prakṛtisthagotra
Basic Meaning
The potential for awakening that is inherently present in all beings.
| Term Variations | |
|---|---|
| Key Term | prakṛtisthagotra |
| Topic Variation | prakṛtisthagotra |
| Tibetan | རང་བཞིན་གནས་རིགས་ ( rangzhin nerik) |
| Wylie Tibetan Transliteration | rang bzhin gnas rigs ( rangzhin nerik) |
| Devanagari Sanskrit | प्रकृतिस्थगोत्र |
| Romanized Sanskrit | prakṛtisthagotra |
| Chinese | 本性住種性 |
| Chinese Pinyin | běn xìng zhù zhǒng xìng |
| Japanese Transliteration | honshōjūshushō |
| Buddha-nature Site Standard English | naturally present potential |
| Karl Brunnhölzl's English Term | naturally abiding disposition |
| Jeffrey Hopkin's English Term | naturally abiding lineage, natural lineage |
| Ives Waldo's English Term | intrinsic potential, legacy abiding within, naturally present affinity |
| Term Information | |
| Source Language | Sanskrit |
| Basic Meaning | The potential for awakening that is inherently present in all beings. |
| Related Terms | samudānītagotra |
| Term Type | Noun |
| Definitions | |
| Tshig mdzod Chen mo | sems can thams cad 'tshang rgya rung ba'am/ ngo bo nyid skur 'gyur rung ba rang gi rten chos su 'gyur ba'i dri ma dang bcas pa'i sems kyi chos nyid |
| Further Reading Material | In his Khenjuk, Mipham Rinpoche writes:
The 'naturally present potential' (Skt. prakṛtistha-gotra; Wyl. rang bzhin gnas rigs) is the essence of the tathagatas. In essence, it is naturally arising and uncompounded wisdom, the union of awareness and emptiness, the dharmadhatu which has always been inseparable from the kayas and wisdoms. It is naturally pure, the nature of things, just as it is, pervading all phenomena, beyond any transition or change, like space. Although it is within this context that the ordinary aggregates, elements and faculties of beings are born and die, this nature itself remains beyond birth and death. It is through the realization of this nature that the Three Jewels come into being. This immaculate 'element' (Wyl. khams) is present in all beings without exception as the very nature of their minds, just like the example of a treasure beneath the earth and so on. Nevertheless, for those in whom this nature remains veiled by the four stains, and who have not activated their potential, despite its presence, it does not function in an apparent way [rather like a candle kept inside a jar]. And although they are naturally pure, because they are obscured by temporary veils, this nature is beyond most people's imagination. If the veils that obscure the potential are reduced, it serves to inspire us with a longing to leave samsara behind and attain nirvana. The four veils that obscure our potential are (1) an antipathy to the Mahayana teachings, (2) the view of self, (3) fear for the sufferings of samsara, and (4) a lack of concern for beings' welfare. The causes for purifying these veils are: (1) an interest in the Mahayana teachings, (2) a high degree of wisdom, (3) meditative concentration (samadhi), and (4) love. When we possess these four, through the force of awakening our potential, we come to possess the 'developing potential' (Skt. samudānīta-gotra; Wyl. rgyas 'gyur gyi rigs) through which we can properly cultivate the virtues of the Mahayana. |
