The Fundamental Purpose of Buddhist Practice is to Realize the True Reality of the Dharma Realm

The goal of learning Buddhism is to generate the great wisdom of prajna. Only with the great wisdom of prajna can one attain Buddhahood. The essence of prajna is the eighth consciousness, the Tathagatagarbha. All Buddhist scriptures revolve around the Tathagatagarbha; therefore, the Tathagatagarbha is the key to attaining Buddhahood and the fundamental consciousness. The conscious mind is easily recognized and realized, but realizing the conscious mind cannot reveal the true reality of the Dharma realm, nor can it give rise to the great wisdom of prajna. This is not the fundamental goal of learning Buddhism.

The fundamental purpose of Buddhist practice is to realize the eighth consciousness, the Tathagatagarbha, thereby attaining enlightenment and seeing one’s true nature, becoming a Mahayana bodhisattva. Only then can one cultivate various insights and wisdom, ultimately achieving Buddhahood. The principles of the eight consciousnesses are all crucial and must be understood thoroughly. By doing so, we attain great wisdom. Not knowing even one dharma is ignorance. When ignorance is completely eradicated, one possesses all-knowing wisdom, with clarity pervading the mind and no dharma left unmastered. This is the state of Buddhahood.

Understanding the nature of the conscious mind enables one to sever the view of self associated with consciousness and prevents mistaking consciousness for the true mind, the eighth consciousness, in the pursuit of enlightenment. By comprehending the nature of the seven deluded consciousnesses, one can identify these seven false minds, making it easier to recognize the remaining eighth consciousness. Realizing the eighth consciousness, the Tathagatagarbha, is enlightenment—the awakening of the mind. This realization unveils the five “how unexpected” intrinsic natures spoken of by the Sixth Patriarch, opening our wisdom. It allows us to understand the origins and developments of all phenomena in both worldly and transcendental realms, revealing the root source of all dharmas.