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).

From Buddha-nature on Wikipedia

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Title Speaker

Blue Cliff Record: Case #3

Serial: BZ-00409A

Sun Face Buddha, Moon Face Buddha, Saturday Lecture

Buddha, Koan, BCR-3, First Principle, Buddha Nature, Cultivation, Commitment, Greed,...
Feb 02 1985
Berkeley Zen Center

Sanshi Mompo: Ongoing Practice of Student and Teacher

Serial: BZ-00408A

Saturday Lecture

Teacher-and-Student, Teacher-and-Student, Interview, Lineage, Instruction, Buddha...
Dec 15 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

What's the Use of Sesshin?

Serial: BZ-00407A

Difficulty and Ease, Rohatsu

Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Peace, Daily Life, Doubt, training, Equanimity,...
Dec 07 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

Bowing Practice

Serial: BZ-00406B

Rohatsu

Bowing, Bowing, training, Non-duality, Instruction, Buddha Nature, Demons, Enemies,...
Dec 06 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

The Precepts Before the Precepts

Serial: BZ-00392B

Saturday Lecture

Precepts, Precepts, Obstacles, Bodhisattva Precepts, Discrimination, Buddha Nature,...
Nov 10 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

The Fifth Precept: Do Not Deal in Intoxicants

Serial: BZ-00394B

Saturday Lecture

Precepts, Precepts, Priest-and-Lay, Culture, Attachment, American, Buddha Nature,...
Sep 08 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

Mumonkan, Case 19: Ordinary Mind is the Way

Serial: BZ-00435

Lecture

Ordinary Mind, Bodhidharma, Sixth Patriarch, Soto Zen, Impermanence, Culture, Buddha...
May 22 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

Practicing Enlightenment Without Desiring Enlightenment

Serial: BZ-00422B

Saturday Lecture

Enlightenment, Emotions, Lay Practice, Monastic Practice, Samadhi, Buddha Nature, Lay...
Feb 11 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

Inside Out

Serial: BZ-00420B

Saturday Lecture

Buddha Nature, Demons, Ego, Enthusiasm, Harmonizing, Intuition, Bowing, Enemies,...
Jan 14 1984
Berkeley Zen Center

The Dharma of Effort

Serial: BZ-01520B

Saturday Lecture

Effort, Mindfulness, Study Period, Concentration, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Religion...
Nov 27 1983
Berkeley Zen Center

Mumonkan: Case #12 Pt. II

Serial: BZ-00403B

Calling and Answering, Saturday Lecture

MM-12, Buddha Nature, Precepts, Subject-and-Object, Daily Life, Sixth Patriarch, Don...
Oct 01 1983
Berkeley Zen Center

Mumonkan: Case #12 Pt. I

Serial: BZ-00403A

Zuigan's Calling the Master, Saturday Lecture

Zuigan, MM-12, stubbornness, Buddha Nature, Daily Life, Fox, Birth-and-Death,...
Sep 24 1983
Berkeley Zen Center

Practice Life

Serial: BZ-00401

Lecture

Teacher-and-Student, Daily Life, Don't Know Mind, Posture, Buddha Nature, Priest...
Aug 07 1983
Berkeley Zen Center

Eight Ways of an Enlightened Person II

Serial: BZ-00399B

Saturday Lecture

Enlightenment, Buddha Nature, Eight Aspects, Concentration, Right Speech, Samadhi,...
Jul 02 1983
Berkeley Zen Center

Prajna Paramita: Four Samadhis

Serial: BZ-00002B

Sesshin Day 4

Samadhi, Samadhi, Concentration, Nirvana, Emotions, Hate, Buddha Nature, Attachment,...
May 14 1983
Berkeley Zen Center

The Law of Karma

Serial: BZ-00003A

Most Important in Buddhism, Saturday Lecture

Big Mind, Buddha Nature, Bowing, Vow, Karmic Consequences, Study Period, Priest,...
Apr 16 1983
Berkeley Zen Center

Scientific Validation of Zazen

Serial: BZ-00044B

Saturday Lecture

zen meditation, Religion, Concentration, Buddha Nature, Priest, Beginners, Sangha,...
Jan 08 1983
Berkeley Zen Center

Gakudo Yojin-Shu Section 8

Serial: BZ-00048A

Conduct (understanding) Zazen Mind, Saturday Lecture

Gakudo Yojin-Shu, Birth-and-Death, Sixth Patriarch, Buddha Nature, true dharma,...
Nov 27 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

Women in Buddhism, Ordination

Ordination, Transmission, Lay, Precepts, Passions, Family Practice, Buddha Nature,...
Oct 04 1982

