Discover
From Buddha-Nature
What is buddha-nature?
Discover Your Buddha-Nature
Buddha-nature is the teaching that all people are fundamentally good. We have no "original sin" or any sort of imperfection that we need to get rid of or somehow transform. All the bad stuff is actually just an illusion, a mistake of the mind that causes all sorts of trouble. Buddha-nature is the real essence of all beings, and it is pure and naturally vibrant, free of all negativity. What's more, the buddha-nature of a buddha--a fully awake and perfect being--and the buddha-nature of a regular person (or animal) are exactly the same. The only difference is that a buddha knows his or her true nature and the rest of us do not. So the goal is to realize that truth. Ignorance, however, is not easily shrugged off. The Buddhist teachings and practices are all dedicated to retraining the mind, both by cultivating the proper outlook and behavior, and by stopping the negative thinking that causes dissatisfaction and suffering. We're already perfect buddhas covered in the muck of ignorance; our task is to remove that muck and allow our true buddha-nature to shine forth.
- What is the history of buddha-nature teachings?
- What is the main source of buddha-nature teachings? Read On the Ratnagotravibhāga
- Learn about the "Three Reasons" in Verse_I.28
- Read about the topics of debate about buddha-nature
- Read about the history of the study of buddha-nature in the west.
- Academics: Study the source texts here
Watch these traditional teachings on the Uttaratantra.
- Practice Texts in different traditions
- Verses of advice
- Uncover your true nature!
- Practice makes perfect... or does it?
- Yes. Yes it does. ~ Buddha
Listen now or download interviews and teachings and listen anywhere.
- Listen to the Karl Brunnholzl Interview on translating the Uttaratantrashastra
- Listen to Klaus-Dieter Mathes discuss the concept of buddha-nature
What is buddha-nature?
- What is the main source of buddha-nature teachings? Read On the Ratnagotravibhāga
- Learn about the "Three Reasons" in Verse_I.28
What can I watch that will help me understand buddha-nature?
Buddha Nature by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche
Ringu Tulku. "Buddha Nature." Pt. 1 of 3. Produced by and filmed at Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Temple, December 1, 2015. Video, 1:37:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8BD50jtFgg.
Ringu Tulku. "Buddha Nature." Pt. 1 of 3. Produced by and filmed at Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Temple, December 1, 2015. Video, 1:37:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8BD50jtFgg.
Ringu Tulku. "Buddha Nature." Pt. 1 of 3. Produced by and filmed at Karma Sonam Dargye Ling Temple, December 1, 2015. Video, 1:37:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8BD50jtFgg.;Buddha Nature: A Talk by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche;Ringu Tulku;Buddha Nature by Ringu Tulku Rinpoche (Part 1 of 3)
Discovering Buddha Nature: Talk by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
In this short teaching, Mingyur Rinpoche describes buddha-nature with the metaphor of a diamond covered in mud, explaining how the innate purity of awareness can be obscured, but never changed.
Mingyur, Yongey, 7th. "Discovering Buddha Nature." Produced by Tergar Learning Community, April 7, 2014. Video, 1:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srRcHz9jVrg.
Mingyur, Yongey, 7th. "Discovering Buddha Nature." Produced by Tergar Learning Community, April 7, 2014. Video, 1:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=srRcHz9jVrg.;Discovering Buddha Nature: Talk by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche;Contemporary;Defining buddha-nature;Metaphors for buddha-nature;Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche;Discovering Buddha Nature
Buddha-Nature: Teaching by Khenpo Dudjom Dorjee Rinpoche at Karma Thegsum Choling Dallas
Khenpo Dudjom Dorjee Rinpoche speaks on the inherent buddha-nature of beings using traditional metaphors: like a jewel, free from any impurities and powerful to relieve suffering; like the sky, unchanging and free from clouds; and like water, naturally pure.
Dorjee, Dudjom. "Buddha Nature." Produced by Karma Thegsum Chöling Dallas, February 21, 2010. Video, 8:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfH82y-pLW0.
Dorjee, Dudjom. "Buddha Nature." Produced by Karma Thegsum Chöling Dallas, February 21, 2010. Video, 8:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfH82y-pLW0.;Buddha-Nature: Teaching by Khenpo Dudjom Dorjee Rinpoche at Karma Thegsum Choling Dallas;Metaphors for buddha-nature;Dudjom Dorjee;Buddha-Nature: Teaching by Khenpo Dudjom Dorjee Rinpoche
Loving-Kindness and Buddha-Nature: Talk by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche at the First Annual Benefit for Kunzang Palchen Ling
At the first annual benefit for Kunzang Palchen Ling, Bardor Tulku Rinpoche gave a talk on loving-kindness and compassion, but the first part of the talk was focused on buddha-nature. Rinpoche emphasizes that any person who truly wants to make a difference in their lives can focus on these teachings of loving-kindness and compassion to liberate themselves from suffering of karma and afflictive emotions.
Bardor Tulku. "Loving Kindness and Buddha-Nature." Produced by Kunzang Palchen Ling, July 11, 2009. Video, 9:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjZrw6T18Tw.
