Begin Discovering Your Buddha-Nature: Difference between revisions

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Discover

New to Buddhism or to the concept of buddha-nature? Discover how buddha-nature is articulated in various Buddhist traditions by exploring multimedia, articles, and books from leading Buddhist teachers and academics. This page brings together a collection of curated resources designed to make buddha-nature easily understandable and accessible to a general audience.

Buddha-Nature in East Asia

Multimedia

Complete Site Guide

Audio

Buddha-Nature by Rev. George Kosho Finch

This week's topic is Buddha Nature, in Sanskrit: tathāgatagarbha (如来藏). All sentient beings are considered to be in possession of the Buddha Nature, the potential to attain enlightenment.

Video

It Is Your Buddha-Nature That Sees, Hears, and Speaks!

Daehaeng Kun Sunim, a Seon (Zen) master and Buddhist nun from Korea, responds to questions about the concept of Juingong (the underlying mind) from an audience member.

Audio

Trusting in Our Own Buddha-Nature

Rinso Ed Sattizahn gives a dharma talk at San Francisco Zen Center's City Center on the topic of buddha-nature. He touches on selections from Dōgen's Genjōkōan to illustrate this Buddhist teaching

Video

One's True Mind and Inherent Nature by Sheng Yen

Our true mind is the pure mind of wisdom free of defilements. Our inherent nature refers to the nature of our being something common, which is also called the Buddha-nature.

Audio

The Cloudless Sky of Buddha-Nature

Rev. Kokyo Henkel teaches on "The Cloudless Sky of Buddha Nature" at the San Francisco Zen Center on September 6, 2011.

Featured Articles

Events

This page of events related to the Buddha-Nature project includes recordings from scholarly meetings, special interviews and speeches, as well as online events hosted by Tsadra Foundation.

Topic of the week

Read regular posts from the writer-in-digital-residence, Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho.

Event

Celebrating Buddha-Nature

Live Event: Celebrating Buddha-Nature · Join us on Zoom or Facebook live as we celebrate Buddha-Nature teachings.

Books

Daehaeng

No River to Cross

Suzuki

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Park

Buddhist Faith and Sudden Enlightenment

King

Buddha Nature

Buddha-Nature in Translation

Waddell & Abe

The Heart of Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō

Red Pine

The Lankavatara Sutra: A Zen Text

Jorgensen & Lusthaus, et al.

Treatise on Awakening Mahāyāna Faith

Blum

The Nirvana Sutra, Vol. 1

Interview with Karl Brunnhölzl on Buddha-Nature

In this wide-ranging video interview, Karl Brunnhölzl discusses buddha-nature and the key topics related to it. He begins by defining buddha-nature and then moves on to discuss such topics as the debate that the doctrine has generated, the concepts of emptiness and luminosity, and how buddha-nature relates to Vajrayana practice.

What Is Buddha-Nature?

Clip 1 of 13

0:46 min

Emptiness or Luminosity: What's the Deal?

Clip 9 of 13

2:09 min

Karl Brunnhölzl

When the Clouds Part

Book

The Center of the Sunlit Sky

Book

Luminous Heart

Book

New Writer-In-Digital-Residence: Karma Phuntsho, 2020-2022

The writer-in-digital-residence is the recipient of a grant designed to support Tsadra Foundation’s Buddhist literacy projects that connect the larger public with academic research and advance understanding of specific aspects of Tibetan Buddhist traditions. Writers help to curate this online resource and write essays on the history, philosophy, and practices associated with buddha-nature teachings and tathāgatagarbha theory in Tibet. These essays are addressed to an audience of educated readers of Buddhist materials and Buddhist practitioners.

Lopen (Dr) Karma Phuntsho is one of Bhutan’s leading intellectuals. He has finished monastic training in Bhutan and India before he pursued a M.St in Classical Indian Religions, and D.Phil in Oriental Studies at Balliol College, Oxford. He was a researcher at CNRS, Paris, a Research Associate at Department of Social Anthropology and the Spalding Fellow for Comparative Religion at Clare Hall, Cambridge University, and Research Consultant at University of Virginia. An author of over hundred books and articles including the authoritative History of Bhutan and Mipham’s Dialectics and the Debates on Emptiness, he speaks and writes extensively on Bhutan and Buddhism. Read a complete bio.

Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia: The 2019 Vienna Symposium

Vienna-Symposium-Banner-for-Workshops-Meetings-Tsadra-website.jpg

Increased attention to the tathāgatagarbha doctrine in the last decade has lead to significant publications and meetings on the topic of buddha-nature and related themes. Scholars in Asia, Europe, and the Americas have published new translations and studies of the foundational scriptures and commentaries, and are examining the history and literature of the doctrine. In July 2019 Tsadra Foundation partnered with the University of Vienna to bring many of these scholars together for an international symposium titled Tathāgatagarbha Across Asia. The presentations are available here and the edited papers will be published in a collection of essays from Wisdom Publications.
See all presentations

Klaus-Dieter Mathes

Presentation

Klaus-Dieter Mathes

Zhang ston Bsod nams grags pa’s Defense of Dol po pa’s Clear-Cut Distinction between Buddha Nature and the Ground Consciousness

Ngawang Jorden

Presentation

Khenpo Ngawang Jorden

Revisiting Gorampa on Buddha Nature

Jacqueline Stone

Presentation

Jacqueline Stone

From Buddha Nature to Original Enlightenment “Contemplating Suchness” in Medieval Japan

From the experts

Klaus-Dieter Mathes

A Direct Path to the Buddha Within

Book

Mi bskyod rdo rje on Buddha Nature and its Adventitious Stains

Article

Buddha-Nature in Comparative Perspective

In this interview Professor Klaus-Dieter Mathes discusses buddha-nature and the key ideas behind it, the controversies it generates, and some of the related Buddhist philosophy in comparative perspective.

Interview with Wulstan Fletcher on Buddha-Nature

In this video interview Wulstan Fletcher discusses Mipham's and Longchenpa's approach to buddha-nature as well as his personal experiences with buddha-nature teachings and how they have influenced his practice.

On Mipham and the Nyingma Approach to Buddha-Nature

Clip 1 of 4

19:04 min

On His Personal Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings

Clip 3 of 4

7:39 min

Wulstan Fletcher

Finding Rest in the Nature of the Mind

Book

Treasury of Precious Qualities: Book Two

Book

Elizabeth Callahan

Frameworks of Buddhist Philosophy

Book

Moonbeams of Mahāmudrā

Book

Interview with Elizabeth Callahan on Buddha-Nature

In this video interview Elizabeth Callahan discusses the key terminology that is used when speaking of buddha-nature. She explains the term ordinary mind and elaborates on the meaning of buddha-nature.

On the Term Ordinary Mind

Clip 1 of 3

2:16 min

What Is Buddha-Nature?

Clip 3 of 3

3:00 min

First Writer-In-Digital-Residence: Alex Gardner On the Ratnagotravibhāga

Alex Gardner

On the Ratnagotravibhāga

Article

A History of Buddha-Nature Theory: The Literature and Traditions

Article

Other Interviews

Ringu Tulku

Interview

Ringu Tulku

Ringu Tulku Interview on Buddha-Nature

Tokpa Tulku

Interview

Tokpa Tulku

Tokpa Tulku Interview on Buddha-Nature

Publications

Brunnhölzl

When the Clouds Part

Higgins & Draszczyk

Buddha Nature Reconsidered

Jorgensen & Lusthaus, et al.

Treatise on Awakening Mahāyāna Faith

Sheehy & Mathes

The Other Emptiness

Study the sources

The seeds of buddha-nature teachings are sprinkled throughout the sutras and tantras of the Buddhist canon. A core group of scripture that initially taught buddha-nature known as the tathāgatagarbha sūtras date between the second and fourth centuries. These include the Tathāgatagarbhasūtra, the Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra, the Śrīmālādevīsūtra and several others. The famous Laṅkāvatārasūtra was also important for buddha-nature theory. In Tibetan Buddhism the late-Indian treatise Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra, or "Gyu Lama" as it is known in the Tibetan, serves as a major source for buddha-nature. In East Asia the Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna (大乗起信論) was the most influential treatise in spreading buddha-nature theory.

