The World of Black Boxes (XXVI)

After realizing the true mind and perceiving the self-nature, upon further contemplation, one comes to understand that all functions of the seven consciousnesses ultimately manifest the functional attributes of the Tathāgatagarbha. All activities of the six sense faculties ultimately reveal the functional attributes of the Tathāgatagarbha. All arising and ceasing phenomena of the six dusts (sense objects) are likewise the functional attributes of the Tathāgatagarbha. Ultimately, one realizes that none of these dharmas are the self; the self is the Tathāgatagarbha. Thus, one comprehends that all functions and activities of the five aggregates are entirely those of the Tathāgatagarbha. Where could there be any illusory functions of the five aggregates and eighteen elements? The functions of the five aggregates and eighteen elements are entirely the functions of the Tathāgatagarbha.

Through contemplation to its ultimate conclusion, one acknowledges that all dharmas are solely the functions of the Tathāgatagarbha, with no other dharma possessing independent function. The discriminative functions of the seven consciousnesses must all be traced back to the Tathāgatagarbha; the knowing nature of the seven consciousnesses is entirely the seeing faculty of greatness (the perceptual capacity) of the Tathāgatagarbha. This direct experiential realization cannot be conveyed through language to enable others to grasp it with the same authenticity; only when one possesses the capacity for direct realization oneself can one truly apprehend it. Upon reaching the First Ground (Prathama-bhūmi), one comes to know that the Tathāgatagarbha itself inherently possesses the capacity for perceiving the six dusts, transforming the six dusts, and interacting with the six dusts; it is aware of all states. However, this seeing and knowing of the Tathāgatagarbha does not involve recognizing the specific appearances of the six dusts. It merely knows the totality of circumstances at the seed state (bījāvasthā). Then, it manifests the body faculty, interacts with the body faculty—everything is the function of the Tathāgatagarbha. All knowing nature is entirely the attribute of the Tathāgatagarbha.