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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Women in BuddhismSerial: SF-00153 Class Religion, Discrimination, Priest, Ceremony, Bodhisattva Vow, Buddha Nature, Ego,... |
Oct 23 1995 1 of 6 Green Gulch Farm |
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October 14th, 1995, Serial No. 00820, Side A confusion, Four Noble Truths, Buddha Nature, Religion, Happiness, Describe, Duality,... |
Oct 14 1995 |
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Causes and ConditionsSerial: SF-03660 One-day sitting Emptiness, Posture, Book of Serenity, Subject-and-Object, realization, Buddha Nature... |
Oct 14 1995 Green Gulch |
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October 11th, 1995, Serial No. 02703 Hsin Hsin Ming, Faith, Enthusiasm, Soto Zen, Nirvana Sutra, Gratitude, Vows, soto,... |
Oct 11 1995 Unknown |
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Enlightenment to Faith in PracticeSerial: BZ-00821A Saturday Lecture Enlightenment, Faith, Practice, Buddha Nature, Intuition, Lotus Sutra, Vows, Aspects... |
Sep 30 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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September 23rd, 1995, Serial No. 00822, Side B Buddha Nature, Soto Zen, Priest, Birth-and-Death, Anger, Karma, Gratitude, soto,... |
Sep 23 1995 |
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Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo #1Serial: BZ-00824A Sesshin Day 1 Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo, Buddha Nature, Bell, Religion, Sangha, Anger, Nirvana Sutra,... |
Sep 02 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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July 22nd, 1995, Serial No. 00828, Side A soto, Culture, First Principle, Lay Practice, Demons, Gratitude, Lay, Lineage, Daily... |
Jul 22 1995 |
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Heart Sutra Pt.2Serial: BZ-00745B Lecture Nirvana, Samsara, Duality, Precepts, Dependent Origination, Bodhisattva Precepts, Non... |
Jul 12 1995 |
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1995.07.10-serial.00261 Ordinary Mind, Dragons, Buddha Nature, Bowing, Offering |
Jul 10 1995 |
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KarmaSerial: BZ-00829A Saturday Lecture Karma, Fox, Karma, Buddha Nature, Funeral, Birth-and-Death, Continuous, Karmic... |
Jul 08 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Metta SuttaSerial: BZ-00830B Saturday Lecture Metta Sutta, Anger, Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature, Peace, Nirvana, Obstacles,... |
Jul 01 1995 Berkeley Zen Center |
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April 29th, 1995, Serial No. 00973, Side B Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Big Mind, Peace, Lay Practice, Buddha Mind, Subject-... |
Apr 29 1995 |
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1995.04.18-serial.00316 Buddha Nature, Community, Sangha, Balance, Money |
Apr 18 1995 |
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Tokubetsu Sesshin Lecture Dharma Transmission, Transmission, Ceremony, Big Mind, Precepts, Bodhidharma,... |
Mar 29 1995 Unknown |
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March 9th, 1995, Serial No. 00762 Discrimination, Absolute-and-Relative, Soto Zen, Practice Period, Buddha Nature,... |
Mar 09 1995 |
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March 4th, 1995, Serial No. 00761 Intuition, Emotions, Buddha Nature, Book of Serenity, Absolute-and-Relative, Duality... |
Mar 04 1995 |
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March 4th, 1995, Serial No. 00912, Side A Buddha Nature, Transmission, Buddha Mind, Echo, Patience, resistance, Tassajara,... |
Mar 04 1995 |
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February 25th, 1995, Serial No. 00913, Side B Happiness, Blue Cliff Record, Separation, Interview, Buddha Nature, Attachment,... |
Feb 25 1995 |
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1995.02.12-serial.00271 Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, Money, training, resistance |
Feb 12 1995 |
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January 14th, 1995, Serial No. 00947, Side A Big Mind, Branching Streams, Practice Period, Light-and-Darkness, Oneness, Ordinary... |
Jan 14 1995 |
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December 17th, 1994, Serial No. 00948, Side A Bodhisattva Ceremony, Vows, Gratitude, Precepts, Buddha Nature, Karma, Demons,... |
Dec 17 1994 |
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Heart Sutra, Last SectionSerial: BZ-00949 Rohatsu Day 7 Heart Sutra, Hindrances, Heart Sutra, Daily Life, Nirvana, Buddha Nature, Ego,... |
Dec 10 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Heart Sutra: Setting the SceneSerial: BZ-00952B Skandas and Emptiness, Rohatsu Day 4 Heart Sutra, Skandas, Emptiness, Heart Sutra, Four Noble Truths, Non-duality, Samadhi... |
Dec 07 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #44Serial: BZ-00954A Becoming One with the Drum, Saturday Lecture Oneness, BCR-44, Subject-and-Object, Daily Life, Concentration, Buddha Mind,... |
Nov 19 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 12th, 1994, Serial No. 00955, Side A Buddha Nature, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Impermanence, Mindfulness, Daily Life... |
