditions upon the body faculty. Everything is the function of the tathāgatagarbha, and all knowing nature is entirely an attribute of the tathāgatagarbha.