The Profound Meaning of Consciousness-Only in the Diamond Sutra (149)

How should one expound the Dharma to others? By taking no attachment to appearances, abiding in unmoving suchness.

Explanation: The World-Honored One expounded: Virtuous men and women who expound the Diamond Sutra, its four-line verses, and the wondrous Dharma of Tathāgatagarbha—how should they expound it to others? They should abide by the essence of Tathāgatagarbha, taking no attachment to any dharma phenomena within the mind. Moreover, toward all dharma phenomena, they must remain unmoved, perceiving no substantial reality in appearances, with a mind unswayed by external phenomena. Like Tathāgatagarbha, they should be pure and undefiled—taking no attachment to appearances, giving rise to no thoughts, mindless toward objects, abiding in unmoving suchness.

After Bodhisattvas realize Tathāgatagarbha, they increasingly observe its pure, unconditioned nature while simultaneously perceiving more and more the illusory impermanence of all conditioned phenomena. Thus, their minds gradually cease generating delight in conditioned phenomena and instead incline toward the pure, unconditioned nature of Tathāgatagarbha. Gradually, Bodhisattvas observe that all conditioned phenomena throughout the three realms are born from and manifested by Tathāgatagarbha. Consequently, they progressively relinquish attachment to all worldly phenomena. Toward all dharmas, their minds gradually cease being swayed, ultimately attaining a state of unmoving suchness, resembling the unconditioned nature of Tathāgatagarbha.