The Root Cause of Birth in the Samsara of the Five Aggregates

The physical structure of every sentient being is so intricate, the nervous system so delicate, and its functions even subtler. The Tathagatagarbha is truly a master artisan—what kind of design blueprint does it use? Who designed it? How does the Tathagatagarbha construct the physical body according to this blueprint? This is utterly miraculous!

Why is there the birth of the five-aggregate body? What was the initial cause for the emergence of the world and the five-aggregate body? The Śūraṅgama Sūtra addresses a crucial point: it is because the manas-indriya (the faculty of intellect) is unsettled with the present state and desires to perceive something, thus seeking outwardly. With the Tathagatagarbha cooperating, the chaotic world came into being, whereupon the five-aggregate body was subsequently born. Prior to this, only the Tathagatagarbha and the manas-indriya existed, in a state of profound obscurity. Therefore, the birth of the five-aggregate body can only be attributed to the Tathagatagarbha, leading to the conclusion: nama-rupa (name and form) arises dependent on vijñāna (consciousness, i.e., Tathagatagarbha); vijñāna (Tathagatagarbha) arises dependent on nama-rupa.