Pre-Practice versus Practice

Serial: BZ-00040A

The "Gap", Saturday Lecture

Attachment, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Lay Practice, resistance, confusion,...
Oct 02 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

Natural Zen and Buddhist Zen

Serial: BZ-00039B

Saturday Lecture

Priest, Commitment, Lay, American, Posture, Buddha Nature, training, Enthusiasm,...
Sep 11 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

Blue Cliff Record: Case #80

Serial: BZ-00033

Does a Baby Have the 6th Consciousness?, Saturday Lecture

Consciousness, Storehouse Consciousness, Monastic Practice, Discrimination, Buddha...
Jul 31 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

The Heart of Practice Prajna as Compassionate Wisdom

Serial: BZ-00030B

Remembering our deepest intention; noble friendship is the entirety of spiritual life; connection between Berkeley ZC and San Francisco ZC.

Ordination, Heart Sutra, Precepts, Posture, Lotus Sutra, Mahayana, Buddha Nature,...
Jun 11 1982

Blue Cliff Record: Case #17

Serial: BZ-00029B

"Sitting Long and Getting Tired", Sesshin Day 5

BCR-17

 

Composure, Zazen, Koan, First Principle, Ordinary Mind, Samadhi, Composure,...
May 23 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

Fundraising for the New Zendo

Serial: BZ-00007B

What is Our Basis?, Sesshin Day 4

Fundraising, Zendo, Berkeley Zen Center, Sangha, Building, Samadhi, Fundraising, Non-...
May 22 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

Essence of Mind: The Fifth Paramita

Serial: BZ-00008A

Subject and Object--Buddhanature, Saturday Lecture

Subject-and-Object, Duality, Buddha Nature, Buddha Nature, Daily Life, Subject-and-...
May 15 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

Japanese Zen Practice in America

Meditation, Alan Watts, Buddha Nature, Posture, American, Priest, Ordination, Buddha...
May 07 1982

The Meaning of Devotion

Serial: BZ-00011A

Saturday Lecture

Buddha Nature, Emotions, Mahayana, Religion, Heart Sutra, Avalokiteshvara, Ego,...
Apr 03 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

Enmei Jukku Kannon Gyo -- Endless Dimension

Serial: BZ-00016A

Ten Phrase Avalokiteshvara Sutra, Sesshin Day 1

Dharani, Buddha Nature, Birth-and-Death, Sangha, Big Mind, Evil, Karma, Manjushri,...
Feb 20 1982
Berkeley Zen Center

The Stages of Practice I

Serial: BZ-00024A

One-Day Sitting

Study Period, Heart Sutra, Obstacles, Chanting, Daily Life, Posture, Beginners, Doubt...
Mar 28 1981
Berkeley Zen Center

March 28th, 1981, Serial No. 01063

Study Period, Heart Sutra, Chanting, Daily Life, Posture, Beginners, Doubt, Bowing,...
Mar 28 1981
Berkeley Zen Center

The Book of Serenity

Serial: BZ-00241

Class 3 of 5

Birth-and-Death, Duality, Hsin Hsin Ming, Non-duality, Buddha Nature, Doubt, Buddha...
[field_wisdom_date]
3
Berkeley Zen Center

Unknown Date, Serial 00291, Side B

Precepts, Buddha Nature, Priest, Lay, Bodhisattva Precepts, Ordination, Transmission...
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00421, Side B

Buddha Nature, Platform Sutra, Lineage, Anger, Soto Zen, Buddha Mind, Rinzai,...
[field_wisdom_date]

5 Ranks

Serial: BZ-00755

Class

Discrimination, Five Ranks, Concentration, Subject-and-Object, Cultivation, Buddha...
[field_wisdom_date]

Transmitting the Light

Serial: BZ-00778

Class

true dharma, Monastic Practice, Transmission, Teacher-and-Student, Continuous...
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00950, Side B

Serial: BZ-00950B

#duplicate-please-hide

Hindrances, Heart Sutra, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Nirvana, Ego, Duality, Birth-and-...
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 00951, Side B

Heart Sutra, Buddha Nature, Four Noble Truths, Non-duality, Platform Sutra, Subject-...
[field_wisdom_date]

Unknown Date, Serial 01182

Birth-and-Death, Absolute-and-Relative, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Big Mind,...
[field_wisdom_date]

Title Unknown

Serial: BZ-00110

One-Day Sitting

Intuition, Big Mind, Ordinary Mind, Bell, Don't Know Mind, Daily Life, Buddha...
[field_wisdom_date]
Unknown Location

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