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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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 |