The Relationship Between the Physical Body and the Tathāgatagarbha

The physical body and the tathāgatagarbha are related as bread and flour: the tathāgatagarbha is like the flour, and the five aggregates (pañcaskandha) are like the bread. The bread is made entirely of flour; the five aggregates are all functions and operations of the tathāgatagarbha. Footprints in the snow: the tathāgatagarbha is like the snow, and the five aggregates are like the footprints. The footprints are entirely snow; the five aggregates are entirely the tathāgatagarbha. Gold and gold jewelry: the tathāgatagarbha is like the gold, and the five aggregates are like the gold jewelry. The gold jewelry is entirely gold; the five aggregates are entirely the tathāgatagarbha.

If I say that all dharmas are the tathāgatagarbha, there is no error in that; but if someone else says it, it is very likely mistaken. This is because I can contemplate this principle in accordance with reality through contemplative practice (vipaśyanā-caryā), so however I put it, it holds true; for one who has not carried out such contemplative practice, it is merely imagination. When one has realized that principle, whether speaking of it horizontally or vertically, however one says it, nothing is inverted; without realization, when one is guessing and imagining, one does not know why it is so.