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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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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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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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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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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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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Some QuestionsQuestion-and-Answer, Breath, Buddha Nature, Posture, sitting, Tassajara, Offering,... |
Aug 28 1969 Tassajara |
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OLD - Wherever You Are, Enlightenment Is ThereSerial: SF-06103 Summer Sesshin 1969 Suzuki Roshi 1st night lecture ZMC transcribed - duplicate Five Ranks, Buddha Nature, Composure, Oneness, Evil, Hate, Doubt |
Sep 1969 Tassajara |
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Wherever You Are, Enlightenment Is ThereSerial: SF-05184A Sesshin: First Night Lecture, “I Don't Know Zazen” Knowing that we have buddha nature even while we are in the... Dogen, Buddha Nature, Enlightenment, Five Ranks, Buddha Nature, Composure, Emotions,... |
Sep 1969 Tassajara |
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Ekō Lecture 2Serial: SR-00229 The Second Morning Eko, Part 1 of 3 [This is the second in a series of six lectures by Suzuki on the four ekos chanted... Eko, Chanting, Chanting, Anger, Buddha Nature, Mahayana, heart, Karma, Meditation,... |
Jul 10 1970 Tassajara |
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Observation of Precepts and Practice of Zazen is Same ThingSerial: SF-06049 Sesshin Lecture No. 1 Sesshin, Precepts, Precepts, Doubt, Buddha Nature, Faith, Ceremony, Ordination, Lay,... |
Aug 01 1970 City Center |
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Why Then Is It Necessary To Accept PreceptsPrecepts, Precepts, Big Mind, Buddha Nature, training, Religion, Observe, Priest,... |
Jul 17 1971 City Center |
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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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The First Grave PreceptSerial: SF-00026 Not Killing Precepts, Buddha Nature, Peace, Heart Sutra, Politics, realization, Mahayana,... |
Aug 04 1983 2 of 3 |
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The Second Grave PreceptSerial: SF-00027 Not taking what is not given. Buddha Nature, Precepts, Peace, training, realization, Samadhi, Ceremony, Ego,... |
Aug 04 1983 3 of 3 |
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The First Grave Precept: Not Killing Precepts, Heart Sutra, Buddha Nature, Peace, Politics, realization, Mahayana,... |
Aug 04 1983 SFZC |
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The Second Grave Precept: Not Stealing Precepts, Peace, realization, Greed, Buddha Nature, Non-violence, training, Emptiness... |
Aug 05 1983 SFZC |
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Practice LifeSerial: SF-00102 Talk given at Berkeley per introduction. Teacher-and-Student, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Posture, resistance, Suzuki Roshi,... |
Aug 07 1983 |
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The Fifth Grave Precept: Do Not Misuse Drugs Precepts, Bodhisattva Precepts, true dharma, Giving-and-Taking, Sangha, Lay,... |
Aug 09 1983 Green Gulch |
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The Fifth Grave Precept: Do Not Misuse DrugsSerial: SF-04058 Duplicate Precepts, true dharma, Giving-and-Taking, Buddha Nature, Sangha, Lay, Bodhidharma,... |
Oct 08 1984 SFZC |
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March 1987 talk, Serial No. 03986 Study Period, Ceremony, Death-and-Dying, Impermanence, Posture, Buddha Nature,... |
1987 SFZC |
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1987.05.03-serial.00031Mantra, Buddha Nature, Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Zazen, Bowing, soto, Chanting, Posture... |
May 03 1987 Green Gulch Farm |
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Dzögchen Karma, confusion, Duality, Emotions, Anger, Ego, Beginners, Buddha Nature,... |
Feb 14 1988 SFZC |
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Four Levels of Tantra Vinaya, realization, Lineage, Buddha Nature, Mandala, Anger, Beginners, Continuous,... |
Apr 06 1988 SFZC |
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Hevajra Lineage, Aspects of Practice, Right Effort, Emptiness, Balance, Instruction, Don... |
Apr 07 1988 SFZC |
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Guru Yoga Lineage, Buddha Nature, Chanting, Describe, Don't Know Mind, Transmission,... |
