Does Tathāgatagarbha Transmigrate into the Six Realms?

Question: Some say, "The intrinsically pure emptiness of the Tathagatagarbha contains the seeds of the defiled seven consciousnesses; thus, it drifts along with the winds of karma, taking rebirth within the three realms and six paths—either ascending to the heavens, descending into hell, or being born among humans. Due to denying the true Dharma, it manifests again in hell." Can the Tathagatagarbha take rebirth? If it takes rebirth, does that mean it undergoes birth and cessation?

Answer: First, although the Tathagatagarbha mind is empty, it should not be called emptiness; rather, it should be termed the Emptiness-Mind. This is because the Tathagatagarbha is the substance of the mind, not a property representing that substance. Properties are subordinate to the mind-substance, used to describe the substance; they are not the substance itself. Properties of the mind exist only in dependence upon the mind-substance.

Second, emptiness is a property of the principle-substance, not a substance itself. Therefore, it cannot contain seeds. It is the mind-substance that contains the seeds of karma, whether defiled or pure.

Third, neither emptiness nor the mind-substance can contain the seeds of the defiled seven consciousnesses, because the seeds of the seven consciousnesses are consciousness-seeds, which are intrinsically pure. They are the pure nature of the Tathagatagarbha and can never be defiled. It should be said that the mind-substance of the Tathagatagarbha contains the defiled seeds generated by the karmic actions of the seven consciousnesses.

Fourth, the Tathagatagarbha itself does not take rebirth. Although the Tathagatagarbha contains the defiled karmic seeds of the seven consciousnesses, it is the seventh consciousness that undergoes rebirth in accordance with karma. The Tathagatagarbha merely follows the seventh consciousness and the karmic seeds, manifesting the realms of the six paths and the five aggregates body. Only then does the seventh consciousness take rebirth. When the seventh consciousness takes rebirth, it is the Tathagatagarbha that predestines the seventh consciousness to undergo rebirth. Without the Tathagatagarbha's cooperation by projecting the karmic seeds and the seven fundamental seeds, the seventh consciousness cannot take rebirth. Therefore, it cannot be said that the Tathagatagarbha cycles through rebirth in the heavens, hells, or human realm; rather, it should be said that the seventh consciousness continuously cycles through rebirth in the heavens, hells, and human realm.

Fifth, since the Tathagatagarbha does not undergo rebirth, it does not cycle within the six paths. The realms of the six paths are illusory appearances manifested within the mind-substance of the Tathagatagarbha. The Tathagatagarbha does not enter the six paths; instead, the six paths continuously manifest within the Tathagatagarbha. The nature of the Tathagatagarbha is non-coming and non-going, abiding unmoving like thusness. All dharmic appearances arise and cease within the Tathagatagarbha, all being manifestations of the Tathagatagarbha. Even the void is but an insignificant false appearance within the Tathagatagarbha—how much more so the realms of the six paths! Therefore, it is said that the Tathagatagarbha does not undergo rebirth and does not cycle through samsara.