Perman, M.

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PeoplePerman, M.


Marcus Perman

Marcus Perman is the Executive Director of Tsadra Foundation, where he has worked for 14 years. He graduated from St. Lawrence University with honors in Psychology and Philosophy and graduated from Naropa University with an MA in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism focused on Tibetan and Sanskrit languages. From 2007-2008 Marcus studied at Tibet University in Lhasa, Tibet and Rumtek, Sikkim, India. His early interests lay primarily in philosophical interpretations of Tibetan Buddhism, but his current work focuses on online educational resources and digital resources for translators and scholars. With Tsadra Foundation, Marcus developed the Translation & Transmission Conference series and the Lotsawa Workshops and regularly hosts online events and other workshops. Other interests include comparative philosophy, writing, Vladimir Nabokov, and rock climbing.

Published Works

  • Tricycle Magazine Review of Contemplating Reality: A Practitioner's Guide to the View in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism by Andy Karr. Tricycle Summer 2007.
    http://www.tricycle.com/reviews/balancing-act
  • "Appreciating all Sentient Beings." in Heart Advice. Dharamsala, India: Altruism Press, 2008.
  • Mind Only Tenet System. Translation of sems tsam pa'i grub mtha' by Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen. Seattle: Nitartha Institute Publications, 2009.

Unpublished Works (completed)

M.A. Thesis: “Tshad Ma Literature: Towards a History of Tibetan Buddhist Epistemology”
B.S. Honors project: “Neurofeedback: The effect of training attentional abilities in female college students” Advisor: Dr. Artur Poczwardowski.

Library Items

Video
A Definition of Buddha-Nature by Douglas Duckworth
Douglas Duckworth offers a definition of buddha-nature.
Duckworth, Douglas. "A Definition of Buddha-Nature." Interview by Alex Gardner. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 20, 2018. Video, 8:45. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RvBflqZ4t2w.
Video
Anne Burchardi: Advice on Navigating the Plethora of Available Buddha-Nature Teachings
Burchardi, Anne. "Advice on Navigating the Plethora of Available Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 6:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQTddI3Tv8I.
Burchardi, Anne. "Advice on Navigating the Plethora of Available Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 6:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQTddI3Tv8I.
Video
Anne Burchardi: Buddha-Nature in Practice: How the Notion of "Garbha" Can Be Applied to "Being in the World"
Burchardi, Anne. "Buddha-Nature in Practice: How the Notion of 'Garbha' Can Be Applied to 'Being in the World'." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 18:19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-e9mJqrZIc.
Burchardi, Anne. "Buddha-Nature in Practice: How the Notion of 'Garbha' Can Be Applied to 'Being in the World'." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 18:19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G-e9mJqrZIc.
Video
Anne Burchardi: On Her First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings
Burchardi, Anne. "On Her First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 11:42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad5Bejnvzc0.
Burchardi, Anne. "On Her First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 11:42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ad5Bejnvzc0.
Video
Anne Burchardi: On Her Work Compiling the Commentaries to the Uttaratantra
Burchardi, Anne. "On Her Work Compiling the Commentaries to the Uttaratantra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 3:18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLnNvQ2Zy7Y.
Burchardi, Anne. "On Her Work Compiling the Commentaries to the Uttaratantra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 3:18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLnNvQ2Zy7Y.
Video
Anne Burchardi: On Turning Hardship into the Path
Burchardi, Anne. "On Turning Hardship into the Path." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 4:00. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOhacgM0S3I.
Burchardi, Anne. "On Turning Hardship into the Path." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 4:00. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOhacgM0S3I.
Video
Anne Burchardi: On the Provisional or Definitive Nature of the Buddha-Nature Teachings
Burchardi, Anne. "On the Provisional or Definitive Nature of the Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 3:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDfD6gzolX4.
Burchardi, Anne. "On the Provisional or Definitive Nature of the Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 3:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDfD6gzolX4.
Video
Anne Burchardi: On the Sutra Sources for the Uttaratantra and Her Work on the Dharanishvarajasutra
See The Illustrations of the Nine Examples of the Buddha-Nature from the Tathāgatagarbhasūtra by Sofia Burchardi.
Burchardi, Anne. "On the Sutra Sources for the Uttaratantra and Her Work on the Dharanishvarajasutra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 8:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=htbHopiQeYg.
Video
Anne Burchardi: Why the Buddha-Nature Teachings were Taught according to the Uttaratantrashastra
Burchardi, Anne. "Why the Buddha-Nature Teachings were Taught according to the Uttaratantrashastra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 24:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGOlGy59bMU.
Burchardi, Anne. "Why the Buddha-Nature Teachings were Taught according to the Uttaratantrashastra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 18, 2021. Video, 24:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XGOlGy59bMU.
Video
Celebrating Buddha-Nature
On September 19, 2020, the Tsadra Foundation celebrated Buddha-Nature teachings and officially launched an online educational resource. Karma Phuntsho hosted the event as the new Writer-In-Digital-Residence, and we learned more about Buddha-Nature teachings from His Holiness the 17th Karmapa, Alak Zenkar Rinpoche, Geshe Thupten Jinpa, Lama Shenpen Hookham, Dr. Karl Brunnhölzl, and Alex Gardner.
Tsadra Foundation. "Buddha-Nature Event: 19 September 2020." Buddha-Nature: A Tsadra Foundation Initiative. Recorded September 19, 2020. Video, 2:33:07. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7AS1Iltnto.
Video
Buddha-Nature according to Zhiyi and the T'ien T'ai Tradition by Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson
Paul Swanson discusses the way in which Zhiyi understood the concept of buddha-nature and goes on to place that theory in the broader context of T'ien T'ai Buddhism.
Hubbard, Jamie, and Paul Swanson. "Buddha-Nature according to Zhiyi and the T'ien T'ai Tradition." Interview by Marcus Perman, Alex Gardner, and José Cabezón. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 2018. Video, 4:19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZI4wpr4NAjk.
Video
Casey Kemp: Buddha-Nature as a Path of Means: The Influence of Buddha-Nature Theory on Eleventh-Century Tibetan Tantric Instructions
Kemp, Casey. "Buddha-Nature as a Path of Means: The Influence of Buddha-Nature Theory on Eleventh-Century Tibetan Tantric Instructions." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 18:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr8U2HiLpEE.
Kemp, Casey. "Buddha-Nature as a Path of Means: The Influence of Buddha-Nature Theory on Eleventh-Century Tibetan Tantric Instructions." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 18:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zr8U2HiLpEE.
Video
Christopher Jones: Defining a "Buddha-Nature Discourse": The Case of the Mahāmeghasūtra (Sprin chen po'i mdo)
Jones, Christopher. "Defining a 'Buddha-Nature Discourse': The Case of the Mahāmeghasūtra (Sprin chen po'i mdo)." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 17:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi7pzXbM4-c.
Jones, Christopher. "Defining a 'Buddha-Nature Discourse': The Case of the Mahāmeghasūtra (Sprin chen po'i mdo)." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 17:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi7pzXbM4-c.
Video
Gratitude and Review on Behalf of the Attendees by Geydak Rinpoche
Geydak Rinpoche, who attended the full three day conference, gives an extemporaneous review of the conference on behalf of the attendees. He shares that it was his first experience of an intellectual gathering including most brilliant representatives from all Tibetan Buddhist traditions. In the past, such thing was not possible and he would have assumed that there would be only much debate, confrontation and mudslinging and not a friendly, joyful and substantive discussion, if the differing traditions came together. The event, he says, was an eye opener and an exceptional event to share and learn from the best of minds with much laughter and joy.

