Buddha Nature Talks
In Buddhist philosophy, Buddha-nature is the potential for any sentient beings to become a Buddha. It is a common English translation for several related Mahayana Buddhist terms, including tathata ("suchness") but most notably tathāgatagarbha and buddhadhātu. Tathāgatagarbha means "the womb" or "embryo" (garbha) of the "thus-gone" (tathāgata), or "containing a tathāgata", while buddhadhātu literally means "Buddha-realm" or "Buddha-substrate".
Buddha-nature has a wide range of (sometimes conflicting) meanings in Indian and later East Asian and Tibetan Buddhist literature. Broadly speaking, it refers to the belief that the luminous mind, "the natural and true state of the mind," the pure (visuddhi) mind undefiled by kleshas, is inherently present in every sentient being, and is eternal and unchanging. It will shine forth when it is cleansed of the defilements, c.q. when the nature of mind is recognised for what it is.
The Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra (written 2nd century CE), which was very influential in the Chinese reception of the Buddhist teachings, linked the concept of tathāgatagarbha with the buddhadhātu. The term buddhadhātu originally referred to relics. In the Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, it came to be used in place of the concept of tathāgatagārbha, reshaping the worship of the physical relics of the Buddha into worship of the inner Buddha as a principle of salvation.
The primordial or undefiled mind, the tathagatagarbha, is also equated with sunyata; with the alaya-vijñana ("store-consciousness", a yogacara concept); and with the interpenetration of all dharmas. The Chinese Yogacara school came to regard buddha-nature as an eternal ground and the ultimate source and support of all phenomenal reality. The Chinese Madhyamaka based its understanding of emptiness on the Indian sources and not on Daoist concepts which previous Chinese Buddhists had used, and sought to remove all ontological connotations of the term as a metaphysical reality. It saw buddha nature as being synonymous with terms like "tathata," "dharmadhatu," "ekayana," "wisdom, '' "ultimate reality," "middle way" and also the wisdom that contemplates dependent origination.
Title | Speaker | |
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2015.08.23-serial.00161 Subject-and-Object, Practice Period, Family Practice, Chanting, Enemies, Heart Sutra... |
Aug 23 2015 |
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2015.08.19-serial.00153 Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, Don't Know Mind, Happiness, Nirvana Sutra,... |
Aug 19 2015 |
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2015.08.18-serial.00152 Heart Sutra, Don't Know Mind, confusion, Buddha Nature, Bell, Duality, Patience... |
Aug 18 2015 |
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2012.08.02-serial.00146 Offering, Observe, Don't Know Mind, Religion, Buddha Nature, Impermanence,... |
Aug 02 2012 |
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2010.08.13-serial.00136 Buddha Nature, Subject-and-Object, Fox, Breath, Enemies, Dragons, Continuous,... |
Aug 13 2010 |
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2010.08.11-serial.00133 Passions, Buddha Nature, Fundraising, Breath, Interview, Emotions, Instruction,... |
Aug 11 2010 |
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2010.08.08-serial.00126 Interview, Posture, Meditation, Family Practice, Don't Know Mind, Buddha... |
Aug 08 2010 |
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2008.01.25-serial.00113E Silence, Buddha Nature, Non-duality, Big Mind, Oneness, Duality, Teacher-and-Student... |
Jan 25 2008 |
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2008.01.24-serial.00113D Dharma Transmission, Big Mind, Heart Sutra, Family Practice, Greed, Offering, Vows,... |
Jan 24 2008 |
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2008.01.22-serial.00112H Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Oneness, Buddha Ancestors, difficulty, Impermanence,... |
Jan 22 2008 |
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2008.01.20-serial.00112D training, Buddha Nature, Impermanence, Daily Life, soto, Repentance, Meditation, Vows... |
Jan 20 2008 |
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2008.01.19-serial.00112B Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Vows, true dharma, Daily Life, Culture, Subject-and-... |
Jan 19 2008 |
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Intensive Lecture Big Mind, Four Noble Truths, realization, Suzuki Roshi, Transmission, Zazen,... |
