The Process of All Buddhas' Attainment of Omniscient Wisdom

Gold possesses the nature of gold, which is analogous to the Tathāgatagarbha. The nature of gold corresponds to the nature of the Tathāgatagarbha, which is also equivalent to the nature of Suchness. Gold basins, gold bowls, and gold jewelry are crafted from gold and all possess the nature of gold; in other words, they are all manifestations of the nature of gold. Similarly, all dharmas produced by the Tathāgatagarbha possess the nature of Suchness, meaning they all share the characteristics of the Tathāgatagarbha.

One may know that gold basins and bowls are made of gold, but initially, one may not realize that they are crafted from 100% pure gold, with every particle from the inside out being gold and possessing the attributes of gold. Through prolonged contact and continuous observation and verification of the gold basins and bowls, one gains an increasingly deeper understanding of the attributes of gold. This leads to greater certainty regarding the gold content and purity of the basins and bowls. Ultimately, one fully verifies that the gold basins and bowls are entirely made of pure gold, 100% gold, possessing all the attributes of gold, and can be treated as gold without reservation.

This process is identical to the progression of attaining the wisdom of the universal characteristic (总相智), the wisdom of the particular characteristic (别相智), the wisdom of the path (道种智), and the wisdom of all modes (一切种智) after realizing the Tathāgatagarbha. At the initial awakening, when one realizes the Tathāgatagarbha within the five aggregates (五蕴), it is akin to just discovering that gold basins and bowls are made of gold and contain a certain degree of gold nature, without yet knowing the exact purity of the gold. After generating the wisdom of the particular characteristic, one meticulously observes and verifies the Tathāgatagarbha within all dharmas, increasingly discerning the characteristics of the Tathāgatagarbha inherent in all dharmas. Upon reaching a certain stage of observation, one attains the realization that all dharmas possess a fraction of the Suchness nature of the Tathāgatagarbha. At this point, one enters the First Ground (初地).

Continuing to observe and verify within all dharmas, one eventually realizes that all dharmas perfectly and completely possess the Suchness nature of the Tathāgatagarbha, attaining the full Suchness nature — ten parts Suchness, complete Suchness, where everything is perceived as Suchness. At this stage, one possesses the wisdom of all modes (一切种智) and achieves Buddhahood. Regrettably, those who fail to recognize gold see only basins and bowls, not the gold itself. They remain destined to be impoverished vagrants, clinging to gold yet begging to survive — how pitiful. Similarly, ordinary beings cling to the Tathāgatagarbha within their bodies yet fail to recognize it, identifying only with the five aggregates. Thus, they remain destined for the cycle of the six destinies (六道轮回), which is even more pitiful.