Tathāgata-Garbha

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Given that garbha means embryo or womb, scholars have translated “tathāgata- garbha” as the embryo of a Tathāgata, the germ of a Tathāgata, the womb of a Tathāgata, or the matrix of a Tathāgata. In Chinese texts, “tathāgata-garbha” is translated as rulai zang 如來藏. Here, these Chinese words are translated into English as Tathāgata store, which means a Tathāgata in storage or hidden. “Tathāgata store” works well in all texts that use it. For example, in text 666 (T16n0666), one of the two extant Chinese versions of the Mahāvaipulya Sūtra of the Tathāgata Store, the Buddha reveals that all sentient beings have the Tathāgata store in them, and describes it by nine analogies, including a Buddha inside a lotus flower bud, who is revealed …show more content…

Moreover, in text 668 (in one fascicle), the Chinese version of the Sūtra of Neither Increase Nor Decrease (Anūnatva-apūrṇatva-nirdeśa-parivarta), the Buddha equates one‖s Tathāgata store to a Tathāgata‖s dharma body. He says, “The realm of sentient beings is the Tathāgata store, and the Tathāgata store is the dharma body” (T16n0668, 0467a18–19). In text 353, the earlier of the two extant Chinese versions of the Vaipulya Sūtra of Śrīmālā’s Lion’s Roar (Śrīmālādevī- siṁhanāda-sūtra), Śrīmālā explains the connection between the dharma body and one‖s Tathāgata store. She says, “When a Tathāgata‖s dharma body is not free from one‖s store of afflictions, it is called the Tathāgata store” (T12n0353, 0221c10–11). What are the other meanings of the Tathāgata store? Śrīmālā equates the Tathāgata store to four other stores. She says, “One‖s Tathāgata store is the store of the dharma realm [dharma-dhātu], the store of the …show more content…

Moreover, several Mahāyāna texts equate one‖s Tathāgata store to one‖s inherent pure mind (prakṛti-pariśuddha-citta) or Buddha nature (buddha-dhātu or buddha-gotra). For example, in fascicle 2 of text 839 (in 2 fascicles), the Chinese version of the Sūtra of Detecting Good or Evil Karma and Requital, Earth Store (Kṣitigarbha) Bodhisattva says, “One‖s inherent pure mind is profound and perfect because it does not differentiate objects. Because it does not differentiate, it is universal. As it is universal, all dharmas rely on it to establish themselves. Furthermore, this mind is called the Tathāgata store, which encompasses immeasurable, boundless, inconceivable, affliction-free, pure, meritorious karmas” (T17n0839, 0907c7–11; Rulu 2012a, 110). Also, in fascicle

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