By comparing the concept " locus " of " dhātu-vāda " with the central idea dhātu of tathāgata-garbha-theory and vijnaptimatrata-theory, can argues that the concept of dhātu and its associates are very different from the concept of locus. Consequently, the theory of tathāgata-garbha and vijnaptmatrata are not " dhātu-vāda ".The paper highlights three basic meanings ofthe concept of locus, namely, locus as the monistic substance underlying the phenomenal world, locus as permanent self, and locus as t he monistic cause of the phenomenaly world.