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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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Giving and Receiving Dharma in SamadhiA talk given to the No Abode Community on October 7th, 2023
Avatamsaka Sutra, Flower Adornment Sutra, Samantabhadra, Samadhi, Lotus Sutra, Buddha... |
Oct 07 2023 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Entering the Samadhi of Buddha’s RadianceA talk by Tenshin Roshi for a gathering of the No Abode community Flower Adornment Sutra, Avatamsaka Sutra, Katagiri Roshi, Suzuki Roshi, Tassajara Zen Mountain... |
Aug 12 2023 No Abode Hermitage |
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Zen Meditation on Our Original Nature, Class 7In this series of gatherings we will explore and perhaps realize our original nature, and how to apply such a discovery to all of our daily activities. #YRB-2023-Spring1, Original Nature, Buddha Nature, confusion, Sangha, Avalokiteshvara... |
May 02 2023 7 of 8 The Yoga Room |
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Zen Meditation on Our Original Nature, Class 5In this series of gatherings we will explore and perhaps realize our original nature, and how to apply such a discovery to all of our daily activities. #YRB-2023-Spring1, Original Nature, Buddha Nature, Impermanence, Gratitude, Monks... |
Apr 18 2023 5 of 8 The Yoga Room |
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Zen Meditation on Our Original Nature, Class 3In this series of gatherings we will explore and perhaps realize our original nature, and how to apply such a discovery to all of our daily activities. #YRB-2023-Spring1, Original Nature, Buddha Nature, Evil, Karmic Consciousness, Faith... |
Apr 04 2023 3 of 8 The Yoga Room |
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Zen Meditation on Karma and Awakening - May 17th, 2022#YRB-2022-Spring, Consciousness, Buddha Nature, true dharma |
May 17 2022 7 Yoga Room |
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Finding One's Place Is The Fundamental PointA virtual Dharma talk by Tenshin Roshi for an online gathering of the No Abode community Genjokoan, Karmic Consciousness, Consciousness, Buddha Nature, Bowing |
May 14 2022 No Abode Hermitage |
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January 29th, 2021, Serial No. 04550 Lotus Sutra, Suzuki Roshi, Buddha Nature |
Jan 29 2021 |
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January 19th, 2021, Serial No. 04541 Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Nirvana |
Jan 19 2021 |
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February 9th, 2020, Serial No. 04515 Delusion, Buddha Nature, Effort |
Feb 09 2020 |
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January 2020 talk, Serial No. 04509 Karmic Consciousness, Buddha Nature, Dharmakaya |
Jan 2020 |
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January 2020 talk, Serial No. 04506 Karmic Consciousness, Delusion, Buddha Nature |
Jan 2020 |
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Wandering Away from Our Original Home in Search of Our Original Home Buddha Nature, Greed, Lotus Sutra |
Aug 10 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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June 16th, 2019, Serial No. 04486 Nirvana, Buddha Nature, Religion |
Jun 16 2019 |
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After Generations Of Nobility, Temporarily Fallen Into PovertyBuddha nature. Story about Uncle Mi and Dongshan discussing a rabbit crossing the road.Lotus Sutra story about the destitute child. Enlightenment and delusion. Human agency (or training) and... Buddha Nature, Koan, Enlightenment, |
Jun 08 2019 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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Teachings and Meditations On Our True NatureOur true nature is that we fully possess the wisdom and virtues of the buddhas. But because of misconceptions and attachments we do not realize our buddha nature. Therefore, teachings are given to... YRB-2018-Summer, Buddha Nature, Bodhidharma, Buddha |
Jul 31 2018 6/7 The Yoga Room |
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Teachings and Meditations On Our True NatureOur true nature is that we fully possess the wisdom and virtues of the buddhas. But because of misconceptions and attachments we do not realize our buddha nature. Therefore, teachings are given to... YRB-2018-Summer, Buddha Nature, Evil, Consciousness |
Jul 24 2018 5/7 The Yoga Room |
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July 17th, 2018, Serial No. 04443 Buddha Nature, Letting Go, Impermanence |
Jul 17 2018 |
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Teachings and Meditations On Our True NatureOur true nature is that we fully possess the wisdom and virtues of the buddhas. But because of misconceptions and attachments we do not realize our buddha nature. Therefore, teachings are given to... YRB-2018-Summer, Buddha Nature, Impermanence, Buddha Mind |
Jul 17 2018 4/7 The Yoga Room |
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The Womb of the Tathagata #4Being supported in compassion; Uncle Mi and the rabbit; Compassion, Buddha Nature, Perfect Wisdom, Attachment |
Jul 14 2018 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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The Womb of the Tathagata #4Opportunities for compassion - with friends and enemies; the story of the destitute son from the Lotus Sutra Compassion, Enemies, Buddha Nature, Lotus Sutra |
Jul 14 2018 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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Teachings and Meditations On Our True NatureOur true nature is that we fully possess the wisdom and virtues of the buddhas. But because of misconceptions and attachments we do not realize our buddha nature. Therefore, teachings are given to... YRB-2018-Summer, Buddha Nature, Buddha, Delusion |
Jul 10 2018 3/7 The Yoga Room |
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July 10th, 2018, Serial No. 04442 Buddha Nature, Delusion, Evil |
