Buddha Nature Talks
In Buddhist philosophy, Buddha-nature is the potential for all sentient beings to become a Buddha or the fact that all beings already have a pure buddha-essence within. "Buddha-nature" is the common English translation for several related Mahayana 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 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," which is 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, that is, 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 these teachings, linked the concept of tathāgatagarbha with the buddhadhātu. The term buddhadhātu originally referred to buddha relics. In the Mahāparinirvāṇa, it came to be used in place of the concept of tathāgatagārbha, reshaping the worship of physical buddha relics of the Buddha into worship of the inner Buddha as a principle of salvation.
The primordial or undefiled mind, the tathagatagarbha, is also often equated with emptiness; with the alayavijñana ("storehouse-consciousness", a yogacara concept); and with the interpenetration of all dharmas (in East Asian traditions like Huayan). Buddha nature ideas are central to East Asian Buddhism, which relies on key buddha-nature sources like the Mahāparinirvāṇa. In Tibetan Buddhism, buddha-nature ideas are also important, and are often studied through the key Indian treatise on buddha-nature, the Ratnagotravibhāga.
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Lion's Roar Lineage, Liberation, Letting Go, realization, Teacher-and-Student, Buddha Nature,... |
Dec 29 1988 SFZC |
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Lion's Roar Don't Know Mind, Emptiness, Diversity, Buddha Nature, Letting Go, Liberation,... |
Dec 27 1988 SFZC |
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NgondroSerial: SF-01878 Ngondro Class - Guru Yoga Lineage, Samsara, Emotions, Emptiness, Transmission, Attachment, Describe,... |
Dec 20 1988 SFZC |
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December 10th, 1988, Serial No. 01056 Buddha Nature, Nirvana Sutra, Concentration, Intimacy, Posture, Fundraising, Faith,... |
Dec 10 1988 SFZC |
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November 26th, 1988, Serial No. 01910Serial: SF-01910 Retreat - Description of Vajra Liberation, Instruction, Doubt, Continuous, Obstacles, Buddha Nature, Attachment,... |
Nov 26 1988 SFZC |
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Yontenzot Samsara, confusion, Karma, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Don't Know Mind, Emotions,... |
May 01 1988 SFZC |
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Yontenzot Passions, Emotions, Duality, Emptiness, Lineage, Vinaya, realization, Buddha Nature,... |
Apr 30 1988 SFZC |
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April 25th, 1988, Serial No. 01893 Bodhidharma, Monastic Practice, Ordination, Doubt, Religion, Mahayana, Interview,... |
Apr 25 1988 Unknown |
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Yontenzot Duality, Lineage, Ordinary Mind, confusion, Don't Know Mind, Discrimination,... |
Apr 17 1988 SFZC |
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Guru Yoga Lineage, Buddha Nature, Chanting, Describe, Don't Know Mind, Transmission,... |
Apr 08 1988 SFZC |
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Hevajra Lineage, Aspects of Practice, Right Effort, Emptiness, Balance, Instruction, Don... |
Apr 07 1988 SFZC |
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Four Levels of Tantra Vinaya, realization, Lineage, Buddha Nature, Mandala, Anger, Beginners, Continuous,... |
Apr 06 1988 SFZC |
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Dzögchen Karma, confusion, Duality, Emotions, Anger, Ego, Beginners, Buddha Nature,... |
Feb 14 1988 SFZC |
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1987.05.03-serial.00031Mantra, Buddha Nature, Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Zazen, Bowing, soto, Chanting, Posture... |
May 03 1987 Green Gulch Farm |
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March 1987 talk, Serial No. 03986 Study Period, Ceremony, Death-and-Dying, Impermanence, Posture, Buddha Nature,... |
1987 SFZC |