Jul 10 2007 City Center |
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Three Characteristics of PhenomenaSerial: SF-01079 One-day sitting lecture: "no eyes, no ears..." Diamond Sutra, Platform Sutra Delusion, Emptiness, Platform Sutra, Bodhisattva Vow, New Year, Teacher-and-Student,... |
May 19 2007 Green Gulch |
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Sesshin as a Koan for the BodySerial: SF-00990 Sesshin Lecture: Easter/Buddha's Birthday; enlightenment experiences; dharmakaya; not doing anything; nirmanakaya; this is your life Buddha's Birthday, Birth-and-Death, Suzuki Roshi, Conversation, Mill Valley,... |
Apr 08 2007 Green Gulch |
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Intelligence of the Natural WorldSerial: SF-00941 Sesshin Lecture: frog chorus; silence and activity; pain and fear of pain; Bodhidharma Bodhidharma, Silence, Buddha Ancestors, Composure, Buddha Nature, Hindrances, Zendo,... |
Apr 07 2007 Green Gulch |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-00986 Architecture at GGF; Layman Pang; many sesshins; "gamble everything on love"; sesshin romance and the potentiality of the present moment; recognizing your Buddha nature in your... Ordinary Mind, Buddha Mind, Attachment, Silence, Suzuki Roshi, Bodhisattva Vow, Lay... |
Apr 06 2007 Green Gulch |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-00994 Strategies, gaining ideas; "paying it forward"; close investigation of the self; Orpheus and Eurydice; Rilke; hidden anger - staying with the emotion Monkey Mind, Vows, Buddha Nature, Emotions, Suzuki Roshi, Manjushri, Bodhisattva Vow... |
Apr 05 2007 Green Gulch |
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The Secrets of the BodySerial: SF-00993 Sesshin Lecture: great effort, no result; ritual, bowing; Diamond Sutra; boundaries Right Effort, Bowing, Suzuki Roshi, Bodhisattva Way, Vows, Liberation, Bodhisattva... |
Apr 04 2007 Green Gulch |
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Sesshin PracticesSerial: SF-00992 Sesshin Lecture: ordinary mind is the Tao; practice of confession; guilt/shame; Self-Receiving and -Employing Samadhi Ordinary Mind, Suzuki Roshi, Right Effort, Posture, Buddha Nature, Composure,... |
Apr 03 2007 Green Gulch |
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Living in Accord with Birth and DeathSerial: SF-00991 Sesshin Lecture: confirming Buddha nature; sesshin: gathering of heart/mind; what's the business under the patchwork robe?; story of Patacara Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Lineage, training, Ceremony,... |
Apr 02 2007 Green Gulch |
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The Teachings of Chao ChouSerial: SF-00927 Sunday Lecture: the stories of Chao Chou; Hsin Hsin Ming - koan("I alone am the World-Honored One"); mu - cutting through yes and no; not holding to preferences Discrimination, Blue Cliff Record, Buddha's Birthday, Ordinary Mind, Buddha... |
Mar 11 2007 Green Gulch |
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2007.01.19-serial.00117D Practice Period, Silence, training, Buddha Mind, Soto Zen, soto, Dependent... |
Jan 19 2007 |
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2007.01.18-serial.00117C Oneness, Silent Illumination, Buddha Nature, Meditation, soto, Buddha Ancestors,... |
Jan 18 2007 |
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2007.01.15-serial.00116D Buddha Nature, Intention, Repentance, Impermanence, Subject-and-Object, true dharma,... |
Jan 15 2007 |
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2007.01.14-serial.00116B Buddha Nature, Nirvana Sutra, Attachment, Describe, Samadhi, Bodhidharma, Sangha,... |
Jan 14 2007 |
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Right SpeechSerial: SF-00037 The eight-fold path and its relationship to the precepts. Right Speech, Suzuki Roshi, Conversation, Heart Sutra, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Precepts... |
Sep 16 2006 |
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Picking and Choosing Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature, Big Mind, Bodhisattva Vow, Equanimity, Happiness,... |
Sep 02 2006 Unknown |
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2006.02.02-serial.00123 Lay, Precepts, Funeral, lecture, Sangha, Happiness, Offering, Buddha Nature,... |
Feb 02 2006 |
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2006.01.31-serial.00006 Buddha Ancestors, Buddha Nature, Describe, true dharma, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Jan 31 2006 |
