The Origin Theory Of The Awakening Of Faith Sutra Is Not Thusness But Tathagatagarbha

The Awakening of Faith Sutra is one of the most important sutra in the history of Chinese Buddhism. Since it came out, its controversy has been sustained. The controversy has two sides:one is about the authenticity of this book, the other is the discussion of its doctrine. The academia viewed that the Origin Theory of The Awakening of Faith Sutra was Thusness.Early in 20th Century, Nanjing college in China argued with Wuchang Buddhist Institute about the Correctness of Thusness originating everything. Their arguments deep into the inner problem of this theory. However, as both sides stuck to their own positions, the real problem was obscured. This article is based on the text of The Awakening of Faith Sutra. Through studying the history of the formation about Thusness originating everything, it is found that the Origin Theory of The Awakening of Faith Sutra is not Thusness but Tathagatagarbha. That tathagatagarbha originating everything starts from epistemology. Tathagatagarbha is the root cause of everything. The birth and death of phenomena is by the cover and discover of tathagatagarbha.