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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Foundation Practices Seminar, Serial 00075 Buddha Nature, Right Effort, Bodhisattva Vow, Renunciation, Greed, Conversation,... |
Feb 24 1978 1 and 2 New York City? |
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September 1st, 1977, Serial No. 00101 Compassion, Fox, causation, lecture, Anger, Teacher-and-Student, Buddha Nature,... |
Sep 01 1977 |
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August 30th, 1977, Serial No. 00098 Evil, Buddha Nature, Impermanence, Nirvana, confusion, Religion, realization,... |
Aug 30 1977 |
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August 30th, 1977, Serial No. 00099 Compassion, Transmission, Politics, Attachment, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 30 1977 |
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August 29th, 1977, Serial No. 00097 Buddha Nature, realization, Oneness, Suffering, Interview, Ego, Precepts, Nirvana,... |
Aug 29 1977 |
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August 26th, 1977, Serial No. 00094 realization, Buddha Nature, Dharma Transmission, Religion, lecture, Vinaya, Intention... |
Aug 26 1977 |
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August 24th, 1977, Serial No. 00092 Subject-and-Object, Intuition, Hindrances, Compassion, Continuous, training, Buddha... |
Aug 24 1977 |
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August 19th, 1977, Serial No. 00089 Transmission, Dharma Transmission, Buddha Nature, lecture, realization, Rinzai, soto... |
Aug 19 1977 |
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August 1977 talk, Serial No. 00095 Happiness, realization, Buddha Nature, Transmission, Consciousness, Beginners,... |
Aug 1977 |
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August 29th, 1976, Serial No. 00084 Silence, Buddha Nature, Hate, Beginners, Anger, Describe, Fox, Balance, Emotions,... |
Aug 29 1976 |
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September 8th, 1975, Serial No. 00074 Transmission, Soto Zen, Discrimination, Buddha Nature, soto, realization, Separation... |
Sep 08 1975 |
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August 27th, 1975, Serial No. 00103 Bell, Subject-and-Object, Concentration, Interdependence, Buddha Nature, Suffering,... |
Aug 27 1975 |
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SF SeminarSerial: SF-00022 Myths and legends in religious traditions; natural and supernatural language. Attachment, Heart Sutra, Religion, Emptiness, Buddha Nature, Transmission, Enemies,... |
Feb 22 1973 |
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December 3rd, 1972, Serial No. 00356 Birth-and-Death, Hate, lecture, Nirvana, Buddha Nature, Interview, Patience,... |
Dec 03 1972 |
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October 1972 talk, Serial No. 00341 Birth-and-Death, Oneness, Echo, American, Culture, Buddha Nature, Hate, Funeral,... |
Oct 1972 |
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August 12th, 1972, Serial No. 00335 Nirvana, Triple Treasure, Posture, Discrimination, Bowing, causation, Greed, Patience... |
Aug 12 1972 |
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August 6th, 1972, Serial No. 00243 realization, confusion, Buddha Nature, lecture, Pain, Silence |
Aug 06 1972 |
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August 5th, 1972, Serial No. 00242 Buddha Nature, lecture, Ceremony, Building, Rinzai, confusion |
Aug 05 1972 |
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April 4th, 1972, Serial No. 00269 Buddha Nature, Gratitude, Funeral, Hate, Silence, Building, Interdependence,... |
Apr 04 1972 |