Tathāgatagarbha Is Not an Omnipotent Dharma

Question: True great supernatural powers require realizing the tathāgatagarbha and being able to personally employ the wondrous functions of the tathāgatagarbha consciousness; only then is it true great supernatural power, which is at least the realm of an arhat or above. The minor supernatural powers of ordinary sentient beings should, in principle, also be wondrous functions of the tathāgatagarbha, but they have not yet realized the tathāgatagarbha, so they should not have its wondrous functions—then where do these minor supernatural powers come from? Should we say that the tathāgatagarbha is a treasure trove, and one can employ as much of it as one has developed—great supernatural powers mean the tathāgatagarbha has been developed one hundred percent, while minor supernatural powers mean only a tiny bit has been developed?

Answer: All sentient beings are employing the tathāgatagarbha at every moment; there is not a single one who does not use it, including beings such as bacteria and ants. The difference is that those who have realized enlightenment use it knowingly, while sentient beings who have not realized it use it unconsciously; in fact, all are using it passively—they have no choice but to use it, for it is the tathāgatagarbha that actively assists. Buddhas and bodhisattvas, people of wisdom, employ it well, while those whose minds are defiled employ it badly; but whether employed well or badly, it is all the function arising from the tathāgatagarbha actively cooperating with the manas and the five aggregates. When the manas and the five aggregates are wholesome, the tathāgatagarbha cooperates in creating wholesome dharmas; when the manas and the five aggregates are unwholesome, the tathāgatagarbha creates unwholesome dharmas in accordance with conditions. The key lies in the manas and karmic seeds. Therefore, cultivation means cultivating the manas well and storing wholesome seeds, so that the tathāgatagarbha creates wholesome dharmas in accordance with wholesome conditions. We need only focus on cultivation and need not worry about how to use the tathāgatagarbha; by using the manas well, one uses the tathāgatagarbha well.

The supernatural powers generally spoken of are the five supernatural powers: the divine eye, the divine ear, powers of transformation, knowledge of others' minds, and recollection of past lives (pūrvanivāsānusmṛti), all of which arise from the four dhyānas and eight samādhis; possession by spirits and the like does not count as supernatural powers. The functions and operations of the tathāgatagarbha are expediently spoken of as wondrous functions of supernatural power. When sentient beings' manas opens up in capacity and wisdom, meditative concentration (samādhi) appears, and supernatural powers and great supernatural powers will manifest—this is the tathāgatagarbha manifesting in accordance with the manas. Therefore, cultivation mainly means cultivating the manas, and first of all cultivating the mind consciousness.

Ordinary supernatural powers are the result of cultivating meditative concentration; regardless of whether one has realized the tathāgatagarbha, supernatural powers are worldly dharmas, achievements of the study of concentration. For matters in worldly dharmas, there is no need to drag in the tathāgatagarbha. For example, if you want to master a skill, just devote yourself to studying that skill—dragging in the tathāgatagarbha is useless. If you want to learn to cook well, dragging in the tathāgatagarbha is also useless and will only delay matters. Even with the emptiness of the Small Vehicle and the emptiness of non-Buddhist paths, dragging in the tathāgatagarbha is useless; there is no need to link everything to the tathāgatagarbha. However, the great supernatural powers of bhūmi bodhisattvas are related to realizing the tathāgatagarbha; that is the combination of meditative concentration and great wisdom—lacking either one, great supernatural powers will not appear.