In India, many such events may be happening but he shares how it is in fact both wonderful and ironic that such a convention of Buddhist scholars is the first one take place in Nepal, the birth place of the Buddha himself. Such meeting of minds was long overdue and he expresses his deepest gratitude to Tsadra Foundation and Shechen monastery for organising and hosting such an august event.

The event, which he says might have taken years to plan, is also exemplary in bringing together the traditional wisdom and learning with modern methodology and tools. Abstracts, paper and presentations are easily available online making it very convenient for access. Moreover, every monastery and scholarly centre in Kathmandu and areas in the vicinity were invited and asked to send their members to benefit from the event. Thus, as a participant, he states it was a free intellectual feast which each of the participants must have enjoyed and will cherish. He prays that all the attendees make the best of such an endeavour and continue to learn from the scholarly presentations.
Geydrak Rinpoche. "Closing Remarks from Geydrak Rinpoche." 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 7:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTLq72nR9iU.
Video
Closing Remarks from Khenpo Gyurme Tsultrim
Khenpo Gyurme Tshultrim presents his vote of thanks to all presenters, who represent the main institutions of the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, the attendees and organisers. He says that it is an honour and fortune for Shechen monastery to host such an august gathering of great significance. He recounts how Dr Lopen Karma Phuntsho first called him, then visited Shechen monastery, and how the wonderful event gradually took shape.

He expresses gratitude to the presenters, who represent the best minds of the different Buddhist traditions, for their learned presentations and the abstracts and papers, which contain many months and years of work on their part. He also conveys his thanks to the monastic centres in and around Kathmandu for taking the rare opportunity and attending the conference despite busy schedule in the holy month of Saga Dawa. Invitations have been sent to most monasteries and centres in the area, with earnest request to attend, and the response was great. He explains that it is imperative that all traditions come together, given the easy communication facilities, to discuss and share their understanding and interpretations instead of remaining secluded and antagonising each other. It is time for the Buddhist scholars to also engage in conversations with non-Buddhist schools and update our knowledge and understanding. He requests the young attendees to take extra interest and zeal in studies and grasp opportunities such as this conference, and make use of the research papers even after the conference.

He, then, expresses his gratitude to Dr Karma Phuntsho, the convenor, Eric Colombel and Andrea, who have done so much for Tibetan Buddhism through the programmes of Tsadra, Marcus Perman, the director of Tsadra, and the team including Gwen Witt-Dorring, Dawa, Migmar and Kiran who helped organise the conference. He also thanks the Shechen team for moral support and actual organisation, particularly Lopen Karma Jurme who was the focal person for the conference. He also acknowledges Koncho, the treasurer of Shechen for the help in arranging the meals.