Nov 12 1994 |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #86Serial: BZ-00957A Saturday Lecture BCR-86, Doubt, Buddha Nature, Gaining Mind, Light-and-Darkness, Duality, Blue Cliff... |
Oct 15 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Mumonkan: Case #12Serial: BZ-00934B Zuigan Calls Himself, Saturday Lecture Zuigan, MM-12, Demons, Big Mind, Continuous, Buddha Nature, Birth-and-Death, Nirvana... |
Sep 24 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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September 17th, 1994, Serial No. 00934, Side A Precepts, Repentance, Vows, Interdependence, Buddha Nature, Enemies, Right Speech,... |
Sep 17 1994 |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #50Serial: BZ-00940A Saturday Lecture BCR-50, Samadhi, Doubt, Platform Sutra, confusion, Lotus Sutra, Birth-and-Death,... |
Jul 16 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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June 2nd, 1994, Serial No. 00238 First Principle, Buddha Nature, War, Ordinary Mind, Duality, Practice Period,... |
Jun 02 1994 |
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May 27th, 1994, Serial No. 00237 Hate, Discrimination, confusion, Buddha Nature, Precepts, Duality, Non-discrimination... |
May 27 1994 |
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Tozan's PoemSerial: BZ-00962B No Gap; Don't Objectify, Saturday Lecture Tozan Ryokai, Subject-and-Object, Separation, Practice Period, Subject-and-Object,... |
Apr 16 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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This Moment's ActivitySerial: BZ-00108A Sesshin Day 1 Samadhi, Bell, Tassajara, Offering, Posture, Buddha Nature, Ego, Doubt, Building... |
Mar 24 1994 |
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March 22nd, 1994, Serial No. 00551 Lotus Sutra, Birth-and-Death, Happiness, Soto Zen, Karmic Consciousness, Karma,... |
Mar 22 1994 |
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March 4th, 1994, Serial No. 00557 Evil, Big Mind, Discrimination, Buddha Nature, Hindrances, Five Ranks, Nirvana, Soto... |
Mar 04 1994 |
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March 2nd, 1994, Serial No. 00227 Precepts, Practice Period, Priest, Culture, Dream World, Lay, Ordination, Interview,... |
Mar 02 1994 |
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February 12th, 1994, Serial No. 00980, Side B Nirvana Sutra, Buddha Nature, Precepts, Nirvana, Impermanence, Daily Life, Tassajara... |
Feb 12 1994 |
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Mumonkan: Case #10Serial: BZ-00980A Essence of Mind "Alone and Poor", Saturday Lecture MM-10, Attachment, Greed, Practice Period, Buddha Nature, Tassajara, Culture,... |
Feb 05 1994 Berkeley Zen Center |
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January 19th, 1994, Serial No. 00559 Platform Sutra, Buddha Nature, Dharma Transmission, true dharma, Transmission, Evil,... |
Jan 19 1994 |
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January 14th, 1994, Serial No. 00558 Sixth Patriarch, Buddha Nature, Evil, Ordination, Platform Sutra, Instruction, Lay,... |
Jan 14 1994 |
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Saturday LectureSerial: SF-04059 At times in Japanese history, Zen has been interpreted with a fascistic bent - we need to consider our practices carefully Emptiness, Four Noble Truths, Buddha Nature, Repentance, Rinzai, realization, Daily... |
Jan 08 1994 City Center |
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Refining Your LifeSerial: BZ-01497A Rohatsu Day 3 Tenzo Kyokun, Bell, Sanctuary, Emotions, Book of Serenity, soto, Discrimination,... |
Dec 01 1993 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Saturday Lecture Buddha Nature, zen meditation, Birth-and-Death, Lineage, Repentance, Mahayana,... |
Nov 13 1993 City Center |
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Nagarajuna and Dogen on BuddhanatureSerial: BZ-00659B Happiness, Reward, and Love, One-Day Sitting Buddha Nature, Happiness, Love, Buddha Nature, Happiness, Birth-and-Death, Daily Life... |
Nov 07 1993 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #2Serial: BZ-00657A Joshu's "The Way Is Not Difficult", Saturday Lecture Joshu, BCR-2, confusion, Attachment, Hate, Buddha Nature, Daily Life, Emotions,... |
Sep 18 1993 Berkeley Zen Center |
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1993 Parliament of World ReligionsSerial: BZ-00628A Seeking Common Ground, Sesshin Day 1 Religion, Current Events, Religion, American, Politics, Separation, Buddha Nature,... |
Sep 04 1993 Berkeley Zen Center |
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1993.06.28-serial.00263 Greed, Passions, Buddha Nature, Desire, Attachment |
Jun 28 1993 |
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Practice and BoredomSerial: BZ-00670A Sesshin Day 5 Zazen, Stillness, Daily Life, Pure Existence, Doubt, Posture, soto, Separation,... |
Jun 13 1993 Berkeley Zen Center |
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May 27th, 1993, Serial No. 00219 Buddha Nature, Offering, Evil, Eight Awarenesses, Lineage, Buddha Ancestors, Duality... |
May 27 1993 |