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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June 26th, 1999, Serial No. 00165, Side B Buddha Nature, Separation, Obstacles, Interview, Oneness, soto |
Jun 26 1999 |
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Genjokoan Commentary (Pt. 4/8)Serial: BZ-00753B Sesshin Day 4 Genjokoan, Buddha Nature, Separation, Soto Zen, soto, Obstacles, Interview, Oneness,... |
Jun 26 1999 Berkeley Zen Center |
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DelusionsSerial: SF-02730 Saturday Lecture Delusion, Letting Go, Buddha Mind, Freedom, Greed, Buddha Nature, Emotions,... |
Jun 26 1999 City Center |
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June 25th, 1999, Serial No. 00165, Side A Birth-and-Death, Liberation, Thoroughness, Continuous, Impermanence, Buddha Nature,... |
Jun 25 1999 |
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Genjokoan Commentary (Pt. 3/8)Serial: BZ-00753A Sesshin Day 3 Genjokoan, Birth-and-Death, Liberation, Thoroughness, Impermanence, Continuous,... |
Jun 25 1999 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Genjokoan Commentary (Pt. 2/8)Serial: BZ-00078B Sesshin Day 2 Genjokoan, Precious Mirror, Duality, Buddha Nature, Five Ranks, Absolute-and-Relative... |
Jun 24 1999 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Genjokoan Commentary (Pt. 1/8)Serial: BZ-00078A Sesshin Day 1 Genjokoan, Five Ranks, Nirvana, Buddha Nature, Samadhi, Sixth Patriarch, Impermanence... |
Jun 23 1999 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo -- The Sutra ExplicatedSerial: BZ-00074B One-Day Sitting Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo, Buddha Nature, Big Mind, Continuous, Bell, Absolute-and-... |
May 02 1999 Berkeley Zen Center |
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April 1st, 1999, Serial No. 00834 Lotus Sutra, Dependent Origination, Buddha Nature, Aspects of Practice, Family... |
Apr 01 1999 |
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April 1st, 1999, Serial No. 00835 Lotus Sutra, Dependent Origination, Four Noble Truths, Nirvana, Buddha Nature,... |
Apr 01 1999 |
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April 1st, 1999, Serial No. 00836 Lotus Sutra, Sixth Patriarch, Four Noble Truths, Heart Sutra, Mahayana, Buddha Nature... |
Apr 01 1999 |
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April 1st, 1999, Serial No. 00862 Lotus Sutra, Chanting, Mahayana, Peace, Vows, Happiness, Priest, Lay, Buddha Nature,... |
Apr 01 1999 |
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April 1st, 1999, Serial No. 00863 Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Perfect Wisdom, Demons, Nirvana, Subject-and-Object, Evil... |
Apr 01 1999 |
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RomanceSerial: SF-03244 Sunday Lecture Commitment, Emptiness, Impermanence, Ego, Karma, Intimacy, Birth-and-Death, Buddha... |
Mar 28 1999 Green Gulch |
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1999.03.21-serial.00032Serial: SF-00032 Sunday talk. Buddha Nature, Karma, Monkey Mind, Daily Life, Buddha Mind, causation, Sangha,... |
Mar 21 1999 |
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Eight Characteristics of Suzuki Roshi's TeachingSerial: SF-03243 Sunday Lecture Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Posture, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Feb 28 1999 Green Gulch |
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Eight Characteristics of Suzuki Roshi's TeachingSerial: SF-03110 Sunday Lecture - Discussion - duplicate Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Posture, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Feb 28 1999 Green Gulch |
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Eight Characteristics of Suzuki Roshi's TeachingSerial: SF-03137 Sunday Lecture - first Sunday of practice period Suzuki Roshi, Impermanence, Commitment, Vows, Lineage, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Faith... |
Feb 21 1999 Green Gulch |
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Eight Characteristics of Suzuki Roshi's TeachingSerial: SF-03111 Sunday Lecture - Questions and Answers - duplicate Suzuki Roshi, Impermanence, Commitment, Lineage, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Faith, Zazen... |
Feb 21 1999 Green Gulch |
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1999.02.15-serial.00140 Conversation, Buddha Nature, Avalokiteshvara, Interview, Intention |
Feb 15 1999 |
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Shuso TalkSerial: SF-01040 Wednesday Lecture #shuso-talk Karma, Priest, Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Tassajara, Suzuki Roshi, Doubt, Bowing... |
Jan 27 1999 City Center |
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Dogen's Guidelines For Studying The Way (Pt.2)Serial: BZ-00188A Saturday Lecture Dogen, Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, New Year, Beginners, resistance, Lineage,... |