He also makes requests that more such events are organized in the future.
Gyurme Tsultrim, Khenpo. "Closing Remarks from Khenpo Gyurme Tsultrim." 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 16:18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiRHboR24MU.
Video
Critical Buddhism: An Overview by Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson
Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson discuss Critical Buddhism, a trend in Japanese Buddhist scholarship associated primarily with the work of Hakamaya Noriaki and Matsumoto Shiro.
Hubbard, Jamie, and Paul Swanson. "Critical Buddhism: An Overview." Interview by Marcus Perman, Alex Gardner, and José Cabezón. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 2018. Video, 10:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWbTA-L5I_w&t.
Video
David Germano: How Can Dzogchen Teachings and Practices Be Made More Relevant to the Wider World?
Germano, David. "How Can Dzogchen Teachings and Practices Be Made More Relevant to the Wider World?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 11:16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac2mGKly6ws.
Germano, David. "How Can Dzogchen Teachings and Practices Be Made More Relevant to the Wider World?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 11:16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac2mGKly6ws.
Video
David Germano: How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature in the Nyingtik Teachings?
Germano, David. "How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature in the Nyingtik Teachings?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 9:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRr0w1uzWmY.
Germano, David. "How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature in the Nyingtik Teachings?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 9:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XRr0w1uzWmY.
Video
David Germano: How Does gzhi (the Ground or Base) Relate to bden pa gnyis (the Two Truths) in Madhyamaka?
Germano, David. "How Does gzhi (ground or base) Relate to bden pa gnyis (two truths) in Madhyamaka?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 6:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58nyymx1agE.
Germano, David. "How Does gzhi (ground or base) Relate to bden pa gnyis (two truths) in Madhyamaka?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 6:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58nyymx1agE.
Video
David Germano: On Buddha-Nature in Tibet in the Early Translation Period
Germano, David. "On Buddha-Nature in Tibet in the Early Translation Period." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGs82a3NgM.
Germano, David. "On Buddha-Nature in Tibet in the Early Translation Period." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNGs82a3NgM.
Video
David Germano: On His Current Research Projects
Germano, David. "On His Current Research Projects." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 4:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UI8lD5YxTk.
Germano, David. "On His Current Research Projects." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 4:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UI8lD5YxTk.
Video
David Germano: On His Interest in the Great Perfection and Buddha-Nature
Germano, David. "On His Interest in the Great Perfection and Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAakwT4CuZA.
Germano, David. "On His Interest in the Great Perfection and Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAakwT4CuZA.
Video
David Germano: On His Work with the Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA
Germano, David. "On His Work with the Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 7:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1no1Dl7BjDo.
Germano, David. "On His Work with the Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 7:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1no1Dl7BjDo.
Video
David Germano: On How the Dzogchen Nyingtik Tradition Approaches Buddha-Nature
Germano, David. "On How the Dzogchen Nyingtik Tradition Approaches Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 12:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcTCKss8W8.
Germano, David. "On How the Dzogchen Nyingtik Tradition Approaches Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 12:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROcTCKss8W8.
Video
David Germano: On Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa
Germano, David. "On Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 2:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqim5YaaHgA.
Germano, David. "On Longchenpa and Jigme Lingpa." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 2:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqim5YaaHgA.
Video
David Germano: On Longchenpa's View of Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka
Germano, David. "On Longchenpa's View of Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKCfQiAC9mI.
Germano, David. "On Longchenpa's View of Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 3:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKCfQiAC9mI.
Video
David Germano: On the Aesthetics of Dzogchen and the Vajra as a Metaphor for Buddha-Nature
Germano, David. "On the Aesthetics of Dzogchen and the Vajra as a Metaphor for Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 10:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbaPwLvgW8c.
Germano, David. "On the Aesthetics of Dzogchen and the Vajra as a Metaphor for Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 10:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbaPwLvgW8c.
Video
David Germano: On the Concept of Buddha-Nature and the Questions It Generates
Germano, David. "On the Concept of Buddha-Nature and the Questions It Generates." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 5:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5XWi_LFhNk.
Germano, David. "On the Concept of Buddha-Nature and the Questions It Generates." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 5:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5XWi_LFhNk.
Video
David Germano: On the Evolution of Dzogchen Practices from the 11th to the 14th Century
Germano, David. "On the Evolution of Dzogchen Practices from the 11th to the 14th Century." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 9:47. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGRnJURqN3U.
Germano, David. "On the Evolution of Dzogchen Practices from the 11th to the 14th Century." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Aug 27, 2022. Video, 9:47. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGRnJURqN3U.
Video
David Higgins: The Eighth Karmapa and the Primacy of Tantric Buddha-Nature Views
Higgins, David. "The Eighth Karmapa and the Primacy of Tantric Buddha-Nature Views." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 20:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErPW8n0J9qM.
Higgins, David. "The Eighth Karmapa and the Primacy of Tantric Buddha-Nature Views." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 20:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErPW8n0J9qM.
Video
Defining Buddha-Nature by Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson
Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson take a crack at a definition for buddha-nature.
Hubbard, Jamie, and Paul Swanson. "What Is Buddha-Nature?" Interview by Marcus Perman, Alex Gardner, and José Cabezón. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 2018. Video, 4:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukl-9s9HZe4.
Video
Dorji Wangchuk: Buddha by Nature or Buddha by Nurture? On the Views of Rongzompa, Longchenpa, and Mipam
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Buddha by Nature or Buddha by Nurture? On the Views of Rongzompa, Longchenpa, and Mipam." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 10:19. https://youtu.be/zWtzs-1-S4Q.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Buddha by Nature or Buddha by Nurture? On the Views of Rongzompa, Longchenpa, and Mipam." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 10:19. https://youtu.be/zWtzs-1-S4Q.
Video
Dorji Wangchuk: How Can Ordinary Buddhists Access the Profound Teachings on Buddha-Nature?
Wangchuk, Dorji. "How Can Ordinary Buddhists Access the Profound Teachings on Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 3:17. https://youtu.be/RkpIR_cTmpA.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "How Can Ordinary Buddhists Access the Profound Teachings on Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 3:17. https://youtu.be/RkpIR_cTmpA.
Video
Dorji Wangchuk: How Were Rongzompa's Works Received and Integrated in the Nyingma Tradition?
Wangchuk, Dorji. "How Were Rongzompa's Works Received and Integrated in the Nyingma Tradition?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 4:26. https://youtu.be/QnNTq24E1fk.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "How Were Rongzompa's Works Received and Integrated in the Nyingma Tradition?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 4:26. https://youtu.be/QnNTq24E1fk.
Video
Dorji Wangchuk: Is "Other-Emptiness" Taught as Part of the Curriculum in Nyingma Shedras Today?
Wangchuk, Dorji "Is "Other-Emptiness" Taught as Part of the Curriculum in Nyingma Shedras Today?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 3:54. https://youtu.be/visvFgxXkUw.
Wangchuk, Dorji "Is "Other-Emptiness" Taught as Part of the Curriculum in Nyingma Shedras Today?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 3:54. https://youtu.be/visvFgxXkUw.
Video
Dorji Wangchuk: Longchenpa and His Position on Buddha-Nature
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Longchenpa and His Position on Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 3:28. https://youtu.be/BKbGrmfa0kk.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Longchenpa and His Position on Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 3:28. https://youtu.be/BKbGrmfa0kk.
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Dorji Wangchuk: On His First Encounter with the Concept of Buddha-Nature
Wangchuk, Dorji. "On His First Encounter with the Concept of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 2:38. https://youtu.be/okzqa9D7l8s.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "On His First Encounter with the Concept of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 2:38. https://youtu.be/okzqa9D7l8s.
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Dorji Wangchuk: On How Buddha-Nature Theory May Be Shaped by Western Studies and Practice and the Implications of Tathāgatagarbha Theory
Wangchuk, Dorji. "On How Buddha-Nature Theory May Be Shaped by Western Studies and Practice and the Implications of Tathāgatagarbha Theory." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 8:15. https://youtu.be/NHy4sKZoc_k.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "On How Buddha-Nature Theory May Be Shaped by Western Studies and Practice and the Implications of Tathāgatagarbha Theory." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 8:15. https://youtu.be/NHy4sKZoc_k.
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Dorji Wangchuk: On the Impact of Rongzompa, Longchenpa, and Mipam on the Nyingma Tradition
Wangchuk, Dorji. "On the Impact of Rongzompa, Longchenpa, and Mipam on the Nyingma Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 8:44. https://youtu.be/pEES25DoqyM.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "On the Impact of Rongzompa, Longchenpa, and Mipam on the Nyingma Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 8:44. https://youtu.be/pEES25DoqyM.
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Dorji Wangchuk: On the Relationship between Tathāgatagarbha Theory and Pratītyasamutpāda
Wangchuk, Dorji. "On the Relationship between Tathāgatagarbha Theory and Pratītyasamutpāda." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 7:34. https://youtu.be/OxvIEFyhvKA.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "On the Relationship between Tathāgatagarbha Theory and Pratītyasamutpāda." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 7:34. https://youtu.be/OxvIEFyhvKA.
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Dorji Wangchuk: Resources for the Nyingma Understanding of Buddha-Nature
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Resources for the Nyingma Understanding of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 2:59. https://youtu.be/jRFZpWF2brA.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Resources for the Nyingma Understanding of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 2:59. https://youtu.be/jRFZpWF2brA.
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Dorji Wangchuk: Rongzompa and His Position on Buddha-Nature
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Rongzompa and His Position on Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 10:03. https://youtu.be/yj6k07_8gIU.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "Rongzompa and His Position on Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 10:03. https://youtu.be/yj6k07_8gIU.
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Dorji Wangchuk: The Textual Sources and Advocates of Buddha-Nature Theory in the Early Transmission Period
Wangchuk, Dorji. "The Textual Sources and Advocates of Buddha-Nature Theory in the Early Transmission Period." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 3:56. https://youtu.be/hOM2RwrLroI.
Wangchuk, Dorji. "The Textual Sources and Advocates of Buddha-Nature Theory in the Early Transmission Period." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 31, 2021. Video, 3:56. https://youtu.be/hOM2RwrLroI.
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Emptiness or Luminosity: What's the Deal?
Karl Brunnhölzl discusses the qualities of buddha-nature as they relate to emptiness or luminosity with insightful comments about how to relate to each concept in our practice.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "Emptiness or Luminosity: What's the Deal?" Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 2:09. https://youtu.be/5ColQ_xRPYo.
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Geshe Drime Ozer on Buddha-Nature in Jonang Tradition
དཔལ་ཇོ་ནང་པའི་བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོའི་དགོངས་བཞེས་ཉམས་བཞེས་སྐོར།
Jonangpa Theory and Practice of Buddha-Nature


