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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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Hokyo Zammai Class Buddha Nature, Enlightenment, Buddha |
Feb 18 2005 Tassajara |
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Sesshin LectureSerial: SF-03546 Second Sesshin, Zendo Lecture day 6 Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Letting Go, Karma, Karmic Consequences, Buddha's... |
Nov 21 2004 Tassajara |
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Buddha Nature and the Ugly DucklingSerial: SF-00056 Zendo lecture; feeling of not fitting in and not belonging that sends us towards spiritual practice. Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Ego, Delusion, training, Precepts, stubbornness, Posture... |
Nov 06 2004 Tassajara |
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Zendo Lecture Time, Buddha, Buddha Nature |
Nov 06 2004 Tassajara |
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Lotus Sutra ClassSerial: SF-03549 Dining Room Class Lotus Sutra, Ceremony, Perfect Wisdom, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Zazen, Practice Period... |
Nov 03 2004 Tassajara |
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Lotus Sutra ClassSerial: SF-03556 Dining Room Class 3 Lotus Sutra, Suzuki Roshi, Mahayana, Big Mind, Practice Period, Heart Sutra, Buddha... |
Oct 20 2004 Tassajara |
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Zen and the Eco-Consumer CodeSerial: SF-00156 Wednesday talk. Karma, Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Ceremony, Buddha Ancestors, Ego, Precepts,... |
Nov 19 2003 |
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Not Always So Class Buddha Nature, Emptiness, Bodhidharma, Zazen, Suzuki Roshi, realization, Religion,... |
Nov 18 2002 Tassajara |
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Embrace Openness Through Zazen Practice Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature, Zazen, Manjushri, Practice Period, Buddha Ancestors,... |
Oct 19 2002 City Center |
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Wednesday Lecture Silence, Buddha Nature, Practice Period, Non-duality, resistance, Gratitude, Lineage... |
Mar 21 2001 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Freedom, training, Bell, Beginners, Discrimination, Nirvana, Buddha Nature, confusion... |
Mar 04 2001 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Practice, Time, Buddha Nature |
Dec 31 2000 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Mill Valley, Buddha Nature, Delusion, true dharma, Buddha Ancestors, Teacher-and-... |
Dec 03 2000 Green Gulch |
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Surangama Sutra Class Emptiness, confusion, Cultivation, Silent Illumination, Light-and-Darkness, Subject-... |
Sep 18 2000 Unknown |
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Surangama Sutra Class Emptiness, Light-and-Darkness, Skandas, true dharma, Emotions, Doubt, Buddha Nature,... |
Jun 06 2000 Green Gulch |
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Wednesday Lecture Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, Ordination, Suzuki Roshi, Patience, Liberation, Zazen... |
May 03 2000 Green Gulch |
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Wednesday Lecture Six Realms, Suzuki Roshi, Right Effort, Enemies, Equanimity, Right Speech, Happiness... |
Mar 15 2000 Green Gulch |
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Fukanzazengi ClassSerial: SF-03517 Monday Class Hsin Hsin Ming, Buddha Nature, confusion, Platform Sutra, realization, Bodhisattva... |
Feb 28 2000 Green Gulch |
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One-day Sitting Lecture Faith, Buddha Nature, Suzuki Roshi, Zazen, Ceremony, Non-duality, Equanimity, Six... |
Jul 17 1999 Green Gulch |
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Sunday Lecture Right Speech, Freedom, Precepts, Happiness, Buddha Nature, Conversation, Priest,... |
Jul 04 1999 Green Gulch |
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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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Awakening Perfection in Everyday LifeSerial: 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-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, Vow, 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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Sunday Lecture Blue Cliff Record, Bodhidharma, Commitment, Priest, Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature,... |
Aug 30 1998 Green Gulch |
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Bodhidharma: Myth and Legacy Unveiled Bodhidharma, Buddha Nature, Time |
Apr 25 1998 Unknown |
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Sunday Lecture Precepts, Emptiness, Offering, Bodhisattva Precepts, New Year, Observe, Ceremony,... |
Jan 04 1998 Green Gulch |
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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, Three Treasures, Bodhisattva Precepts, Vow, 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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On The Dharma Transmission CeremonySerial: SF-03638 Sunday Lecture Transmission, Ceremony, Vow, Intimacy, Tassajara Zen Mountain Center, Teacher-and-... |
Dec 15 1996 Green Gulch |
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Lotus Sutra Class Lotus Sutra, Nirvana, Evil, Manjushri, Dragons, Vow, Buddha Nature, Emptiness,... |
May 23 1996 Green Gulch |
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Taking Care of Oneself, Others and Objects of the WorldSerial: SF-02752 One-day sitting - Buddhist practice is just taking care of people, objects, spaces, body and mind. Priest, Buddha Nature, Precepts, Nirvana Sutra, Bowing, Transmission, Buddha Mind,... |
May 18 1996 Green Gulch |
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Women in Buddhism Class Lotus Sutra, Mahayana, Buddha Nature, Six Realms, Instruction, Lay, Religion, Balance... |
Nov 13 1995 Unknown |
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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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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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Wholehearted Zen: Living Your Faith Hsin Hsin Ming, Faith, Enthusiasm, Soto Zen, Nirvana Sutra, Gratitude, Vow, Birth-and... |
Oct 11 1995 Unknown |
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Saturday Lecture Buddha, Buddha Nature, Time |
Nov 13 1993 City Center |
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Transmission of the LightSerial: SF-00041 Wednesday night teisho Birth-and-Death, Buddha Nature, Karmic Consequences, Karma, Attachment, Delusion,... |
May 26 1993 |
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Hokyo Zammai Class Five Ranks, Emptiness, Sixth Patriarch, Rinzai, Soto Zen, Buddha Nature, Evil,... |
Feb 19 1992 2 |
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Mumonkan Case 10Serial: SF-00046 Seizei lonely and destitute. Enthusiasm, Priest, Sanctuary, Sangha, Buddha Nature, Faith, Soto Zen, Balance, Zazen... |
Apr 28 1991 Green Gulch Farm |
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One-Day SittingSerial: SF-01078 #shuso-talk Precepts, Vow, Nirvana, Buddha Nature, Bodhisattva Vow, Suzuki Roshi, Attachment,... |
Mar 09 1991 Unknown |
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Jewel Mirror Samadhi Precious Mirror, Buddha Nature, Samadhi, Faith, Diversity, Soto Zen, Patience, Ego,... |
Oct 24 1990 |
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Sunday Lecture Mill Valley, Blue Cliff Record, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Liberation, Harmonizing, Zendo... |
Jul 09 1989 Green Gulch |
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Embodying Enlightenment Through Daily Awareness Renunciation, Zazen Mind, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Concentration, Suzuki Roshi, Ceremony... |
May 18 1989 Tassajara |