The Process of Attaining All-Aspects Wisdom (Sarvākārajñatā) by All Buddhas

Gold has the nature of gold; gold is analogous to the tathāgatagarbha, and the nature of gold is analogous to the nature of the tathāgatagarbha, and also to the nature of suchness (tathatā). Gold basins, gold bowls, and gold jewelry are all crafted from gold, and all possess the nature of gold—or one could say they all are the nature of gold. By the same principle, all dharmas that the tathāgatagarbha creates and manifests possess the nature of suchness; that is to say, they all possess the nature of the tathāgatagarbha. One may know that gold basins and gold bowls are made of gold, but at first one does not know that they are crafted from one hundred percent pure gold—that every particle, inside and out, is gold and possesses the properties of gold. Over time, through continuous observation and verification of the gold basins and bowls, one comes to know more and more about the properties of gold, becoming increasingly certain of the gold content and purity of the basins and bowls, until finally one fully verifies that the gold basins and bowls are entirely made of pure gold—one hundred percent gold, possessing all the properties of gold, and can be treated completely as gold. 

This process is the same as the process of, after realizing the tathāgatagarbha, giving rise to the wisdom of the general characteristics, the wisdom of specific characteristics, the wisdom of the varieties of paths, and omniscience (sarvākārajñatā). When one is newly enlightened and realizes the tathāgatagarbha through the five aggregates (pañca-skandha), it is like just having learned that the gold basins and bowls are made of gold and contain a certain degree of the nature of gold, but not yet knowing to what degree of purity the gold is. After the wisdom of specific characteristics arises, one then carefully observes and verifies the tathāgatagarbha within all dharmas, observing more and more of the nature of the tathāgatagarbha within all dharmas. When one has observed to a certain point, one realizes that all dharmas possess one portion of the suchness-nature of the tathāgatagarbha, and one attains the first bhūmi. After continuing to observe and verify in all dharmas, one realizes that all dharmas perfectly and completely possess the suchness-nature of the tathāgatagarbha—realizing ten parts of the suchness-nature, the full-score suchness-nature, with suchness filling one's eyes—and at this point one becomes a Buddha. As for those who do not recognize gold, they see only the basins and bowls and not the gold, and can only be poor vagabonds, guarding the gold while begging for a living—how pitiable. Ordinary beings guard the tathāgatagarbha within their bodies but do not recognize it, acknowledging only the five-aggregate body; then they can only undergo transmigration through the six realms—how much more pitiable that is.