Why All Dharmas Are Neither Conditioned by Causes and Conditions Nor Natural by Nature

The material universe (the inanimate world) is a part of all dharmas. When the material universe first arises, what causes or contributing conditions prompt its appearance? There are none—no dharma can be found to assist the arising of the material world. For example, in the gradual formation of the Earth, before its formation there existed no dharma that could serve as a contributing condition for the Earth's formation; and during the process of the Earth's formation, likewise no dharma served as a contributing condition for its formation. Therefore, the appearance of the Earth is not of the nature of causes and conditions, and the formation of the material universe is likewise not of the nature of causes and conditions.

Then, is the formation of the material universe of the nature of naturalness? We must consider what the conceptual definition of "naturalness" is. What is called "naturalness" should mean existing spontaneously and naturally, uninfluenced by external factors, ever-present and ever-abiding, neither arising nor ceasing. For instance, the existence of the Earth should be spontaneous and natural; it should not be that it did not exist before and then gradually formed over a certain period of time—something formed after the fact is no longer natural. And if, after existing for a period of time, it gradually degenerates, disappears, and perishes, that is equally unnatural. Likewise, the material universe has a beginning and an end, has arising and ceasing, has coming and going—thus it is not of the nature of naturalness.

In summary, the material universe is neither of the nature of causes and conditions nor of the nature of naturalness. Then of what nature is it? It is all of the nature of tathāgatagarbha. The arising and ceasing of the material world, as well as its arising, abiding, changing, and perishing, are all brought about by tathāgatagarbha; they are all formed by the seven intrinsically existing great seeds of tathāgatagarbha operating within it. Arising is the arising of tathāgatagarbha; abiding is the sustaining of tathāgatagarbha; change is the transformation of tathāgatagarbha; perishing is the withdrawal of the seeds of tathāgatagarbha. Therefore, the material universe—and indeed all dharmas—possess the characteristics of tathāgatagarbha.