sugatagarbha
sugatagarbha
Basic Meaning
Literally, the "essence" or "heart of the Bliss Gone One(s)," a synonym for tathāgatagarbha that is likewise often rendered into English by the term buddha-nature. Though it is often back translated into Sanskrit as sugatagarbha, this term is not found in Sanskrit sources.
Has the Sense of
The essence of enlightenment present in all sentient beings.
Term Variations | |
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Key Term | sugatagarbha |
Topic Variation | sugatagarbha |
Tibetan | བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོ་ ( deshek nyingpo) |
Wylie Tibetan Transliteration | bde gshegs snying po ( deshek nyingpo) |
Devanagari Sanskrit | सुगतगर्भ |
Buddha-nature Site Standard English | essence of the Bliss Gone One |
Karl Brunnhölzl's English Term | sugata heart, Heart of the Blissfully Gone Ones |
Richard Barron's English Term | potential/ heart essence for attaining/ reaching the state of bliss [sutra context], potential/ heart essence that constitutes attaining/ reaching the state of bliss [Dzogchen context], buddha nature, very heart of attaining the state of bliss |
Gyurme Dorje's English Term | buddha nature, seed of buddhahood, seed of buddha nature |
Ives Waldo's English Term | sugata-essence, enlightened essence, buddha-nature |
Alternate Spellings | bder gshegs snying po, bde bar gshegs pa'i snying po |
Term Information | |
Source Language | Sanskrit |
Basic Meaning | Literally, the "essence" or "heart of the Bliss Gone One(s)," a synonym for tathāgatagarbha that is likewise often rendered into English by the term buddha-nature. Though it is often back translated into Sanskrit as sugatagarbha, this term is not found in Sanskrit sources. |
Has the Sense of | The essence of enlightenment present in all sentient beings. |
Did you know? | This term is used differently depending on the context: in a sūtric context, the term is equivalent to tathāgatagarbha and is translated into English as "buddha-nature". In a tantric context, depending upon the tradition, sugatagarbha is a synonym for pristine awareness and emptiness. |
Related Terms | tathāgatagarbha |
Term Type | Noun |
Definitions | |
Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism | See page 865: in Sanskrit, “essence of the sugata,” a synonym for tathāgatagarbha. |
Rangjung Yeshe Dictionary | sugata-essence, enlightened essence, essence for attaining experience of bliss. Sugatagarbha. 'Sugata essence.' The most common Sanskrit term for what in the West is known as 'buddha-nature.' |
Tshig mdzod Chen mo | sems can thams cad kyi rgyud la ye nas gnas pa'i gzhi rgyud bde bar gshegs pa'i snying po ngo bo stong pa rang bzhin gsal ba thugs rje kun khyab kyi bdag nyid can |
Wikipedia | wikipedia:Buddha-nature |
Synonyms | tathāgatagarbha |
Works About this Term
Books
The author, Tsele Natsok Randröl, was born in the snowy land of Tibet. It was through study and reflection that he first unraveled the key points of everything that there is to know. Having brought forth realization through meditation training, he became known as a great pandita and siddha, a learned and accomplished master.
Among his various instructions, The Heart of the Matter is both concise and comprehensible. Not only does it contain all the vital points of the Buddha's words but, in particular, it lucidly and precisely covers the definitive meaning of the view, meditation, conduct and fruition, in their entirety, so that their practice can take effect and mature in our minds. (Source: The Heart of the Matter, introduction, 7–8)The Buddha taught buddha nature in three steps, each more profound than the previous one. The last step is regarded by most Tibetan Buddhist schools as the most profound teaching of the sutras, the very essence of what the Buddha was trying to communicate to his followers. It is the same teaching as found in Mahamudra and Dzogchen, so is important for all Buddhists to understand, but especially for those who are studying the Mahamudra and Dzogchen teachings.
The very learned Nyingma teacher Ju Mipham Namgyal gave a teaching that clearly showed this ultimate non-dual buddha nature. It was recorded and published by his students in a text called The Lion's Roar that is A Great Thousand Doses of Sugatagarbha which forms the basis of this book. The text needs clarification, so a very extensive explanation has been provided by the author of the book, the well known Western Buddhist teacher and translator, Tony Duff. As with all of our books, and an extensive introduction, glossary, and so on are provided to assist the reader.