Bardor Tulku. "Loving Kindness and Buddha-Nature." Produced by Kunzang Palchen Ling, July 11, 2009. Video, 9:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NjZrw6T18Tw.;Loving-Kindness and Buddha-Nature: Talk by Bardor Tulku Rinpoche at the First Annual Benefit for Kunzang Palchen Ling;Bardor Tulku;Loving-Kindness and Buddha-Nature
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Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions: Chapter 14: Buddha Nature: A Talk by Thubten Chodron
Thubten Chodron guides viewers through her book, Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions in this video series produced by Sravasti Abbey. This talk addressing Chapter 14 discusses buddha-nature by way of emptiness. Venerable Thubten Chodron presents that emptiness is the reason that the mind's afflictions and obscurations can be purified and that purification process reveals buddha-nature inherent in the minds of all beings.
Chodron, T. "Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions. Chapter 14: Buddha Nature." Pt. 1 of 4. Produced by Sravasti Abbey, November 15, 2017. Video, 1:15:30, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XpyXg7sAnw.
Chodron, T. "Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions. Chapter 14: Buddha Nature." Pt. 1 of 4. Produced by Sravasti Abbey, November 15, 2017. Video, 1:15:30, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8XpyXg7sAnw.;Buddhism: One Teacher, Many Traditions: Chapter 14: Buddha Nature: A Talk by Thubten Chodron;Buddha-nature as Emptiness;Contemporary American Buddhist;Defining buddha-nature;Thubten Chodron;Chapter 14: Buddha Nature
Dealing with Depression: Interview with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo on Study Buddhism
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo discusses buddha-nature beautifully for a general audience.
Palmo, Tenzin. "Dealing with Depression." Interview by Matt Linden and Yura Milyutin. Produced by Study Buddhism (Website), September 2016. Video, 3:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ChZpIBgSo.
Palmo, Tenzin. "Dealing with Depression." Interview by Matt Linden and Yura Milyutin. Produced by Study Buddhism (Website), September 2016. Video, 3:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ChZpIBgSo.;Dealing with Depression: Interview with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo on Study Buddhism;provisional;potential;Potential or already-perfected;Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo;Dealing with Depression: Interview with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Buddha-Nature in Comparative Perspective, an Interview with Klaus-Dieter Mathes
Klaus-Dieter Mathes, Head of the Department of South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at the University of Vienna, granted an interview to Marcus Perman and Alex Gardner @ buddha-nature.tsadra.org on April 24, 2018. The discussion is almost an hour long and ranges from Klaus' personal interest in buddha-nature teachings to his ongoing and detailed research projects on the subject. Mathes discusses buddha-nature and the key ideas behind it, the controversies it generates, and some of the related Buddhist philosophy in comparative perspective.
Mathes, Klaus-Dieter. "Buddha-Nature in Comparative Perspective, an Interview with Klaus-Dieter Mathes." Interview by Marcus Perman and Alexander Gardner, April 24, 2018. Audio, 53:03. https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/Articles/Klaus-Dieter_Mathes_Interview_on_Buddha-Nature.
Mathes, Klaus-Dieter. "Buddha-Nature in Comparative Perspective, an Interview with Klaus-Dieter Mathes." Interview by Marcus Perman and Alexander Gardner, April 24, 2018. Audio, 53:03. https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/Articles/Klaus-Dieter_Mathes_Interview_on_Buddha-Nature.;Klaus-Dieter Mathes Interview on Buddha-Nature;Debate(s);History;The Problem of buddha-nature;Kagyu;Ngok Tradition;Tsen Tradition;Terms;Meditative Tradition;Klaus-Dieter Mathes; Marcus Perman;Alex Gardner
Khenpo Dawa Paljor's Teaching on Buddha-Nature following Mipham Rinpoche
Khenpo Dawa Paljor taught the Rigpa Shedra on Mipham Rinpoche's commentary on the Uttaratantra Shastra: A word-by-word commentary on the Uttaratantra Shastra, (Wyl. theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i bstan bcos kyi mchan 'grel mi pham zhal lung)
The recordings contain the Tibetan teaching and its live English translation.
Paljor, Khenpo Dawa. "Shedra 2009 Teachings on Mipham Rinpoche's Commentary on the Uttaratantra Shastra." Rigpa Shedra. https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Shedra_2009_Teachings_on_Mipham_Rinpoche%27s_commentary_on_the_Uttaratantra_Shastra.
Paljor, Khenpo Dawa. "Shedra 2009 Teachings on Mipham Rinpoche's Commentary on the Uttaratantra Shastra." Rigpa Shedra. https://www.rigpawiki.org/index.php?title=Shedra_2009_Teachings_on_Mipham_Rinpoche%27s_commentary_on_the_Uttaratantra_Shastra.;Khenpo Dawa Paljor's Teaching on Buddha-Nature following Mipham Rinpoche;Khenpo Dawa Paljor;ཟླ་བ་དཔལ་འབྱོར་;zla ba dpal 'byor; 
How do I engage with buddha-nature in my practice?
- Practicing buddha-nature
- Revealing buddha-nature
- Talking about buddha-nature
