The Shentong Interpretation of Tathagatagarbha Doctrine

The Shentong Interpretation of Tathagatagarbha Doctrine

Audio

Audio

“The Shentong interpretation of Tathagatagarbha doctrine does not imply there is no need for the path. However, according to Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, it does try to counter an ambitious, goal orientated approach to it. If Buddha were something newly produced by following the path, it would be a conditioned phenomena, the product of self-effort; it would not arise simply through complete relaxation of conceptual contrivance.” (From: The Buddha Within) (Source Accessed August 13, 2020)

Lama Shenpen Hookham speaks with students at RYI about the Shentong interpretation of Tathāgatagarbha on April 15, 2019.

About the recording

Featuring	Shenpen Hookham
Creator	Rangjung Yeshe Institute
Related Website	https://www.ryi.org/
Citation	Hookham, Shenpen. "The Shentong Interpretation of Tathagatagarbha Doctrine." Recorded April 15, 2019 at Rangjung Yeshe Institute, Nepal. Audio, 1:15:34. https://soundcloud.com/rangjung-yeshe-institute/lama-shenpen-hookham-the-shentong-interpretation-of-tathagatagarbha-doctrine.

gzhan stong - The state of being devoid of that which is wholly different rather than being void of its own nature. The term is generally used to refer to the ultimate, or buddha-nature, being empty of other phenomena such as adventitious defiling emotions but not empty of its true nature. Tib. གཞན་སྟོང་