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Buddha Nature Talks

In Buddhist philosophy and soteriology, Buddha-nature (Chinese: fóxìng 佛性, Japanese: busshō, Vietnamese: Phật tính, 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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Cultivating Good Habits Foundation of SittingSerial: BZ-00356A Saturday Lecture Zazen, Posture, Discrimination, Hindrances, Silent Illumination, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 15 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: #9Serial: BZ-00353B Joshu's 4 Gates, Saturday Lecture Joshu, BCR-9, Enemies, Buddha Nature, Discrimination, Passions, Ego, Non-duality,... |
Jul 18 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Zaikke Tokudo (Jukai)Serial: BZ-00351A Saturday Lecture Zaike Tokudo, Jukai, Ordination, Precepts, Lay Ordination, Lineage, Karma, Buddha... |
Jun 20 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Bodhidharma: Myth and Legacy Unveiled Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Time |
Apr 25 1998 Unknown |
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Community Precepts Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Vow, Buddha Nature, Daily Life, Practice Period,... |
Mar 14 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sunday Lecture Precepts, Emptiness, Offering, Bodhisattva Precepts, New Year, Observe, Ceremony,... |
Jan 04 1998 Green Gulch Farm |
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December 14th, 1997, Serial No. 02886 Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Lotus Sutra |
Dec 14 1997 |
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ForgivenessSerial: BZ-00339B Saturday Lecture Forgiveness, Forgiveness, Anger, Buddha Nature, New Year, Karma, confusion, Samsara,... |
Dec 13 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Right Effort, Right Mindfulness, Rigth ConcentrationSerial: BZ-01067 Rohatsu Day 3 Mindfulness, Right Effort, Concentration, American, Dependent Origination, Don't... |
Dec 03 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Precepts Class Precepts, Confession-and-Repentance, Repentance, Evil, Liberation, Buddha Nature,... |
Nov 17 1997 Green Gulch Farm |
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Precepts ClassSerial: SF-03532 Brief Review of Class 1 - the Three Refuges Precepts, Emptiness, Three Treasures, Bodhisattva Precepts, Vow, Buddha Nature,... |
Oct 27 1997 Green Gulch Farm |
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Chao Chou's Four GatesSerial: SF-03239 Sunday Lecture: case 9 of the Blue Cliff Record: "What is Chao Chou?" "East gate, west gate, south gate, north gate" Practice Period, Ordinary Mind, Buddha Nature, Blue Cliff Record, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Oct 19 1997 Green Gulch Farm |
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Recognizing EnlightenmentSerial: BZ-00322B Saturday Lecture Enlightenment, Koan, Doubt, Constancy, Discrimination, Duality, Buddha Nature,... |
Sep 26 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sun Buddha, Moon Buddha Blue Cliff Record, Mindfulness, Sixth Patriarch, Culture, American, Emotions,... |
Aug 02 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Heart SutraSerial: BZ-00842 Class 3 of 4 Four Noble Truths, Precepts, Don't Know Mind, Subject-and-Object, causation,... |
Jul 24 1997 3 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Heart SutraSerial: BZ-00843 Class 2 of 4 Heart Sutra, Separation, Oneness, Mahayana, Zazen Mind, Buddha Nature, Patience,... |
Jul 17 1997 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #40Serial: BZ-00316B Nansen's "This Flower", Saturday Lecture Nansen, BCR-40, Buddha Nature, Pure Existence, Interdependence, Oneness, Conversation... |
Jul 05 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sesshin Is Great Patience: Letting Go Of PainSerial: BZ-00314B Sesshin Day 3 Sesshin, Patience, Pain, Happiness, Patience, Discrimination, Demons, Duality,... |
Jun 20 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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How We Practice: Dogen's "Thoroughness"Serial: BZ-00314A Sesshin Day 2 Practice, Dogen, Big Mind, Buddha Nature, Thoroughness, Bowing, Duality, Non-... |
Jun 19 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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ZadankaiSerial: BZ-00114 Lecture Ordinary Mind, Conversation, Buddha Nature, Silent Illumination, Religion, Soto Zen,... |
Jun 16 1997 San Francisco Zen Center |
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ZadankaiSerial: BZ-00779 Discussion Ordinary Mind, Silent Illumination, Conversation, Soto Zen, Buddha Nature, Religion,... |
Jun 16 1997 San Francisco Zen Center |
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Is An Enlightened Person Free of Cause and Effect?Serial: BZ-00313A Saturday Lecture Hyakujo, Enlightenment, Cause-and-Effect, Fox, causation, Karma, Funeral, Precepts,... |
Jun 14 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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PreceptsSerial: BZ-00535 Class 6 of 6 Offering, Precepts, Buddha Nature, Attachment, Six Realms, Interdependence, Gratitude... |
Jun 12 1997 6 Berkeley Zen Center |
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June 12th, 1997, Serial No. 01462, Side A Precepts, Attachment, Offering, Buddha Nature, Six Realms, Interdependence, Gratitude... |
