The Meaning of the Buddha-Dharma

The Buddhadharma has two meanings: first, it refers to the Dharma taught by the Buddha—all the methods by which one can attain buddhahood and liberation; second, it refers specifically to the tathāgatagarbha Dharma. Of these two meanings, one is broad and the other narrow. Most of what is taught as the Buddhadharma in the sūtras refers to the tathāgatagarbha Dharma. Buddha is the Tathāgata; the Buddha's mind is the tathāgatagarbha; thus the Buddhadharma is the tathāgatagarbha Dharma. Because all dharmas are manifested by the tathāgatagarbha, and all dharmas are established because of the tathāgatagarbha, the Buddhadharma is precisely the tathāgatagarbha Dharma.

Then, are the teachings of the non-Buddhist paths also manifested by the tathāgatagarbha? Of course they are. Without the tathāgatagarbha, there would be neither non-Buddhists nor their teachings. Apart from the tathāgatagarbha, there are neither good people nor evil people, neither wholesome dharmas nor false dharmas. Apart from the tathāgatagarbha, all dharmas are false and illusory; yet false dharmas have the functions of false dharmas. In particular, the function of wholesome dharmas can counteract unwholesome dharmas—only one should not crave and cling to wholesome dharmas, and subsequently even better wholesome dharmas will appear.