In order to discuss the Jonang understanding and practice of buddha-nature, Geshe Drime Ozer presents three main points, although he did not manage to discuss the second and third in any detail.

1. He briefly discusses how buddha-nature is explained in many sūtras and tantras and also quoted some important verses from these sūtras.
2. His second point concerns the method, path, and the techniques with which the ultimate truth of buddha-nature is actualized or revealed by getting rid of the adventitious obscurations.
3. The final point, which he planned to present, was the difference between sūtra and tantric presentations of buddha-nature and how they differ in profundity and effectiveness although they are dealing with the same point.

Quoting the verse which is said to be the declaration of the Buddha after he reached enlightenment, Geshe explains that the three sets of teachings of wheels of dharma are three phases of the Buddha's teachings to tame a person gradually or teachings to suit three different levels of spiritual caliber. In the Jonang tradition, the first two wheels of dharma are provisional and the last or final wheel of dharma is the definitive teaching dealing with the ultimate truth. Commenting on the emptiness taught in Nāgārjuna's scholastic writings, he states that the Jonang school considered that kind of emptiness to be only nominal emptiness and not the final one.

The Mādhyamika, in this respect, are divided into proponents of rangtong, or self-emptiness, and of zhentong, or other-emptiness. Both Prāsaṅgika and Śvātantrika fall within the rangtong group, while zhengtong is also known as Great Mādhymika and is the tradition promoted by the hymnic corpus of Nāgārjuna and the works of Maitreya. He goes on to explain how in the Jonang tradition, buddha-nature is equated with the alayajñāna and how this should be distinguished from alayavijñāna.

He says that in the Jonang tradition, buddha-nature is the ultimate buddha and that such buddha is endowed with all noble attributes and qualities, while the conventional buddha is one who has manifested such qualities having removed the obscuration. The sūtras did not teach a direct and effective path to reveal this ultimate buddha as the tantras did.

During the Q&A, a vibrant debate occurred among the presenters and attendees, primarily on the Jonang assertion that buddha-nature is a truly established eternal reality. Many scholars challenged the assertion that buddha-nature can be truly existing when analyzed by reductive reasoning presented in the Mādhyamika writings. Geshe Drime Ozer pointed out that buddha-nature is truly existent in the Jonang tradition as it is the truth and perceived by the pristine wisdom of the enlightened beings in their meditative equipoise. However, it is not a truly existing substance or entity which is nonexistent and what Nāgārjuna, Candrakīrti, and other Mādhyamika scholars negated.
Drime Ozer, Geshe. "Geshe Drime Ozer at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 1, Talk 5. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 57:10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcSnACTyB9M.
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Geshe Jigme Gyatso on Buddha-Nature in the Geluk Yigcha Literature
རི་བོ་དགེ་ལྡན་པའི་གདན་སའི་ཡིག་ཆ་རྣམས་སུ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་སྐོར་བཞེད་ཚུལ།
Understanding Buddha-Nature in the Geluk Yigcha Literature


Geshe Jigme presents the interpretation and understanding of specific controversial points according to the yigcha textbooks of the main Geluk monastic colleges. In general, he states that the yigcha writers agree on most points and are consistent in their interpretation. The topic of buddha-nature in most of the textbooks is covered while discussing the section on gotra, or spiritual gene, in the Ornament of Realization. He presents the discussion of buddha-nature through the five points of (1) the nature or definition of buddha-nature, (2) types, (3) etymology, (4) the manner in which the spiritual gene is made manifest, and (5) the issue of those without the gene.

The Geluk authors agree that in the Vaibhaśika school the mental state of being nonattached or content is considered as the gotra for enlightenment. In the Sautrāntika school, it is the seed which is able to generate stainless qualities of nirvāṇa. In these two schools, there is no classification of naturally present spiritual genes or acquired spiritual genes.

Geshe Jigme states that for the Cittamātra school of thought, the Geluk authors have two schools: those accepting the store-consciousness and those who do not accept it. Both accept the spiritual gene to be a seed passed down primordially in one's mindstream, which enables one to eliminate impurities and give rise to transcendental qualities. Some regard this to be a specific quality of the six internal senses or mindstream, while others consider it to be an aspect of the store-consciousness. This seed or nature of the consciousness has four features according to the Bodhisattvabhūmi.

When this seed is not aroused or made manifest through faith, study, etc., it is known as the naturally present spiritual gene, and when it is aroused or being made partially manifest, it is known as the acquired spiritual gene. There are different assertions among the Geluk textbook authors of the monastic colleges as to whether these two are mutually exclusive, the same, or overlapping. The authors also agree that the spiritual gene is considered inherently existent in the Cittamātra school of thought and that there are beings who do not possess this spiritual gene.

In both the Cittamātra and Mādhyamika schools of thought, whatever is able to reach buddhahood is necessarily endowed with the spiritual gene. Thus, the spiritual gene is limited to sentient beings and not applicable to inanimate objects such as earth and rocks. In the Mādhyamika tradition, buddha-nature is clearly identified as the emptiness or reality of the mind, as a nature which serves as the basis for sublime qualities to rise. However, not all authors are clear on whether the spiritual gene is synonymous with buddha-nature or not.

