Physical and Mental Responses to Personally Realizing the Tathāgatagarbha (2025-07-13)

Ven. Shi Ruyuan: After experiencing some incredible things these past few days, my meditative concentration (samādhi) has deepened and stabilized. The Dharma principles in my head have become clear and distinct, constantly flowing out. I abide in meditative absorption (samādhi) all day long, and when I try to give rise to a wandering thought or grasp at anything, I can no longer be the master of it. It feels as if some mysterious force is clearing out the thoughts in my head; my mind is clear and joyful, and my whole body feels light and at ease—impossible to describe in words. Master, how amazing it is to abide in samādhi!
Ever since you, Master, told me to investigate the huatou "Who is dragging this corpse around?", I suddenly remembered that a few days ago you had said you would strike me with a stick. In an instant I understood the meaning of that statement, which is... (over a hundred characters directly pointing to the functioning of the tathāgatagarbha omitted here). I understood in my heart, but the details simply cannot be expressed in language.

Yesterday at around 2 p.m., I was investigating the huatou. Suddenly I recalled that a few days ago you, Master, had said to me that you would strike me with a stick. At the time I could not answer the question you asked, but the secret within it suddenly became clear and distinct. Immediately I felt so grateful that I wanted to kneel down and bow to you to express my gratitude, deeply thankful in my heart for your painstaking care for your disciple.
These two days have been truly miraculous. Unable to sleep, I instead feel full of energy, as if I had exchanged for a new shell of the five aggregates (pañca-skandha)—such tranquility and joy. Suddenly I again recalled your words about striking me with a stick. This was not that you wanted to hit me with a stick—it was that you, Master, wanted to... At that moment, a light suddenly appeared before my eyes, and I understood in my heart the true intention behind your striking me with a stick: it was compassionately pointing out and awakening this disciple to realize her self-nature, so that I could find my own family treasure! Just as on the previous occasions, I was moved to tears for a long while, so excited that goosebumps rose all over my body as if my hair were standing on end; my head went blank with a jolt, and it took me a long while to come back to myself. From last night until this morning, whenever I contemplated the Dharma principles, my tears never dried. I understood clearly in my heart that this is your painstaking care, Master, wishing to skillfully and expediently guide your disciple to awakening. Thank you, Master! From now on, I will diligently and carefully investigate how the tathāgatagarbha operates within the five aggregates.

Assessment: This time Ven. Shi Ruyuan has genuinely and truly realized awakening, without the slightest doubt or uncertainty. The general-knowledge wisdom (总相智) of realizing the tathāgatagarbha has arisen; the rough, overall functioning of the tathāgatagarbha within the body of the five aggregates is crystal clear to her, without any vagueness whatsoever. Within the first dhyāna, her intellectual understanding transformed into realization as easily as child's play. While Ven. Shi Ruyuan was abiding in samādhi throughout the day, a gentle pointing-out was all it took, and through investigation she personally realized the true reality of the Dharma realm. At the moment of realization, her inner joy overflowed beyond words; afterward, awakened clarity arose, her spirits were high, drowsiness vanished, and her whole body felt tranquil and at ease. Although her description of the tathāgatagarbha's functioning is rough, her mind is certain and without doubt.

The Master merely said he would strike with a stick, and without the stick actually landing on the body, this is already the effect. If it had actually landed, wouldn't the effect be even better? Clearly, there are still a few individuals who deserve a beating! A few solid whacks—even if they don't awaken, they won't be far from awakening. As for me, Master, I loved hitting people when I was young, and now I finally have a place to put that to use. Anyone who wants a beating, just say the word to the Master.

The prerequisite for attaining meditative concentration is cultivating merit; when merit is insufficient, meditative concentration will not arise. Meditative concentration plus merit gives rise to wisdom—meditative concentration alone is not enough. When you have obtained that key and mastered the skill of making keys, then I, your Master, can leave at any time with peace of mind, and you can say to me: "Master, you may leave with an easy heart; we will cultivate the path well and nothing will go wrong." In the opposite situation, when I have no choice but to leave, some people would clutch at my robe, tug at my arms, faces covered in snot and tears, refusing to let me go. Why would that be? Because they have not yet learned the skills of living and are afraid of starving to death. But parting is inevitable—no one will provide for you forever. You should learn independence as quickly as possible and be able to live on your own.