Dec 12 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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November 28th, 1998, Serial No. 00168, Side A Lay, Sangha, Culture, Liberation, Bodhisattva Vow, Monastic Practice, Mahayana, Birth... |
Nov 28 1998 |
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Dogen: "Seek A True Teacher"Serial: BZ-00440A Saturday Lecture Teacher-and-Student, Daily Life, Birth-and-Death, Practice Period, true dharma,... |
Nov 14 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sunday Lecture Constancy, Mindfulness, Cultivation, Daily Life, Doubt, Lay Practice, Buddha Nature,... |
Nov 08 1998 Green Gulch |
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November 5th, 1998, Serial No. 00839 Buddha Nature, Separation, Birth-and-Death, Right Effort, Duality, Instruction, Don... |
Nov 05 1998 |
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How To Respond To A Practice PeriodSerial: BZ-00441A Saturday Lecture Practice Period, Practice Period, Lay Practice, Monastic Practice, Aspects of... |
Oct 17 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Koun Ejo's Commentary - Ummon's Radiant LightSerial: BZ-00438B Saturday Lecture Koun Ejô, Ummon, Buddha Nature, Discrimination, Subject-and-Object, Samadhi,... |
Oct 11 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Shodoka:Song of Enlightenment (Pt.1)Serial: BZ-00436B Sesshin Day 1 Shodoka, Enlightenment, Buddha Nature, Happiness, Karma, Equanimity, Subject-and-... |
Sep 05 1998 Berkeley Zen Center |
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Sunday Lecture Blue Cliff Record, Bodhidharma, Commitment, Priest, Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 30 1998 Green Gulch |
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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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April 26th, 1998, Serial No. 01895 Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Platform Sutra, Doubt, Faith, New Year, Describe,... |
Apr 26 1998 Unknown |
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April 25th, 1998, Serial No. 01894 Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Faith, Interview, Bell, Describe, Freedom, Doubt, Nirvana... |
Apr 25 1998 Unknown |
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March 14th, 1998, Serial No. 00343, Side B Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Vows, Buddha Nature, Daily Life, Practice Period,... |
Mar 14 1998 |
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Sunday Lecture Precepts, Emptiness, Offering, Bodhisattva Precepts, New Year, Observe, Ceremony,... |
Jan 04 1998 Green Gulch |
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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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December 3rd, 1997, Serial No. 01067 Mindfulness, Right Effort, Concentration, American, Dependent Origination, Don't... |
Dec 03 1997 |
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Precepts Class Precepts, Confession-and-Repentance, Repentance, Evil, Liberation, Buddha Nature,... |
Nov 17 1997 Green Gulch |
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Precepts ClassSerial: SF-03532 Brief Review of Class 1 - the Three Refuges Precepts, Emptiness, Triple Treasure, Bodhisattva Precepts, Vows, Buddha Nature,... |
Oct 27 1997 Green Gulch |
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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 |
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Recognizing EnlightenmentSerial: BZ-00322B Saturday Lecture Enlightenment, Koan, Doubt, Obstacles, Constancy, Discrimination, Duality, Buddha... |
Sep 26 1997 Berkeley Zen Center |
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IntroductionSerial: SF-04817 Commercially Produced cassette: Sounds True - - Pain, Love and Happiness with Thich Nhat Hanh - September 1-6 1997 Sponsored by the Community of Mindful Living Happiness, Daily Life, Freedom, Sangha, Doubt, Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature,... |
Sep 01 1997 Unknown |
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August 2nd, 1997, Serial No. 00318, Side B Blue Cliff Record, Mindfulness, Sixth Patriarch, Culture, American, Emotions,... |
Aug 02 1997 |
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July 24th, 1997, Serial No. 00842 Four Noble Truths, Precepts, Don't Know Mind, Subject-and-Object, causation,... |
Jul 24 1997 |
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July 17th, 1997, Serial No. 00843 Heart Sutra, Separation, Oneness, Mahayana, Zazen Mind, Buddha Nature, Patience,... |
Jul 17 1997 |
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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, training, Oneness,... |
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 |