The Geluk authors agree that in the Mādhyamika school there is no sentient being who lacks the spiritual gene, and thus the teachings on the absence of the spiritual gene in some beings are provisional and not to be taken literally. Geshe goes on to explain how the Geluk textbook authors interpreted the verses in the Ultimate Continuum. For example, the ten aspects of formulation are considered to focus on the luminous stainless nature of the mind and indirectly show that the impurities can be removed, whereas the nine analogies demonstrate directly how the impurities can be removed and show the stainless nature of the mind indirectly.
Jigme Gyatso, Geshe. "Geshe Jigme Gyatso at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 3, Talk 6. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 1:00:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkXoUdYva1o.
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Geshe Kalsang Tenkyong on Buddha-Nature among Some Kadam Masters
རྔོག་བློ་ལྡན་ཤེས་རབ་དང་ཆ་པ་ཆོས་ཀྱི་སེང་གེས་གཤེགས་སྙིང་སྐོར་བཞེད་ཚུལ།

Interpretation of Buddha-Nature by Ngok Loden Sherab and Chapa Chökyi Senge


The old Kadam masters have written many works on Buddha-Nature and their teachings have influenced many other scholars in all Tibetan Buddhist traditions. However, today their teachings have declined, most of it being neglected. It is even difficult to find Kadam writings, and it is therefore pertinent that a special opportunity to make a presentation on the early Kadam tradition is given. Atiśa received the Mahāyāna tradition of both the profound view tradition from Nāgārjuna and vast praxis tradition from Asaṅga, and his followers included both those following the Prāsaṅgika Mādhyamika and Svātantrika Mādhyamika tradition.

Among the most prominent early Kadam masters on Buddha-Nature is Ngok Lotsāwa Loden Sherab, who was not only the main transmitter of the Ultimate Continuum, the main book on Buddha-Nature, but also a first and major commentator. After explaining the etymology of tathāgatagarbha, gotra, dhatu, etc., Khenpo Tenkyong explains Ngok's understanding of tathāgarbha as emptiness of own being or self-existence and as a reality which cannot be found if investigated by ultimate analysis. Thus, emptiness is not an object of cognition and not a knowable thing. Such ultimate truth qua emptiness is the nature of the illusory conventional phenomena, and the two truths, i.e. emptiness of own being and illusory appearance, coalesce to form the union of two truths. Such emptiness and conventional appearance exist from primordial existence and are not newly contrived and created.

Discussing Chapa, whose understanding is from his trilogy on the Middle Way, he argues that Chapa asserts the absence of phenomena when investigated by ultimate analysis is ultimate truth. The presence of phenomena when not investigated by analysis is conventional truth. They are one by nature but different in aspects. Unlike Ngok, Chapa argued that the ultimate qua emptiness can be found when investigated through ultimate analysis. This led to a heated discussion on whether there is something truly existent or hypostatically existent in the Madhyamaka tradition.
Kalsang Tenkyong, Geshe. "Geshe Kalsang Tenkyong at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 1, Talk 2. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 1:02:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSLj6w_QfHM.
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Geshe Lobsang Gyatso on Distinct Gelukpa Interpretations of Buddha-Nature
གཤེགས་སྙིང་སྐོར་རི་བོ་དགེ་ལྡན་པའི་མདོ་སྔགས་ཀྱི་ཐུན་མོང་མིན་པའི་བཞེད་ཚུལ་སྐོར།
Distinct Gelukpa Interpretations of Buddha-Nature in Sūtra and Tantra


Geshe starts by explaining how different sources talk about the concept of buddha-nature and gives reference to his written article which contains detailed information in over 80 pages. In discussing the buddha-nature in the context of sūtra, he explains that according to the Geluk tradition, buddha-nature exists in sentient beings as the nature of their mind, and is not introduced or bestowed by any creator or some other external power. This follows that all sentient beings are thus equal by nature and it helps overcome discrimination based on differences in race, caste, sex, etc. and promotes an egalitarian ethos.

If asked to point out the nature of buddha-nature, in the Geluk tradition, it refers to emptiness/reality of the mind. Not all emptiness or lack of inherent existence qualifies to be buddha-nature, and the emptiness of each phenomenon is different. This is according to the Mādhyamika tradition, and the lower schools of thought have their own understanding of gotra, or spiritual gene, and different names are used to refer to it.

According to the Mādhyamika tradition, the buddha-nature taught in the sūtras and commentarial treatises refers to the emptiness of the mind, the reality stained by impurities but having the potential for actualizing buddhahood. Thus, the middle turning of the wheel is considered to be definitive teachings showing the ultimate truth, and both the first and the final wheels are considered to be provisional in nature. Because buddha-nature is equated with emptiness, the sūtras teaching buddha-nature are not considered to be part of the final wheel. They are said to have been taught by the Buddha 10 years after his perfect enlightenment. Within the Mādhyamika, no distinction or differences in the definition of buddha-nature are made between the subschools of Prāsaṅgika and Svātantrika according to the Geluk tradition.

In understanding the definition of the Buddha in the Ultimate Continuum, the first three characteristics of the Buddha are unconditioned, but the last three are considered as conditioned phenomena. Thus, the Buddha is not seen as an unconditioned permanent phenomena. It is not conditioned by afflictive emotions or by subtle propensities of ignorance and thus described as unconditioned. However, it is conditioned by causes.

The gotra, or spiritual gene, according to the Geluk tradition, is also not an authentic cause, as buddha-nature is not conditioned. Similarly, Geshe explains that an emptiness which is a nonimplicative negation can be experienced, and Tāranātha's refutation of the Geluk tradition does not assail the Geluk position. Although the term rangtong may apply to both the Geluk and followers of other traditions which accept buddha-nature to be empty of its own being, there is still a big difference in that the Geluk understand mind to be empty of its inherent nature, whereas other schools consider mind to be empty of mind itself, which is not acceptable according to the Geluk tradition.