Jul 10 2018 |
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Teachings and Meditations On Our True NatureOur true nature is that we fully possess the wisdom and virtues of the buddhas. But because of misconceptions and attachments we do not realize our buddha nature. Therefore, teachings are given to... YRB-2018-Summer, Buddha Nature, Buddha, Mindfulness |
Jul 03 2018 2/7 The Yoga Room |
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July 3rd, 2018, Serial No. 04441 Buddha Nature, Mindfulness, Original Nature |
Jul 03 2018 |
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Teachings and Meditations On Our True NatureOur true nature is that we fully possess the wisdom and virtues of the buddhas. But because of misconceptions and attachments we do not realize our buddha nature. Therefore, teachings are given to... YRB-2018-Summer, Buddha Nature, Buddha, Karmic Consciousness |
Jun 26 2018 1/7 The Yoga Room |
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The Womb of the Tathagata #3: Our Buddha Nature PreceptsOrigins of the Bodhisattva precepts; development and commentaries; the reasons for Buddhas appearing in this world. Precepts, Buddha Nature, Transmission, Heart Sutra, Precepts, Bodhisattva,... |
Jun 09 2018 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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May 12th, 2018, Serial No. 04435 Buddha Nature, Bodhisattva Precepts, Precepts |
May 12 2018 |
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May 12th, 2018, Serial No. 04434 Original Nature, Platform Sutra, Buddha Nature |
May 12 2018 |
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The Womb of the Tathagata #2: Introducing the Brahma's Net SutraIntroducing the Brahma's Net Sutra: https://www.tinyurl.com/Brahma-Net Buddha Nature, Platform Sutra, Precepts, Buddha, Platform Sutra, Bodhisattva Precepts... |
May 12 2018 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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The Womb of the Tathagata #2: Introducing the Brahma's Net SutraIntroducing the Brahma's Net Sutra: https://www.tinyurl.com/Brahma-Net Platform Sutra, Bodhisattva Precepts, Nirvana Sutra, Confession-and-Repentance, ... |
May 12 2018 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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The Womb of the Tathagata #1Case 67 of the Book of Serenity; there is not a single sentient being who does not fully possess the wisdom of the enlightened mind. Flower Adornment Sutra, Koan, Book of Serenity, Book of Serenity, Forgiveness, Buddha... |
Apr 14 2018 PM No Abode Hermitage |
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The Womb of the Tathagata #1Origin of the tathagathagharba teachings; the Huayen school in China; three marks of existence and four inverted views; skillful means of milk medicine described in the Nirvana Sutra. Tathagatagharba, Flower Adornment Sutra, Nirvana Sutra, Impermanence, Buddha Nature,... |
Apr 14 2018 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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A Sanctuary Is Built Right Here, Right NowBuddha's 'a good place to build a sanctuary'; buddha mind is intimately transmitted - Sandokai; undergoing surgery; baby developing a self; Transmission, Buddha Nature, Sanctuary, Conversation, intimate communication,... |
Apr 01 2017 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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November 12th, 2016, Serial No. 04329 Evil, Buddha Nature, Patience |
Nov 12 2016 |
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Listening to the Cries of the WorldCompassion, Avalokiteshvara, Evil, Buddha Nature, Patience |
Nov 12 2016 AM No Abode Hermitage |
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November 7th, 2016, Serial No. 04327 Buddha Nature, Ceremony, Balance |
Nov 07 2016 |
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March 15th, 2016, Serial No. 04284 Stillness, Generosity, Buddha Nature |
Mar 15 2016 |
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Zen Samadhi: Path to Enlightenment Samadhi, Buddha Nature, Stillness |
Jan 07 2016 |
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August 10th, 2014, Serial No. 04151 Pain, Buddha Nature, Buddha |
Aug 10 2014 |
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November 12th, 2013, Serial No. 04080 Karmic Consciousness, Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind |
Nov 12 2013 |
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I've long heard there is no Zen in India Dragons, Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Humility, Blue Cliff Record |
May 17 2013 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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Zen's Path: Mindfulness Through Mud Lotus Sutra, Buddha Nature, Delusion |
May 17 2013 |
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The Virtue of the Bodhisattva's Delayed Gratification Buddha Nature, Bowing, Faith, Suzuki Roshi |
Dec 15 2012 Afternoon No Abode Hermitage |
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December 15th, 2012, Serial No. 04022 Buddha Nature, Bowing, Faith |
Dec 15 2012 |
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October 24th, 2012, Serial No. 04004 Practice Period, Blue Cliff Record, Buddha Nature |
Oct 24 2012 |
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Facing Change and Realizing Peace Commitment, Soto Zen, difficulty, Obstacles, Buddha Nature |
Aug 09 2012 The Yoga Room |
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Continuous Compassion for Karmic Consciousness Karmic Consciousness, true dharma, Perfect Wisdom, Buddha Nature, Hindrances... |
Feb 06 2010 Morning No Abode Hermitage |
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On Enlightenment and Delusion Bowing, Zazen, Gratitude, American, Buddha Nature |
Dec 02 2009 The Yoga Room |
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August 21st, 2009, Serial No. 03674 Karmic Consciousness, Buddha Nature, Karma |
Aug 21 2009 |