Jun 12 1997 |
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Mindfulness in a Single Chip Ceremony, Don't Know Mind, Concentration, Way-Seeking Mind, Buddha Nature... |
Jun 03 1997 |
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Anger, Failure and Pure Existence Buddha Nature, Pure Existence, Anger, Practice Period, Karma, Renewal, Bodhisattva... |
May 24 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Nansen Cuts the CatSerial: BZ-00363B Saturday Lecture Nansen, Book of Serenity, Don't Know Mind, Subject-and-Object, Duality, Precepts... |
May 17 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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PreceptsSerial: BZ-00539 Class 2 of 6 Precepts, Offering, Evil, Buddha Nature, Anger, Sixth Patriarch, Emotions, Addiction... |
May 15 1997 2 Berkeley Zen Center |
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May 15th, 1997, Serial No. 01457 Precepts, Offering, Evil, Anger, Buddha Nature, Emotions, Addiction, Sixth Patriarch... |
May 15 1997 |
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May 8th, 1997, Serial No. 01455 Precepts, Buddha Nature, Perfect Wisdom, Sangha, Buddha Mind, Birth-and-Death,... |
May 08 1997 |
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PreceptsSerial: BZ-00672 Class 1 of 6 Precepts, Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, Sangha, Perfect Wisdom, Evil, Mahayana, Birth-... |
May 08 1997 1 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Unleashing Your Zen Potential Ceremony, Thich Nhat Hanh, Concentration, Balance, Buddha Nature |
May 07 1997 |
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Embrace Freedom of Inner Exploration Ceremony, Thich Nhat Hanh, Concentration, Balance, Buddha Nature |
May 07 1997 |
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Embracing Buddha Nature Through PracticeSerial: RB-01583B Practice-Week Buddha, Buddha Nature, Intention |
May 1997 Johanneshof |
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Buddha’s Birthday Story Buddha's Birthday, Lay, Buddha Nature, Peace |
Apr 05 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Mumonkan: Case #12Serial: BZ-00782B Zuigan Checks Himself, Saturday Lecture Zuigan, MM-12, Ego, Big Mind, Buddha Nature, Peace, Birth-and-Death, Emotions, Demons... |
Feb 08 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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On The Dharma Transmission CeremonySerial: SF-03638 Sunday Lecture Transmission, Ceremony, Vow, Intimacy, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Teacher-and-... |
Dec 15 1996 Green Gulch Farm |
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Title UnknownSerial: BZ-00808A Rohatsu Day 4 Instruction, Concentration, Buddha Nature, Sixth Patriarch, Continuous Practice,... |
Dec 05 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Dogen’s Four Methods of Guidance Buddha Nature, Precepts, Vow, Enemies, Bodhisattva Precepts, Lay, Greed, Bodhisattva... |
Oct 26 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Mumonkan: Case #46Serial: BZ-00789A 100 Foot Pole, Barriers in Practice, Saturday Lecture MM-46, Beginners, Sixth Patriarch, Lotus Sutra, Non-duality, Birth-and-Death, Buddha... |
Oct 19 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Blue Cliff Record: Case #41Serial: BZ-00790B Ashes in the Students' Eyes., Saturday Lecture BCR-41, Ego, Monastic Practice, Priest, Buddha Nature, Lay, Bodhidharma, Oneness,... |
Oct 12 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Five Lords or PowersSerial: BZ-00792A Saturday Lecture Concentration, Mindfulness, Buddha Nature, Offering, Bowing, Ego, Samadhi, Daily Life... |
Sep 06 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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More Hongzhi: Oriyoki, Birth & DeathSerial: BZ-00793B Sesshin Day 3 Hongzhi, Birth-and-Death, Oryoki, Birth-and-Death, Posture, Buddha Nature, Emotions,... |
Sep 02 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Hongzhi: Can't Find Oneness; Finding Our True PersonalitySerial: BZ-00793A Sesshin Day 2 Hongzhi, Oneness, Buddha Nature, Constancy, Emotions, Posture, Don't Know Mind,... |
Sep 01 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Zen Wisdom in Everyday Practice Practice Period, Dharma Transmission, Buddha Nature, Building |
Sep 1996 |
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Platform SutraSerial: BZ-00256 Class 9 of 9 Ego, Buddha Nature, Discrimination, Attachment, Karmic Consciousness, Big Mind,... |
Aug 29 1996 9 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Platform SutraSerial: BZ-00257 Class 8 of 9 Lotus Sutra, Ego, Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Bodhidharma, Separation, Duality,... |
Aug 22 1996 8 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Platform SutraSerial: BZ-00255 Class 7 of 9 Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Heart Sutra, Mahayana, Sixth Patriarch, Samsara, Building... |
Aug 08 1996 7 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Bodhisattva CeremonySerial: BZ-00799B Saturday Lecture Bodhisattva Ceremony, Karma, Four Noble Truths, Teacher-and-Student, Buddha Nature,... |
Jul 06 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |
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NonobjectivitySerial: BZ-00801B Sesshin Day 3 Lecture Practice Period, Platform Sutra, Intimacy, Attachment, Buddha Nature, Composure,... |
Jun 21 1996 Berkeley Zen Center |