Thus, despite the same terminology, there are vast differences, and it is important to acknowledge such differences and agree to disagree. Geshe Lobsang Gyatso points out these and many other distinct features of the Geluk understanding.
Lobsang Gyatso, Geshe. "Geshe Lobsang Gyatso at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 3, Talk 4. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 57:36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K81prXiAH_A.
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Geshe Ngawang Topden on Buddha-Nature in the Teachings of the 14th Dalai Lama
རི་བོ་དགེ་ལྡན་པ་སྤྱི་དང་སྐྱབས་མགོན་རྒྱལ་བ་རིན་པོ་ཆེའི་བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོའི་དགོངས་བཞེད་སྐོར།
Buddha-Nature in the Geluk Tradition and in the Teachings of H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama


Geshe starts with the reading of his salutation to the masters of the past, including Indian figures and the leading patriarchs of all Tibetan Buddhist traditions, and expressing deep appreciation for the occasion to discuss buddha-nature at an august gathering. He highlights how in the Tibetan Buddhist traditions, there exists the unique and important tradition of transmission and continuity of the Buddha's teachings through uninterrupted lines of masters. His main topic is the explanation of the understanding of buddha-nature and the interpretation of the Ultimate Continuum in the Geluk tradition. This, he explains, should be based on the commentary on the Ultimate Continuum and the Exegesis of Ornament of Realization called the Ornament of Essence by Gyaltsab Darma Rinchen and the writings of Tsongkhapa, including Golden Rosary of Elegant Words and Essence of Elegant Words on Provisional and Definitive Teachings.

Then, Geshela goes on to highlight the importance placed on buddha-nature and the Ultimate Continuum by H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso. His Holiness has given several teachings on buddha-nature, as the topic is important to all Tibetan Buddhist traditions. He explains how His Holiness has shared special insights into the teachings on buddha-nature. For instance, while interpreting the verse said to have been uttered by the Buddha after his enlightenment, His Holiness states that the terms "profound and tranquil" (ཟབ་ཞི་) refer to the teachings belonging to the first turning of the wheel, the term "free from elaborations" (སྤྲོས་བྲལ་) refers to the emptiness taught in the middle turning of the wheel, and the terms "luminous and unconditioned" (འོད་གསལ་འདུས་མ་བྱས་) refer to the content of the final turning of the wheel. The final term does not directly show the subtle innate mind taught in the tantric tradition but points to it indirectly.

He also points out that His Holiness emphasizes the rime (རིས་མེད་) ecumenical approach to see how this ultimate truth is presented by different Tibetan Buddhist traditions in their own way using different terms. Similarly, His Holiness explains the Great Madhyamaka of Other Emptiness (གཞན་སྟོང་དབུ་མ་ཆེན་པོ་) as referring to the subtle mind which is the natural innate aspect of the mind because this subtle mind does not lack its natural awareness but is empty of other gross aspects of the mind. These interpretations indicate the open and ecumenical approach His Holiness adopts with deep respect and appreciation to all traditions of Tibetan Buddhism, like appreciating different flowers in a garden.

Another point Geshe raises is with regard to the authorship of the Ultimate Continuum and other writings, which Tibetan tradition normally attributes to Maitreya. It is important to discuss these questions and to see when the five treatises came to be known as the five works of Maitreya. Are the works really taught by Maitreya to Asaṅga in Tuṣita heaven? Is the commentary attributed to Asaṅga really by him and why didn’t Vasubandhu and many others quote him? Similarly, there are questions as to which tenet system the Ultimate Continuum and other treatises belong? Geshe concludes by explaining how the different Tibetan Buddhist traditions discuss the same nature of the mind using different terms, and how in the Geluk tradition the Ultimate Continuum has as its ultimate purport the emptiness of mind, which is what buddha-nature means and which is also the main topic of the middle turning of the wheel.
Ngawang Topden, Geshe. "Geshe Ngawang Topden at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 2, Talk 5. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 57:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCT6hayx46c.
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Geshe Ngawang Tsesang on Buddha-Nature in Gyaltsab Je's Commentary
རྒྱལ་ཚབ་རྗེའི་ཊཱིཀཱ་ལྟར་དུ་རི་བོ་དགེ་ལྡན་པའི་གཤེགས་སྙིང་གི་བཞེད་ཚུལ་སྐོར།
The Gelukpa Understanding of Buddha-Nature Based on Gyaltsab Je's Commentary


Geshe starts by stating the importance of making the Buddhist message easily accessible to a common listener. He expresses concern that scholars often discuss Buddhist topics using technical terms and do not consider the general audience who do not follow the technical vocabulary. Thus, he states that his aim is to present the Geluk understanding of buddha-nature in as simplest terms as he can, based on the writings of Tsongkhapa and his two main students, using mainly Gyaltsab Je's commentary on the Ultimate Continuum. Gyaltsab Je wrote his commentary having received teachings on the Ultimate Continuum from both Tsongkhapa and Rendawa.

He divides his presentation into three sections of (1) how the sūtras teach buddha-nature, (2) what is the essence or nature of buddha-nature, and (3) what is the benefit of such teachings on buddha-nature. Discussing the first part, he mentions how the first wheel mainly focused on the topic of the absence of a personal self as the clinging to self is the main cause of suffering. However, in the middle wheel, the Buddha not only negated the inherent existence of a personal self but also extended the application of emptiness to all five aggregates and all phenomena. Thus, all phenomena are established to be empty of inherent existence. In the third wheel, such emptiness of the mind or the lack of inherent or truly existent nature of the mind, which is luminous, is given the name buddha-nature.

Going on to explain the characteristics of buddha-nature, Geshe points out that in the Geluk tradition, it is the emptiness of the luminous mind which is buddha-nature. Emptiness of other things such as pillars and vases are not considered buddha-nature, although they are also empty of inherent nature. Buddha-nature pervades all minds, as all minds are luminous by nature, but not all emptiness qualifies as buddha-nature. If any emptiness would be buddha-nature, all inanimate objects would also have buddha-nature. Similarly, if buddha-nature is identical with the resultant dharmakāya, all sentient beings would be buddhas. Thus, buddha-nature refers only to the emptiness of the mind of the sentient beings.

