Only the tathāgatagarbha can give rise to all dharmas, because the tathāgatagarbha possesses the seeds of all dharmas, and seeds have the aspect of generative capacity. The seventh consciousness (manas) is a condition for producing the six consciousnesses; all dharmas are produced by the tathāgatagarbha relying on the seventh consciousness. Without the seventh consciousness, the tathāgatagarbha by itself cannot produce any dharma at all. For the tathāgatagarbha to produce the first six consciousnesses, it must do so through the seventh consciousness. The seventh consciousness has existed since beginningless kalpas and will only cease at nirvāṇa without remainder (anupadhiśeṣa-nirvāṇa).
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