Can the Tathāgatagarbha Be Relinquished?

Question: The Cheng Weishi Lun states: "(The Tathāgatagarbha) is also called the Maturation-Consciousness (vipāka-vijñāna), because it can induce the maturation-fruits (vipāka-phala) of actions (karma) leading to birth and death, whether virtuous or non-virtuous. This name applies only to the states of ordinary beings (prithagjana), the Two Vehicles (śrāvaka and pratyekabuddha), and Bodhisattvas; it does not apply to the Buddha-ground (Buddha-bhūmi), because there still exists the maturation of non-defined (avyākṛta) dharmas." And it also states: "The substance (體, svabhāva) of the Maturation-Consciousness is abandoned by a Bodhisattva when about to attain Bodhi (enlightenment), and by Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas when they enter the Nirvāṇa without residue (anupadhiśeṣa-nirvāṇa)." Do these two statements contradict each other? Is an Arhat still an Arhat after entering Nirvāṇa without residue, and does it belong to the Two Vehicles? Especially regarding the second sentence, can the substance of the Maturation-Consciousness actually be abandoned?

Answer: For Bodhisattvas before the Eighth Ground (aṣṭamī bhūmiḥ), their Tathāgatagarbha is called the Ālaya-Consciousness (ālaya-vijñāna). After the Eighth Ground Bodhisattva stage, and after Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas attain Nirvāṇa, their Tathāgatagarbha is called the Maturation-Consciousness (vipāka-vijñāna). When Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas enter Nirvāṇa without residue, they abandon the name "Ālaya-Consciousness", not the substance of the Ālaya-Consciousness, and even less so can they abandon the substance of the Maturation-Consciousness. A Bodhisattva at the stage of Wonderful Enlightenment (miàojué, the final stage before Buddhahood) abandons the name "Maturation-Consciousness" for the Tathāgatagarbha when about to become a Buddha; they cannot abandon the substance of the Maturation-Consciousness. The substance is truly existent, neither arising nor ceasing; even a Buddha cannot abandon it, let alone a Bodhisattva. If the substance of the Maturation-Consciousness were abandoned, all dharmas would cease to exist and could no longer be produced; the five aggregates (skandhas) would never arise again, there would be no Nirvāṇa, and there would be no Buddhas or world. Only Buddhas, who have eradicated all maturation-nature (vipākatā) and all ignorance (avidyā), can abandon the name "Maturation-Consciousness". A Bodhisattva at the stage of Equal Enlightenment (dēngjué) cannot abandon the name "Maturation-Consciousness", let alone Arhats, Pratyekabuddhas, or Solitary Buddhas (Pratyekabuddhas).