The Suchness Nature of Tathāgatagarbha

The meaning of suchness (tathatā) refers to the original appearance of the dharmadhātu, the true existence and unchanging nature of the dharmadhātu, the authentic reality of the dharmadhātu, and the original nature of the dharmadhātu. The dharmadhātu refers to the boundaries of all dharmas, the limits of all dharmas, the definition of all dharmas. In essence, all dharmas are uniformly the tathāgatagarbha; they are all the nature of the tathāgatagarbha.

Why are all dharmas the nature of the tathāgatagarbha? Because all dharmas are generated and transformed by the tathāgatagarbha; it is the tathāgatagarbha that uses the seeds of the seven great elements to perfectly manifest all dharmas. All dharmas possess the nature of the seeds of the seven great elements, which is the nature of the tathāgatagarbha. The tathāgatagarbha manifests all dharmas in accordance with karmic seeds, exactly as they are, without violating the laws and operating principles of the dharmadhātu. In the course of operating all dharmas, the mind of the tathāgatagarbha is not moved by any dharma; it constantly maintains the purity and undefiled nature of the original mind, maintains its original true and unchanging nature, and maintains its suchness and immovability.

Although each dharma has its own worldly characteristics, in essence it is still the mark of the tathāgatagarbha, that is, the mark and nature of suchness (tathatā). Therefore, all dharmas are collectively called the one true dharmadhātu. On the surface, all dharmas appear to arise, cease, and change; they appear to be in motion, but in reality none of them moves—neither increasing nor decreasing, unchanging and not different. No matter how tumultuous or turbulent the worldly realm may be, the dharmadhātu by its very nature remains quiet and still, serene and unmoving. So what is there for us to make a fuss about? What is there to seek? What is there to grasp? If we settle the mind, live each day in accordance with conditions, and do not even conceive of "living out the days," we will accord with the nature of suchness and attain tranquil liberation.