How Can the Sixth Consciousness Be Considered to Have Realized Tathāgatagarbha (4)

We know that the tathāgatagarbha is constantly operating without interruption; it is impossible for there to be a moment when it pauses and ceases to function. He pervades all times, all aggregates, all bases, all realms, and all grounds, pervading all dharmas. However, the "constantly" spoken of here is not yet that beginningless and endless "constantly"; it is only a "constantly" within a certain period of time. Thus, one who has realized the operation of the tathāgatagarbha in a single event still has very shallow wisdom. One should then continue investigating, opening up one's wisdom further—not only realizing the broader operations of the tathāgatagarbha, but also realizing some of its deeper and subtler operations.

Upon further observation, one will discover that the tathāgatagarbha is beginningless and endless, pervading all dharmas—in the five-aggregate material body, in all things, in all marks, in the six faculties, the twelve bases, and the eighteen realms—He operates in this way at all times, never having stopped, operating thus at every moment and every instant. At this level, the realized wisdom may become connected into a plane, or connected into one whole piece—and this piece can be divided into small, medium, and large pieces.

According to how broad the range of the realized operation of the tathāgatagarbha is—how large this piece is—so deep is the wisdom. This is used to judge each person's degree of wisdom. The deeper the wisdom of contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), when it connects into a large piece, one may reach the final barrier (laoguan), may even pass through the final barrier, and may further arrive at the first bhūmi. As for the initial realization of the operation of the tathāgatagarbha, it is only at a certain point, at a certain place, and then connected into a line—that can only be the seventh abode stage of a bodhisattva; the wisdom is not yet deep enough, yet even this is already quite difficult to achieve.

When the sixth consciousness finds and realizes the tathāgatagarbha, it is capturing those functions that the tathāgatagarbha performs. The wisdom initially realized is very shallow; perhaps in a single instant, one captures how the tathāgatagarbha operates in this way. Then the area captured expands somewhat, the range becomes somewhat broader, and the realized functions of the tathāgatagarbha gain some continuity. Finally, the degree of realization may become deeper, and one can observe the operation of the tathāgatagarbha from every aspect; then that person's wisdom of specific characteristics (biéxiàng zhì) emerges.