All Dharmas Are Solely Created by Tathagatagarbha

All phenomena are created by the mind alone. What does this "mind" refer to? It must refer to the Tathāgatagarbha; nothing else can create and give birth to all phenomena. Because the seventh consciousness itself is not independent, not self-determined, subject to birth, cessation, and change, and lacks substantiality, it cannot store seeds. Whether it is the seven major seeds used to create all phenomena or karmic seeds, the seventh consciousness possesses none of them. Therefore, the seven consciousnesses cannot give birth to any phenomenon at all; they can only project a shadow of the phenomena born from the Tathāgatagarbha within the mind, cast a shadow, manifest a shadow—beyond that, they are powerless.

In the state of cessation (nirodha-samāpatti), where the six consciousnesses are absent, who creates the objective appearances (nimitta) within the subtle sense faculties (Sheng-yi roots)? When asleep, without the six consciousnesses, who creates the six sense-object realms? When unconscious, without the six consciousnesses, who creates the six sense-object realms? All are created by the Tathāgatagarbha in accordance with karmic seeds, with the manas (seventh consciousness) playing a coordinating role. Because the manas grasps the body, the five sense faculties can function, and the Tathāgatagarbha will transmit the shadows of the five sense objects through the five sense faculties. The six consciousnesses cannot create anything, as they are absent. "All phenomena are created by the mind alone" and "All phenomena are consciousness-only" are two statements with a difference. "All phenomena are consciousness-only" means that all phenomena are manifested through the eight consciousnesses. If any one consciousness is missing from the five aggregates and seven consciousnesses of ordinary beings, a certain category of phenomena cannot manifest, although that category of phenomena may still exist objectively.

The Mind-Only School (Vijñaptimātratā) holds that all phenomena are born solely from the Tathāgatagarbha; the seven consciousnesses are also included within the Tathāgatagarbha, being phenomena born from the substance of the Tathāgatagarbha mind. The Consciousness-Only School (Vijñānavāda) focuses solely on the eight consciousnesses, with the seven consciousnesses being subservient to the Tathāgatagarbha. There is no Dharma gate that is not emanated from the Tathāgatagarbha; there is no Dharma gate that can be established apart from the Tathāgatagarbha. All Dharma gates are gates within the Tathāgatagarbha; all are branches of the Tathāgatagarbha. The gate of emptiness (Śūnyatā) is the Tathāgatagarbha's gate of liberation. The school of emptiness (Mādhyamaka) is the Tathāgatagarbha's school of emptiness.

Only bodhisattvas on the bhūmis (stages) who possess the wisdom of consciousness-only (vijñāna-jñāna) can observe that all phenomena are created solely by the Tathāgatagarbha, and that all phenomena are Suchness (Tathatā). Others cannot observe this. If there is any part omitted, not created by the Tathāgatagarbha, it would mean there are phenomena existing outside the Tathāgatagarbha mind. Such a view is a non-Buddhist (tīrthika) view. Bodhisattvas below the bhūmis inevitably retain some non-Buddhist thoughts, hence they do not enter the Tathāgata's family and are not the Buddha's true sons. The difference between the Buddhist path (inner path) and non-Buddhist paths is merely a mere thought’s difference.