Asked how the teachings on buddha-nature as emptiness can help in the pursuit of enlightenment and happiness, Geshe responds using the example of a plain screen. Just as multiple pictures appear on the screen, although they do not really exist, the diverse world appears in the state of emptiness although they do not really exist. The teachings on buddha-nature show how they do not truly exist. Responding to another question, he clarifies that the Ultimate Continuum in the Geluk tradition, according to Gyaltsab's commentary, is considered to align with the Prāsaṅgika Mādhyamika thought.
Ngawang Tsesang, Geshe. "Geshe Ngawang Tsesang at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 1, Talk 6. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 1:09:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59TlNurZH74.
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Gregory Forgues: A Reluctant Expression of the Inexpressible: Klong chen rab 'byams pa dri med 'od zer (1308–1364) on Sugatagarbha
Forgues, Gregory. "A Reluctant Expression of the Inexpressible: Klong chen rab 'byams pa dri med 'od zer (1308–1364) on Sugatagarbha." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 21:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa76N32sfUM.
Forgues, Gregory. "A Reluctant Expression of the Inexpressible: Klong chen rab 'byams pa dri med 'od zer (1308–1364) on Sugatagarbha." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 21:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oa76N32sfUM.
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Is Buddha-Nature a Radical Teaching? by Karl Brunnhölzl
Karl Brunnhölzl discusses whether the teachings on buddha-nature can be considered a radical teaching. He suggests that it is indeed radical, as it fundamentally raises questions about who we are and what it means to be on the path.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "Is Buddha-Nature a Radical Teaching?" Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 3:26. https://youtu.be/l86nQ9ac58M.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: Advice on Daily Practice
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "Advice on Daily Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 3:11. https://youtu.be/8FqhpNRPsrI.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "Advice on Daily Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 3:11. https://youtu.be/8FqhpNRPsrI.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: How Can Women and Girls Formulate a Buddhist-Inspired Feminism?
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "How Can Women and Girls Formulate a Buddhist-Inspired Feminism?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 3:43. https://youtu.be/77k0SKcjQ_E.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "How Can Women and Girls Formulate a Buddhist-Inspired Feminism?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 3:43. https://youtu.be/77k0SKcjQ_E.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: How Do We Transform Difficult Circumstances into a Catalyst for Spiritual Transformation and Human Flourishing?
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "How Do We Transform Difficult Circumstances into a Catalyst for Spiritual Transformation and Human Flourishing?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 4:38. https://youtu.be/D6_-IrFljok.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "How Do We Transform Difficult Circumstances into a Catalyst for Spiritual Transformation and Human Flourishing?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 4:38. https://youtu.be/D6_-IrFljok.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature As a Layperson?
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature As a Layperson?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 5:20. https://youtu.be/M_MOG-J0IbM.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "How Does One Actualize Buddha-Nature As a Layperson?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 5:20. https://youtu.be/M_MOG-J0IbM.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: How to Convince People of Their Innate Goodness?
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "How to Convince People of Their Innate Goodness?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 3:48. https://youtu.be/E5hxRjYI9_k.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "How to Convince People of Their Innate Goodness?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 3:48. https://youtu.be/E5hxRjYI9_k.
Video
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: Is the Traditional Tibetan Approach the Best Method for Westerners to Train in Tibetan Buddhism?
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "Is the Traditional Tibetan Approach the Best Method for Westerners to Train in Tibetan Buddhism?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 4:04. https://youtu.be/2sCLpIDAhnE.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "Is the Traditional Tibetan Approach the Best Method for Westerners to Train in Tibetan Buddhism?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 4:04. https://youtu.be/2sCLpIDAhnE.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: On Balancing Practice with Daily Life
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "On Balancing Practice with Daily Life." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 3:15. https://youtu.be/R0-cm8rIq5c.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "On Balancing Practice with Daily Life." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 3:15. https://youtu.be/R0-cm8rIq5c.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: On Guru Devotion
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "On Guru Devotion." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 8:22. https://youtu.be/2Ar8J-Ilx1A.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "On Guru Devotion." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 8:22. https://youtu.be/2Ar8J-Ilx1A.
Video
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: On Her Childhood Belief in Innate Perfection and Her Early Spiritual Journey
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "On Her Childhood Belief in Innate Perfection and Her Early Spiritual Journey." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 6:40. https://youtu.be/BcJJ3cKyBEI.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "On Her Childhood Belief in Innate Perfection and Her Early Spiritual Journey." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 6:40. https://youtu.be/BcJJ3cKyBEI.
Video
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: On the Value of Reclusion vs. Engagement and Starting a Nunnery
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "On the Value of Reclusion vs. Engagement and Starting a Nunnery." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 8:25. https://youtu.be/6iM1XpP7kkY.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "On the Value of Reclusion vs. Engagement and Starting a Nunnery." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 8:25. https://youtu.be/6iM1XpP7kkY.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: Reflecting on Her Activism for the Status of Nuns and the Patriarchal Element of Vajrayana Buddhism
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "Reflecting on Her Activism for the Status of Nuns and the Patriarchal Element of Vajrayana Buddhism." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 5:21. https://youtu.be/jFBNbK7o_Rc.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "Reflecting on Her Activism for the Status of Nuns and the Patriarchal Element of Vajrayana Buddhism." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 5:21. https://youtu.be/jFBNbK7o_Rc.
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Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: What Improvements Can Be Made in Transmitting Teachings Such As Buddha-Nature?
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "What Improvements Can Be Made in Transmitting Teachings Such As Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 5:19. https://youtu.be/5FArkWiVq1E.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "What Improvements Can Be Made in Transmitting Teachings Such As Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 5:19. https://youtu.be/5FArkWiVq1E.
Video
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo: What Is Innate Perfection or Buddha-Nature?
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "What Is Innate Perfection or Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 8:00. https://youtu.be/Wy278BzAhqE.
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin. "What Is Innate Perfection or Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, September 25, 2021. Video, 8:00. https://youtu.be/Wy278BzAhqE.
Video
John Canti: How Can We Amplify the Message about Buddha-Nature?
Canti, John. "How Can We Amplify the Message about Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 7:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOVPhTSMkeM.
Canti, John. "How Can We Amplify the Message about Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 7:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOVPhTSMkeM.
Video
John Canti: How Does Mipham View the 2nd and 3rd Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma?
Canti, John. "How Does Mipham View the 2nd and 3rd Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 1:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKtdyH0JJdI.
Canti, John. "How Does Mipham View the 2nd and 3rd Turnings of the Wheel of Dharma?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 1:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKtdyH0JJdI.
Video
John Canti: On His First Encounter with Buddhism and Buddha-Nature Teachings
Canti, John. "On His First Encounter with Buddhism and Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 10:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fylGv8Y2xtU.
Canti, John. "On His First Encounter with Buddhism and Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 10:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fylGv8Y2xtU.
Video
John Canti: On How Buddha-Nature Teachings Have Affected Him
Canti, John. "On How Buddha-Nature Teachings Have Affected Him." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 6:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bB9UgVKuAg.
Canti, John. "On How Buddha-Nature Teachings Have Affected Him." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 6:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bB9UgVKuAg.
Video
John Canti: On Luminosity and It's Relationship to the Kāyas and Emptiness
Canti, John. "On Luminosity and It's Relationship to the Kāyas and Emptiness." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 7:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSKgamUZQEc.
Canti, John. "On Luminosity and It's Relationship to the Kāyas and Emptiness." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 7:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSKgamUZQEc.
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John Canti: On What Inspired Him to Work on the Uttaratantra & Mipham's Commentary
Canti, John. "On What Inspired Him to Work on the Uttaratantra & Mipham's Commentary." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 4:19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl7x8gHmgiI.
