Does the Tathāgatagarbha Have Self-Validating Cognition (sva-saṃvitti-saṃvitti-bhāga)?

For ordinary beings, the tathāgatagarbha does not have the function of introspecting upon itself, and therefore it is said that it does not possess self-validating cognition (sva-saṃvitti-saṃvitti-bhāga). Self-validating cognition is the ability to prove one's own existence, to perceive one's own existence and operation. A mind that can perceive its own existence is a mind with the nature of self; it is a mind that acknowledges itself, a mind capable of self-verifying its own existence.

The mind consciousness can observe mental sense-objects, observe states of experience, observe the five sense consciousnesses and the seventh consciousness, and after awakening to the true mind, it can observe the tathāgatagarbha. The mind consciousness can also observe itself, so it not only possesses self-cognition (svasaṃvitti) but also self-validating cognition; it can know that it is knowing the states of mental sense-objects, know its own mode of operation, and know its own mental activities. The true awakened tathāgatagarbha, however, has no nature of self; it is a mind without self-nature. It has never considered itself to be real, does not perceive its own existence, does not act as a master, and does not observe the six sense-objects. Therefore, within the six sense-objects, the tathāgatagarbha has neither self-cognition nor self-validating cognition. Because it does not perceive the six sense-objects, it does not give rise to thoughts or mental activity regarding states of experience; it has no notions, no views and knowledge, is pure and undefiled, has no afflictions or habitual tendencies, and has no ignorance.

After awakening to the true mind and realizing the Way, as wisdom grows, one will observe that the seventh consciousness and the tathāgatagarbha also possess self-validating cognition, yet they do not introspect upon themselves within the states of the six sense-objects. The general principle in studying the Mahāyāna Dharma is that the tathāgatagarbha is not a worldly mind within the five aggregates and eighteen realms; it is a mind without the nature of self, and it does not hold that there is a self or what belongs to a self. Whereas the seven consciousnesses all have the nature of self, always saying "how I am this or that," always speaking of "me" and "mine"—all of them have self and what belongs to self.