What Is Called Birth?

Emerging from the substance — the appearance of another thing is called birth. All dharmas never emerge outside the tathāgatagarbha; they all exist within the tathāgatagarbha, and therefore none of them is ever born. Since they are not born, they also do not cease. All dharmas are intrinsically the tathāgatagarbha, neither arising nor ceasing. This is also why it is said that all dharmas are empty and without self-nature. We are busy every moment of every instant — what meaning is there in that?

If one can accept and acknowledge this principle, one attains the patience of non-arising and the patience of the non-arising of dharmas. The mind consciousness can easily accept it and easily acknowledge it; the key lies with the manas. If the manas can accept and acknowledge it, that is realization; complete and thorough realization would mean becoming a Buddha. Thinking about it is easy, but accomplishing it requires three great asaṃkhyeya kalpas — it is extremely difficult.

"Stretching out both legs and lying at ease, unconcerned with all affairs." Why such leisure? All dharmas have nothing to do with me, and there is no "me" either. The myriad dharmas are at ease, and I am at ease too. What is there in the world worth clamoring about?