The Ratnagotravibhāga

Source Text

Verse I.28

Point of Interest

Explore the root verses

I.28

French

Verse page

The Root Verses

Study the Uttaratantra's root verses in multiple languages.
Click to view all verses

Traditional expositions

The Fourteenth Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Teaching

The Fourteenth Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso

Discourse on the Uttaratantra by The 14th Dalai Lama in Holland

Ringu Tulku

Teaching

Ringu Tulku

Buddha Nature: A Talk by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche

Kirti Tsenshab

Teaching

Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche

Buddha Potential 1: Uttaratantra by Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche at Land of Medicine Buddha, 2003

Khenpo Sodargye

Teaching

Khenpo Sodargye

Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra: Taught by Khenpo Sodargye, May 2019

Teaching

Khensur, Gyumed

Teachings on the Uttaratantra by Gyumed Khensur Rinpoche

Orgyen P'huntsok

Teaching

Tulku Orgyen Phuntsok

Tulku Orgyen Phuntsok Buddha Nature Class: Teachings on the Uttaratantra

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+Buddha-Nature in East Asia
+Multimedia
+				<div class="text-80 text-muted position-absolute" style="bottom: 7px; right: 10px;">[[Site Guide|Complete Site Guide]]</div>
+			</div>
+			<div class="row m-0 px-lg-5 pt-4">
+				{{LocalTile
+					|classes=col-sm-6 col-lg-6
+					|link=Media/Buddha-Nature_—_Episode_22_of_True_Words:_A_Shingon_Buddhist_Podcast
+					|header=Buddha-Nature by Rev. George Kosho Finch
+					|image=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/8/84/Finch_Rev._George_Kosho_patheos.jpg
+					|content=This week's topic is Buddha Nature, in Sanskrit: ''tathāgatagarbha'' (如来藏). All sentient beings are considered to be in possession of the Buddha Nature, the potential to attain enlightenment.
+					|watermark=Audio
+				}}
+				{{LocalTile
+					|classes=col-sm-6 col-lg-6
+					|link=Media/It_Is_Your_Buddha_Nature_That_Sees,_Hears_and_Speaks!―Dharma_Talk_by_Daehaeng_Kun_Sunim
+					|header=It Is Your Buddha-Nature That Sees, Hears, and Speaks!
+					|image=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/3/37/Daehaeng_Wikipedia.jpg
+					|content=Daehaeng Kun Sunim, a Seon (Zen) master and Buddhist nun from Korea, responds to questions about the concept of Juingong (the underlying mind) from an audience member.
+					|watermark=Video
+				}}
+				{{LocalTile
+					|classes=col-sm-6 col-lg-6
+					|link=Media/Trusting_in_Our_Own_Buddha_Nature
+					|header=Trusting in Our Own Buddha-Nature
+					|image=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/6/68/Sattizahn_Ed_SFZC.jpg
+					|content=Rinso Ed Sattizahn gives a dharma talk at San Francisco Zen Center's City Center on the topic of buddha-nature. He touches on selections from Dōgen's ''Genjōkōan'' to illustrate this Buddhist teaching
+					|watermark=Audio
+				}}
+				{{LocalTile
+					|classes=col-sm-6 col-lg-6
+					|link=Media/One's_True_Mind_and_Inherent_Nature_by_Sheng_Yen
+					|header=One's True Mind and Inherent Nature by Sheng Yen
+					|image=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/c/c9/ShengYen_Tricycle.jpeg
+					|content=Our true mind is the pure mind of wisdom free of defilements. Our inherent nature refers to the nature of our being something common, which is also called the Buddha-nature.
+					|watermark=Video
+				}}
+				{{LocalTile
+					|classes=col-sm-6 col-lg-6
+					|link=Articles/Kokyo_Henkel_on_Buddha-Nature
+					|header=The Cloudless Sky of Buddha-Nature
+					|image=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/5/56/Henkel_Kokyo_personal_website.jpg
+					|content=Rev. Kokyo Henkel teaches on "The Cloudless Sky of Buddha Nature" at the San Francisco Zen Center on September 6, 2011.
