Buddha Nature Talks
In Buddhist philosophy and soteriology, Buddha-nature (Chinese: fóxìng 佛性, Japanese: busshō, Sanskrit: buddhatā, buddha-svabhāva) is the innate potential for all sentient beings to become a Buddha or the fact that all sentient beings already have a pure Buddha-essence within themselves. "Buddha-nature" is the common English translation for several related Mahāyāna Buddhist terms, most notably tathāgatagarbha and buddhadhātu, but also sugatagarbha, and buddhagarbha. Tathāgatagarbha can mean "the womb" or "embryo" (garbha) of the "thus-gone one" (tathāgata), and can also mean "containing a tathāgata". Buddhadhātu can mean "buddha-element", "buddha-realm", or "buddha-substrate".
Buddha-nature has a wide range of (sometimes conflicting) meanings in Indian Buddhism and later in 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", which is pure (visuddhi) mind undefiled by afflictions, is inherently present in every sentient being, and is eternal and unchanging. It will shine forth when it is cleansed of the defilements, that is, when the nature of mind is recognized for what it is.
The Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra (2nd century CE), which was very influential in the Chinese reception of these teachings, linked the concept of tathāgatagārbha with the buddhadhātu. The term buddhadhātu originally referred to the relics of Gautama Buddha. In the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, it came to be used in place of the concept of tathāgatagārbha, reshaping the worship of physical relics of the historical Buddha into worship of the inner Buddha as a principle of salvation.
The primordial or undefiled mind, the tathāgatagārbha, is also often equated with the Buddhist philosophical concept of emptiness (śūnyatā, a Mādhyamaka concept); with the storehouse-consciousness (ālāyavijñāna, a Yogācāra concept); and with the interpenetration of all dharmas (in East Asian traditions like Huayan). The belief in Buddha-nature is central to East Asian Buddhism, which relies on key Buddha-nature sources like the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra. In Tibetan Buddhism, the concept of Buddha-nature is equally important and often studied through the key Indian treatise on Buddha-nature, the Ratnagotravibhāga (3rd–5th century CE).
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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 Practice... |
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, Vow,... |
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 Zen, Repentance, Meditation,... |
Jan 20 2008 |
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2008.01.19-serial.00112B Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Vow, true dharma, Daily Life, Culture, Subject-and-Object... |
Jan 19 2008 |
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Intensive LectureSatipattana Sutra, Theravada, Zazen, Big Mind, Four Noble Truths, realization, Suzuki... |
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 Sesshin, Enlightenment, San Quentin, Zazen, Buddha's Birthday, Birth-and-Death,... |
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, Sesshin, Prajna Paramita, Silence, Buddha Ancestors, Composure, Buddha... |
Apr 07 2007 Green Gulch Farm |
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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... Sesshin, Layman Pang, Suzuki Roshi, Sandokai, Ordinary Mind, Buddha Mind, Attachment... |
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 Dongshan, Sesshin, Suzuki Roshi, Monkey Mind, Vow, Buddha Nature, Emotions, Manjushri... |
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, Suzuki Roshi, Bodhisattva Vow, Buddha Nature, Bowing, Bodhisattva Way,... |
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 Sesshin, Zhaozhou, Ordinary Mind, Suzuki Roshi, Right Effort, Posture, Buddha Nature... |
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 Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Patacara, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, Lineage, training... |
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, Dependent Origination,... |
Jan 19 2007 |
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2007.01.18-serial.00117C Oneness, Silent Illumination, Buddha Nature, Meditation, Soto Zen, 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, Samadhi, Bodhidharma, Sangha, Happiness,... |
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 |