Theos-Talk Archives (December 2001 Message tt00177)

<<<Both Theosophy and the Shentong school state that there is something permanent in 'man' and in all sentient beings. Atman and Brahman/Parabrahm
in Theosophy are like Tathagatagarbha and Buddha Nature in the Shentong view. That's how I understand it. 
...Peter>>>

Peter, the Tathagatagarbha (which translates as Buddha Nature) of the Shentong school equates to Blavatsky's divine and indivisible Monad as a "consciousness-center." Atma and Brahman are maya, part and parcel of manifestation, and Parabrahman is divinity itself. That's how I understand it.

The Middle Way Tibetans, including Tzongkhpa and all the Dali and Panchen Lamas, say that even the Tathagatagarbha has no inherent existence. And because they also reject nihilism, there is clearly something even beyond Buddha Nature (which G de Purucker also says).

Keep in mind, Peter, that if there is something in our constitution that is permanent, then we will not be able to transcend it. We can only transcend that which has no inherent existence. If atma were permanent, we couldn't go beyond it. This is yet another reason why saying atma is permanent is illogical.

Jerry S.
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