+					|watermark=Audio
+				}}
+			</div>
+		        </div>
+                        <div class="vienna-gradient pt-5 pb-4">
+			<div class="section-header pl-4 pb-2 border-bottom-rightfade">Featured Articles</div>
+			<div class="row m-0 px-lg-5 pt-4">
+				{{LocalTile
+					|classes=col-sm-6 col-lg-4
+					|link=Events
+					|header=Events
+					|image=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/thumb/9/97/Vienna_2019_-_Day_2_-_July_17th_-_01.jpg/800px-Vienna_2019_-_Day_2_-_July_17th_-_01.jpg
+					|content=This page of events related to the Buddha-Nature project includes recordings from scholarly meetings, special interviews and speeches, as well as online events hosted by Tsadra Foundation.
+				}}
+				{{LocalTile
+					|classes=col-sm-6 col-lg-4
+					|link=Topic_of_the_week
+					|header=Topic of the week
+					|image=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/thumb/a/a2/Pecha-pixabay.jpg/800px-Pecha-pixabay.jpg
+					|content=Read regular posts from the writer-in-digital-residence, Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho.
+				}}
+				{{LocalTile
+					|classes=col-sm-6 col-lg-4
+					|link=Buddha-Nature_Event-19_September_2020
+					|header=Celebrating Buddha-Nature
+					|image=https://commons.tsadra.org/images-commons/thumb/5/57/Buddha_Life_Deeds_-_Activity_-_Cropped.jpg/800px-Buddha_Life_Deeds_-_Activity_-_Cropped.jpg
+					|content=Live Event: Celebrating Buddha-Nature · Join us on Zoom or Facebook live as we celebrate Buddha-Nature teachings.
+					|watermark=Event
+				}}
+			</div>
+                        <div class="section-header mt-5 mb-4 pl-4 pb-2 border-bottom-rightfade">Books</div>
+		<div class="d-flex justify-content-around flex-wrap">
+			{{ExploreBook
+				|page=Books/No_River_to_Cross
+				|image=File:No River to Cross-front.jpg
+				|authorimage=People/Daehaeng
+				|name=[[People/Daehaeng|Daehaeng]]
+				|title=No River to Cross
+			}}
+			{{ExploreBook
+				|page=Books/Zen_Mind,_Beginner's_Mind
+				|authorimage=People/Suzuki,_S.
+				|name=[[People/Suzuki,_S.|Suzuki]]
+				|title=Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
+			}}
+			{{ExploreBook
+				|page=Books/Buddhist_Faith_and_Sudden_Enlightenment
+				|authorimage=People/Park,_S.
+				|name=[[People/Park,_S.|Park]]
+				|title=Buddhist Faith and Sudden Enlightenment
+			}}
+			{{ExploreBook
+				|page=Books/Buddha_Nature_(Sallie_King)
+				|authorimage=People/King,_S.
+				|name=[[People/King,_S.|King]]
+				|title=Buddha Nature
+			}}
+		</div>
+<div class="section-header mt-5 mb-4 pl-4 pb-2 border-bottom-rightfade">Buddha-Nature in Translation</div>
+		<div class="d-flex justify-content-around flex-wrap">
+			{{ExploreBook
+				|page=Books/The_Heart_of_Dōgen's_Shōbōgenzō
+				|image=File:The Heart of Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō-front.jpg
+				|authorimage=People/Waddell,_N.
+				|name=[[People/Waddell,_N.|Waddell]] & [[People/Abe,_M.|Abe]]
+				|title=The Heart of Dōgen's Shōbōgenzō
+			}}
+			{{ExploreBook
+				|page=Books/The_Lankavatara_Sutra:_A_Zen_Text
+                                |image=File:Lankavatara Sutra Translation Commentary-front.jpg
+				|authorimage=People/Red_Pine
+				|name=[[People/Red_Pine|Red Pine]]
+				|title=The Lankavatara Sutra: A Zen Text
+			}}
+			{{ExploreBook
+				|page=Books/Treatise_on_Awakening_Mahāyāna_Faith
+				|authorimage=People/Lusthaus, D.
+				|name=[[People/Jorgensen, J.|Jorgensen]] & [[People/Lusthaus, D.|Lusthaus]], et al.
+				|title=Treatise on Awakening Mahāyāna Faith
+			}}
+			{{ExploreBook
+				|page=Books/The_Nirvana_Sutra_Volume_I
+				|authorimage=People/Blum,_M.
+				|name=[[People/Blum,_M.|Blum]]
+				|title=The Nirvana Sutra, Vol. 1
+			}}
+		</div>
 		<div class="row">