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NoSerial: SF-00963 Sunday Lecture: Milton's 'Paradise Lost'; myth of Narcissus; Four Noble Truths; Zhaozhou's "No": Marin Organizing Committee/Seniors for Peace Four Noble Truths, Buddha Nature, Peace, Perfect Wisdom, Freedom, Mill Valley, Echo,... |
Nov 20 2005 Green Gulch |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-01042 Zendo Lecture Day 1 Mindfulness, Four Foundations, Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Enemies, Instruction,... |
Nov 10 2005 Tassajara |
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2005.11.07-serial.00195 Buddha Nature, Sixth Patriarch, Ego, confusion, Dependent Origination, Passions,... |
Nov 07 2005 |
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Find Out For Yourself Precepts, Duality, Suzuki Roshi, Subject-and-Object, Discrimination, Oneness, Heart... |
Jul 17 2005 Tassajara |
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July 16th, 2005, Serial No. 03502 Delusion, Emptiness, Suzuki Roshi, Precepts, Zazen, Obstacles, Buddha Nature,... |
Jul 16 2005 Tassajara |
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May 28th, 2005, Serial No. 01115 Lotus Sutra, Four Noble Truths, Practice Period, Zazen Mind, Karma, Monastic Practice... |
May 28 2005 Unknown |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-01931 Sesshin 3 Day 7 Practice Period, Tassajara, Freedom, Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature, Zazen, Zendo, Faith... |
Mar 29 2005 Tassajara |
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HierarchySerial: SF-03579 Sesshin 3 Day 5 Teacher-student relationship Teacher-and-Student, Precepts, Anger, Intimacy, Buddha Nature, Practice Period,... |
Mar 27 2005 Tassajara |
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Hokyo Zammai Class Five Ranks, Platform Sutra, Discrimination, Ego, Ordinary Mind, Hindrances, Letting... |
Feb 28 2005 Tassajara |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-03503 Sesshin 2 Day 7 Attachment, Non-attachment, Four Noble Truths, Emotions, Freedom, Composure, Dream... |
Feb 26 2005 Tassajara |
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Expressing Yourself CompletelySerial: SF-03594 Sesshin 2 Day 5 Silence, Vows, Practice Period, Suzuki Roshi, Delusion, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Feb 24 2005 Tassajara |
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Shikantaza - Calm MindSerial: SF-03497 Sesshin Lecture Birth-and-Death, Posture, Emptiness, Silent Illumination, Letting Go, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Feb 20 2005 Tassajara |
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Hokyo Zammai Class Buddha Nature, Silent Illumination, Delusion, Nirvana Sutra, Duality, Heart Sutra,... |
Feb 18 2005 Tassajara |
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Hokyo Zammai Class Precepts, Intuition, Forgiveness, Faith, Patience, Buddha Nature, Letting Go, Five... |
Feb 17 2005 Tassajara |
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Zendo Lecture Ego, Buddha Nature, Hate, Precious Mirror, Faith, Instruction, Zoom, Delusion,... |
Feb 02 2005 Tassajara |
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The Direct Experience of RealitySerial: SF-03669 Sesshin 1 Day 5: practice is right where you are - practice is/of sensitivity. Lay Practice, Suzuki Roshi, Practice Period, Lay, Monastic Practice, Delusion,... |
Jan 29 2005 Tassajara |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-03546 Second Sesshin, Zendo Lecture day 6 Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Letting Go, Karma, Karmic Consequences, Buddha's... |
Nov 21 2004 Tassajara |
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Buddha Nature and the Ugly DucklingSerial: SF-00056 Zendo lecture; feeling of not fitting in and not belonging that sends us towards spiritual practice. Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Ego, Delusion, training, Precepts, stubbornness, Posture... |
Nov 06 2004 Tassajara |
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Zendo Lecture Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Ego, Delusion, training, Light-and-Darkness, Passions,... |
Nov 06 2004 Tassajara |
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Lotus Sutra ClassSerial: SF-03549 Dining Room Class Lotus Sutra, Ceremony, Perfect Wisdom, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Zazen, Practice Period... |
Nov 03 2004 Tassajara |