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.
Title | Speaker | |
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Jumping Off the 100-Foot PoleSerial: SR-00016 Sunday Lecture Buddha Nature, Evil, Priest, Big Mind, Compassion, Continuous, reality |
Apr 20 1969 |
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April 17th, 1969, Serial No. 00012 New Year, Lotus Sutra, Instruction, Buddha Nature, resistance, Demons, Mindfulness,... |
Apr 17 1969 |
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The Only Desire That Is Complete Is Buddha's Desire Buddha Nature, Freedom, difficulty, Wisdom, War, Culture, Posture, lecture, Precepts... |
Apr 08 1969 |
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Find Out for YourselfSerial: SR-00011 Find out what "buddha-nature" and "enlightenment" mean. Study without purpose. How his teacher in Japan treated him; trying to discover the right thing to do. Sesshin, Zazen, Eiheiji, Suffering, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Beginners, Posture, zen,... |
Mar 15 1969 Sokoji |
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Sun-Faced Buddha, Moon-Faced BuddhaSerial: SR-00009 Sunday, March 9, 1969 Koan story of sun-faced buddha, moon-faced buddha. Practicing while well or while sick. Accepting what we don't like.... Baso, Koan, Blue Cliff Record, Attachment, Composure, Discrimination, difficulty,... |
Mar 09 1969 Sokoji |
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February 18th, 1969, Serial No. 00008 causation, Suffering, Buddha Mind, Birth-and-Death, difficulty, Buddha Nature,... |
Feb 18 1969 |
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February 1969 talk, Serial No. 00002 Meditation, Transmission, Letting Go, Buddha Nature, Discrimination, Composure,... |
Feb 1969 |
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1969, Serial No. 00022 Meditation, Echo, difficulty, Don't Know Mind, Chanting, Building, Silence,... |
1969 |
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1969, Serial No. 00023 Ceremony, Silence, Buddha Nature, Delusion, Meditation, Echo, Passions, causation,... |
1969 |
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True Happiness and Renewal of Practice at Year's EndSerial: SF-05970-A Newly uploaded recording of this talk. Happiness, Buddha Nature, Happiness, Buddha Nature, Composure, Observe |
Dec 21 1968 Sokoji |
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Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. II-5Serial: SR-00100 Fall, 1968 Lotus Sutra, Wisdom, Discrimination, Perfect Wisdom, Monks, Mahayana, Buddha Nature,... |
Oct 1968 Series 2, Talk 5 Tassajara |
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What is Soto and what is Rinzai?Serial: SF-05144A SR024 Tass July 26/68 Roshi Sectarianism copied; July 21 Chino Sensei; July 24 Chino Sensei - also many handwritten notes on the content Soto Zen, Rinzai, Buddha Nature, Bodhidharma, Evil, Bowing, Mahayana, Gratitude, Ego... |
Jul 26 1968 Tassajara |
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Shuso CeremonySerial: SF-05143C SR023 Last 2/3 side 2 Philip's discussion ceremony - copied 2 tapes [there are also photographs of hand-written notes on missing portions of Q&A - per tape operator... Sesshin, Shuso Ceremony, Big Mind, Bell, Bodhidharma, Gratitude, Buddha Nature,... |
Apr 23 1968 C Tassajara |
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Everything Itself Is BuddhaSerial: SF-05140A SR20 - Reel #5 Suzuki track 1 - Roshi's lecture sesshin #7 12/6/67 Afternoon - copied (This audio is only the first part of the talk) Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Buddha Nature, Observe, Hate, Faith |
Dec 06 1967 B Tassajara |
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Inner Power of PracticeSerial: SF-05137A SR017 - Track 1 - slow - Roshi Lecture - 12/2/67 - afternoon - copied Sesshin, Blue Cliff Record, Concentration, Precepts, Monastic Practice, New Year,... |
Dec 02 1967 Tassajara |
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True PracticeSerial: SF-05133-B Evening Sesshin Lecture Sesshin, Zuigan, Fox, Gratitude, Fox, Buddha Nature, Addiction, Discrimination,... |
Dec 01 1967 B Tassajara |
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Zen Is Also BuddhismSerial: SF-05130C SR013 date? Fall 1967 Tassajara III - Side 1 + 1/2 side 2 Suzuki lecture copied Mahayana, New Year, Buddha Nature, Hate, Observe, Concentration, Balance, Freedom,... |
Sep 1967 Tassajara |
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OLD - The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking MindSerial: SF-05838 This had been labeled as A - transript matches B. temporary audio from this date hidden - SDH Saturday, December 17, 1966 DECEMBER ONE-DAY SESSHIN LECTURE:... Sesshin, Dogen, training, New Year, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature, Practice... |
Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji |
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ShobogenzoSerial: SF-05097-D Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Subject-and-Object, Attachment, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 18 1966 C Sokoji |
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Ten PreceptsSerial: SF-05098-B Sunday morning lecture by Suzuki Roshi Other notes on box: Precepts, Precepts, Freedom, Observe, Faith, Buddha Nature, Priest |
Jun 19 1966 C Sokoji |
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Genjō Kōan, 1–3Serial: SF-05095-C Sesshin Lecture: Genjo-Koan, Paragraphs 1–3 Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Duality, Faith, Buddha Nature, Attachment, Discrimination... |
Mar 13 1966 A Sokoji |
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Where There is Some Limitation, There is UniversalitySerial: SF-05114B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #9, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is found on the same reel as the one previously discussed (https://suzukiroshi.engagewisdom.... Sesshin, Dogen, Buddha Nature, Faith, Evil, confusion, Freedom, Doubt |
Feb 18 1966 Sokoji |
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Saturday Evening LectureSerial: SF-05117A Tape VIII (?) Side 1 Sat eve lecture (1 - 60); Side 2 Sat eve lecture (1-15?) Question-and-Answer, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Happiness, Balance, Bell, Evil, Hate... |
Jul 31 1965 Sokoji |
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Don't Be Bothered By Your Mind / Science of Philosophy is Like a DissectionSerial: SF-05104C Tape 5 Summer sesshin 1965 Thursday July 29th Side 2: 5:45 meditation, 9:00 AM lecture [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Peace, Buddha Nature, Current Events, Bodhidharma, Passions, Instruction,... |
Jul 30 1965 A-B Sokoji |
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Do You Have Some Questions?Serial: SF-05107A Tape 7 Summer 1965 Sesshin: Side 1 Friday evening lecture (transcribed) [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Transmission, training, Emotions, Buddha Nature,... |
Jul 30 1965 D Sokoji |
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If You Have A QuestionSerial: SF-05105B Tape 6 Friday July 30 Side 1: 1pm lecture (continued on side 2) - transcribed Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Religion, Peace, Obstacles, confusion,... |
Jul 30 1965 C Sokoji |
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The Purpose of Practice is to Have a Direct Experience of BuddhaSerial: SF-05103B Tape 4 Summer Sesshin 1965: Thursday July 29 9am lecture - transcribed Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Evil, Precepts, Ego, Instruction |
Jul 29 1965 A Sokoji |
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Some More QuestionsSerial: SF-05104A Tape 5 Summer sesshin 1965 Thursday July 29th Side 1 - 6pm lecture; Continues on Side 2 [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Precepts, Emotions, Buddha Nature, Passions, training,... |
Jul 29 1965 C Sokoji |
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QuestionsSerial: SF-05103C Tape 4 Summer Sesshin 1965: Thursday July 29 1pm lecture - transcribed Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Priest, Faith, Demons, Religion... |
Jul 29 1965 B Sokoji |
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If You Understand Bodhisattva Mind In A Dualistic WaySerial: SF-05126D Tape 3 Summer Sesshin July 1965 - Wednesday July 28 1965 Tape 3 Side 1: Wednesday 1pm lecture - transcribed; copied June 30 1973; SR001 Sesshin, Shobogenzo, Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, confusion |
Jul 28 1965 C Sokoji |
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Forgotten the Value of ReligionSerial: SF-05101A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #5, by Shundo David Haye ===== The oldest recordings of Suzuki Roshi made at Sokoji, the home of the San Francisco Zen Center at the... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Inmost Nature, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Buddha... |
Jul 27 1965 1:00pm Sokoji |
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Wisdom Seeks For WisdomSerial: SF-05128A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #2, by Shundo David Haye ===== Among the tapes previously known to exist in the Zen Center archives, the earliest were from a sesshin... Precepts, Genjokoan, Instruction, Precepts, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Buddha Mind,... |
Jul 22 1965 Los Altos |