On What Basis Does Tathāgatagarbha Sustain and Transform the Material Body?

The Tathagatagarbha abides eternally in quiescence and remains unmoving. If it manifests any dharmas, it must be the result of the activity of the manas, and the manas must always be present as a concomitant condition. Superficially, when the Tathagatagarbha forms the name-and-form of the fertilized egg, transforms the fertilized egg, or repairs the physical body's tissues, it may seem that the function of the manas is absent. However, in reality, the function of the manas is always present. The manas perpetually corresponds with karmic seeds, and the Tathagatagarbha accords with these karmic seeds—it accords with both meritorious and non-meritorious karmic seeds. This is equivalent to according with the manas. For the vast majority of the time, when the Tathagatagarbha gives rise to worldly dharmas, it does so based on karmic seeds. Even when the manas continuously thinks and makes choices, when the Tathagatagarbha cooperates with the manas, it must still rely on karmic seeds, meritorious causes and conditions, and other causal factors.

If the causal conditions are not sufficient, merit is lacking, there are no corresponding karmic seeds, or the karmic seeds have not yet ripened, the Tathagatagarbha cannot give rise to dharmas according to the choices of the manas. For example, many people wish to gain promotion and wealth, or to possess exceptional worldly rewards, but they lack the corresponding karmic seeds, and the conditions are not ripe. Consequently, they can only continue their former existence, living ordinary lives as common people. Another example is that some people are destined for the karmic retribution of frequent illness. No matter how hard they strive, no matter how much money and effort they expend, they cannot repair their bodies and become healthy. Even if they possessed the merit of an emperor, it would still be impossible. Moreover, once an emperor exhausts his merit, he might commit suicide, be killed, or be usurped. In the world, many people are born with great merit. Because they excessively enjoy and deplete this merit from childhood, when they grow up and their merit is exhausted, they either die young, live in hardship and poverty, or suffer numerous disasters and calamities.

The karmic retribution within the three realms follows the pull of karma, and the Tathagatagarbha follows the turning of karma. However, if the power of vows surpasses the power of karma, it can pull the Tathagatagarbha to follow the course of the vows. When ordinary beings make great vows, they gradually free themselves from the bondage of karma, transform completely, become sages, and ultimately attain Buddhahood. Therefore, repentance and making vows constitute a powerful method of practice. As long as there is a vow, as long as the manas has a vow, it will inevitably be fulfilled sooner or later. No vow is made in vain; all vows will be realized—it is only a matter of when the causes and conditions become complete. After these great vows are made, the Tathagatagarbha records them, forming seeds. When these seeds ripen, sentient beings will attain their wishes as desired. What we need to do is twofold: first, to make pure, great, and wholesome vows; second, to diligently strive to facilitate the ripening of the seeds of vow-power. In the future, we will then obtain the fruits of our vows.