What is enlightenment? How is it possible? Who can achieve it? One of Mahayana Buddhism’s most important teachings is the doctrine of Tathāgatagarbha, or Buddha Nature, the innate pure and changeless essence of the mind which gives rise to the fundamental potential for each being to attain full enlightenment or Buddhahood. This course in the FPMT Basic Program utilizes the first chapter of Maitreya’s Sublime Continuum, a text replete with rich poetic imagery and metaphor, to explore this profound and inspiring topic. Taught by Don Handrick. (Source Accessed Nov 16, 2020)
The main text that is used in the course is a translation of the first chapter of the Ratnagotravibhāga by Jeffrey Hopkins and Joe Wilson called "The Tathāgata Essence."
For a three-part video series by Don Handrick on the Uttaratantra, click here
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 01 May 28, 2014 | |
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| Essence of Enlightenment Class 02 June 04, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 03 June 11, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 04 June 18, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 05 June 25, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 06 July 2, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 07 July 9, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 08 July 16, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 09 July 23, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 10 July 30, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 11 August 6, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 12 August 13, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 13 August 20, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 14 August 27, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 15 September 3, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 16 September 10, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 17 September 17, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 18 October 1, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 19 October 8, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 20 October 15, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 21 October 22, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 22 October 29, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 23 November 19, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 24 December 3, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 25 December 10, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 26 December 17, 2014 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 27 January 7, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 28 January 14, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 29 January 28, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 30 February 4, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 31 February 11, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 32 February 18, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 33 February 25, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 34 March 4, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 35 March 11, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 36 March 18, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 37 April 8, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 38 April 15, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 39 April 22, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 40 May 6, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 41 May 13, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 42 May 20, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 43 May 27, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 44 June 3, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 45 June 10, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 46 June 17, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 47 June 24, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 48 July 1, 2015 | |
| Essence of Enlightenment Class 49 July 29, 2015 |
