What Is Required to Attain Enlightenment

Question: Since everything about me is transformed from the Tathagatagarbha, how can I perceive the Tathagatagarbha? For example, when I meditate, I perceive dharma-dust and know it is an illusion created by the Tathagatagarbha. I know there is intention from the manas, I know it is the consciousness that understands, and I know the Tathagatagarbha is present in all dharmas. Yet, I still cannot perceive its true form. In the direct perceptual state, I only see dharma-dust, followed by a discerning awareness, and nothing else. All this talk of illusion is merely heard from others. How can I truly perceive the Tathagatagarbha?

Answer: First, all this knowledge of yours stems from theoretical understanding. It is learned by the consciousness from external sources, mixed with inferences, speculations, guesses, and intellectual interpretations by the consciousness—none of it is realized through direct experience. Therefore, none of it can be taken as true. Knowing such content has no substantial impact on the manas within your own mind. If the cognition of the manas does not transform, your body, mind, and world will not change. In reality, this knowledge is equivalent to ignorance, for hearing is vague, while seeing is factual. Theoretical knowledge acquired through learning remains far from actual realization. You remain utterly confused about the functioning of the various consciousnesses. When encountering adverse conditions, doubts will increase, and you might even negate previous understandings, potentially reversing your views.

To truly perceive the Tathagatagarbha, you must diligently apply effort to realize it directly, rather than relying on theoretical deductions or parroting others’ words. Realizing the Tathagatagarbha requires numerous causes and conditions. First, karmic obstacles must be eliminated, merits and virtues must be increased, meditative concentration must be perfected, faith must be complete, precepts must be strictly upheld, the practice of patience must be strong, and you must diligently cultivate all these dharmas. Finally, prajna wisdom must also be perfected. In summary, realizing the Tathagatagarbha requires transforming an ordinary being’s mind into that of a bodhisattva. In every aspect—body, speech, and mind—you must align with a bodhisattva. Your precepts, concentration, and wisdom must match those of a bodhisattva; your afflictive obstructions must diminish; you must possess the great merits and virtues and great wisdom of a bodhisattva; your mental capacity must be as vast as a bodhisattva’s; you must always accord with sentient beings, and generate the great resolve to benefit and bring joy to them.

This is like being completely reborn; both body and mind, as well as your world, must undergo corresponding transformations, showing clear differences and significant progress from the stage of an ordinary being. In short, you must perfect the bodhisattva’s six perfections and myriad practices. If you fall short, you cannot attain the path and become a true bodhisattva. From now on, you must comprehensively improve and elevate yourself with a plan and systematic steps, awaiting the maturation of causes and conditions. Do not be impatient, do not waver between hope and fear, do not be driven by utilitarian motives. Generate a vast resolve, strive diligently in causes, and accept results with equanimity.