The Principle of Turning Stone into Gold

The supernatural power of "transforming stone into gold" involves the manas issuing a command, causing the tathāgatagarbha to alter the seeds that produce stone, changing them into seeds that can combine to form gold, thus turning the stone into gold. While the manas can cause one's own tathāgatagarbha to transform stone into gold, is it possible to cause the external objects, such as stone, collectively held by the tathāgatagarbha of all sentient beings, to turn into gold? Or, is it possible to cause another person's tathāgatagarbha to transform stone into gold? Through inner power, sentient beings can appropriate external material objects that are common to all, making them their own for personal use. For instance, all edible food and drink, all wearable clothing, and all usable items—these materials are either destroyed by oneself, used exclusively by oneself, or altered by oneself. Transforming stone into gold is an example of a common stone being altered by oneself, becoming a material exclusively possessed by oneself.

Transforming stone into gold relies primarily on an individual's meditative power, while also depending on the power of merit. If merit is insufficient, even if one can turn stone into gold, the individual will not be able to enjoy it. Merit is an indispensable condition for accomplishing all endeavors. A true practitioner never despises their own merit, is never satisfied with their own merit, nor do they casually deplete their own merit.