Apr 08 1988 SFZC |
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Yontenzot Duality, Lineage, Ordinary Mind, confusion, Don't Know Mind, Discrimination,... |
Apr 17 1988 SFZC |
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April 25th, 1988, Serial No. 01893 Bodhidharma, Monastic Practice, Ordination, Doubt, Religion, Mahayana, Interview,... |
Apr 25 1988 Unknown |
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Yontenzot Passions, Emotions, Duality, Emptiness, Lineage, Vinaya, realization, Buddha Nature,... |
Apr 30 1988 SFZC |
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Yontenzot Samsara, confusion, Karma, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Don't Know Mind, Emotions,... |
May 01 1988 SFZC |
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November 26th, 1988, Serial No. 01910Serial: SF-01910 Retreat - Description of Vajra Liberation, Instruction, Doubt, Continuous, Obstacles, Buddha Nature, Attachment,... |
Nov 26 1988 SFZC |
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December 10th, 1988, Serial No. 01056 Buddha Nature, Nirvana Sutra, Concentration, Intimacy, Posture, Fundraising, Faith,... |
Dec 10 1988 SFZC |
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NgondroSerial: SF-01878 Ngondro Class - Guru Yoga Lineage, Samsara, Emotions, Emptiness, Transmission, Attachment, Describe,... |
Dec 20 1988 SFZC |
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Lion's Roar Don't Know Mind, Emptiness, Diversity, Buddha Nature, Letting Go, Liberation,... |
Dec 27 1988 SFZC |
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Lion's Roar Lineage, Liberation, Letting Go, realization, Teacher-and-Student, Buddha Nature,... |
Dec 29 1988 SFZC |
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1989.05.18-serial.00054 Renunciation, Zazen Mind, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Concentration, Suzuki Roshi, Ceremony... |
May 18 1989 Tassajara |
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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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August 11th, 1989, Serial No. 04067Serial: SF-04067 Duplicate realization, Buddha Nature, Hsin Hsin Ming, Evil, Lay, Samadhi, Transmission,... |
Aug 11 1989 Green Gulch |
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Going Beyond Limitations Blue Cliff Record, Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature, First Principle, Dharma Transmission... |
Aug 28 1989 Green Gulch |
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Five-day Sesshin Dragons, Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature, Blue Cliff Record, First Principle, Zendo,... |
Aug 30 1989 Unknown |
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September 11th, 1989, Serial No. 04068 realization, Hsin Hsin Ming, Buddha Nature, Lay, Samadhi, Evil, Transmission,... |
Sep 11 1989 Green Gulch |
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Mumonkan Case #25 Mahayana, realization, Samadhi, Blue Cliff Record, Rinzai, Teacher-and-Student,... |
Oct 03 1989 Unknown |
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October 27th, 1989, Serial No. 01055 true dharma, Emptiness, Oneness, Buddha Nature, Separation, Vows, Karma, Suzuki Roshi... |
Oct 27 1989 Unknown |
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Jewel Mirror Samadhi Precious Mirror, Buddha Nature, Samadhi, Faith, Diversity, soto, Patience, Ego,... |
Oct 24 1990 |
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One-Day SittingSerial: SF-01078 #shuso-talk Precepts, Vows, Nirvana, Buddha Nature, Bodhisattva Vow, Suzuki Roshi, Attachment,... |
Mar 09 1991 Unknown |
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Mumonkan Case 10Serial: SF-00046 Seizei lonely and destitute. Enthusiasm, Priest, Sanctuary, Sangha, Buddha Nature, Faith, soto, Balance, Zazen... |
Apr 28 1991 Green Gulch Farm |
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Hokyo Zammai Class Five Ranks, Emptiness, Sixth Patriarch, Rinzai, soto, Buddha Nature, Evil, Darkness... |
Feb 19 1992 2 |
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Saturday Lecture Heart Sutra, Bodhisattva Way, Bowing, Avalokiteshvara, Lotus Sutra, Soto Zen, Duality... |
May 08 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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Saturday Lecture Buddha Nature, zen meditation, Birth-and-Death, Lineage, Repentance, Mahayana,... |
Nov 13 1993 City Center |
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Saturday LectureSerial: SF-04059 At times in Japanese history, Zen has been interpreted with a fascistic bent - we need to consider our practices carefully Emptiness, Four Noble Truths, Buddha Nature, Repentance, Rinzai, realization, Daily... |
Jan 08 1994 City Center |