Canti, John. "On What Inspired Him to Work on the Uttaratantra & Mipham's Commentary." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 4:19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pl7x8gHmgiI.
Video
John Canti: On the Challenges of Translating Terms Like Tathāgatagarbha, Gotra, Dhātu, etc.
Canti, John. "On the Challenges of Translating Terms Like Tathāgatagarbha, Gotra, Dhātu, etc." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 14:08. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg5Sk2XFmlA.
Canti, John. "On the Challenges of Translating Terms Like Tathāgatagarbha, Gotra, Dhātu, etc." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 14:08. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg5Sk2XFmlA.
Video
John Canti: On the Legends behind the Five Treatises of Maitreya
Canti, John. "On the Legends behind the Five Treatises of Maitreya." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 7:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soU-n3Gb59o.
Canti, John. "On the Legends behind the Five Treatises of Maitreya." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 7:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soU-n3Gb59o.
Video
John Canti: On the Relationship between Buddha-Nature and lhan cig skyes pa'i ye shes
Canti, John. "On the Relationship between Buddha-Nature and lhan cig skyes pa'i ye shes." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 7:57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQCoD5qgJcQ.
Canti, John. "On the Relationship between Buddha-Nature and lhan cig skyes pa'i ye shes." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 7:57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQCoD5qgJcQ.
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John Canti: On the Uttaratantra in Relation to the Other Works of Maitreya
Canti, John. "On the Uttaratantra in Relation to the Other Works of Maitreya." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 20:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EHovcbdGAg.
Canti, John. "On the Uttaratantra in Relation to the Other Works of Maitreya." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 25, 2022. Video, 20:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EHovcbdGAg.
Video
Karl Brunnhölzl: Buddha-Nature Sings Its Song: Tathāgatagarbha and Its Equivalents in the Indian Dohā Tradition
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "Buddha-Nature Sings Its Song: Tathāgatagarbha and Its Equivalents in the Indian Dohā Tradition." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 15:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJJ98iRuBxU
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "Buddha-Nature Sings Its Song: Tathāgatagarbha and Its Equivalents in the Indian Dohā Tradition." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 15:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NJJ98iRuBxU
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Karl Brunnhölzl: Jamgön Kongtrül and Other Influences on the View of Buddha-Nature in the Kagyu Tradition
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "Jamgön Kongtrül and Other Influences on the View of Buddha-Nature in the Kagyu Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 3:07. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwASiu1LUPc.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "Jamgön Kongtrül and Other Influences on the View of Buddha-Nature in the Kagyu Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 3:07. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwASiu1LUPc.
Video
Karl Brunnhölzl: On His First Encounter with the Buddha-Nature Teachings
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On His First Encounter with the Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 4:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGz9UFYijB8.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On His First Encounter with the Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 4:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGz9UFYijB8.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On How the Buddha-Nature Teachings Were Transmitted in the Kagyu Tradition
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On How the Buddha-Nature Teachings Were Transmitted in the Kagyu Tradition." Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 5:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr8JyaBxqKw.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On How the Buddha-Nature Teachings Were Transmitted in the Kagyu Tradition." Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 5:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dr8JyaBxqKw.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On How the Uttaratantra Is a Bridge between Sūtra and Tantra
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On How the Uttaratantra Is a Bridge between Sūtra and Tantra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 5:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AHpeg3LPHs.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On How the Uttaratantra Is a Bridge between Sūtra and Tantra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 5:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9AHpeg3LPHs.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On Karma Kagyu Proponents of Buddha-Nature Theory Prior to the 8th Karmapa
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On Karma Kagyu Proponents of Buddha-Nature Theory Prior to the 8th Karmapa." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 2:57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwkEEYrC-Jw.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On Karma Kagyu Proponents of Buddha-Nature Theory Prior to the 8th Karmapa." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 2:57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwkEEYrC-Jw.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Eighth Karmapa Mikyö Dorje's View of Buddha-Nature
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Eighth Karmapa Mikyö Dorje's View of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 8:06. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hI5lAoX4Os.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Eighth Karmapa Mikyö Dorje's View of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 8:06. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hI5lAoX4Os.
Video
Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Inspiration Behind His Book When the Clouds Part
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Inspiration Behind His Book When the Clouds Part." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 3:19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR9zvAqlgmM.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Inspiration Behind His Book When the Clouds Part." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 3:19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR9zvAqlgmM.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Naturally Abiding Gotra and the Developing Gotra
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Naturally Abiding Gotra and the Developing Gotra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 4:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kDlMb-ahy0.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Naturally Abiding Gotra and the Developing Gotra." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 4:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kDlMb-ahy0.
Video
Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Rang stong-Gzhan stong Debate
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Rang stong/Gzhan stong Debate." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 7:06. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcTpx1uyQFQ.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Rang stong/Gzhan stong Debate." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 7:06. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VcTpx1uyQFQ.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Relationship between Pariniṣpanna, Trisvabhāvanirdeśa, and Buddha-Nature
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Relationship between Pariniṣpanna, Trisvabhāvanirdeśa, and Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 2:32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cY6vzxKkyg.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Relationship between Pariniṣpanna, Trisvabhāvanirdeśa, and Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 2:32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0cY6vzxKkyg.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Supposed Commentary on the Uttaratantra by Marpa Chökyi Lodrö
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Supposed Commentary on the Uttaratantra by Marpa Chökyi Lodrö. Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 4:39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLNp5ErprLc.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Supposed Commentary on the Uttaratantra by Marpa Chökyi Lodrö. Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 4:39. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLNp5ErprLc.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Term Sūtra Mahāmudrā
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Term Sūtra Mahāmudrā." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 3:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNU7HAM0k3o.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Term Sūtra Mahāmudrā." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 3:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNU7HAM0k3o.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Term Tathāgatagarbha and Other Terms for Buddha-Nature
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Term Tathāgatagarbha and Other Terms for Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 3:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kODFY9Age7E.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Term Tathāgatagarbha and Other Terms for Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 3:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kODFY9Age7E.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje's View of Buddha-Nature
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje's View of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 4:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mzukFaO-No.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje's View of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 4:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5mzukFaO-No.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Title of His Talk: What Is My Mind without Me?
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Title of His Talk: What Is My Mind without Me?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 2:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ0rt0izSzI.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Title of His Talk: What Is My Mind without Me?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 2:48. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JQ0rt0izSzI.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: On the Views of Dolpopa, the 3rd Karmapa, and Different Views within the Kagyu School
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Views of Dolpopa, the 3rd Karmapa, and Different Views within the Kagyu School." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 5:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLF_ye2wOEg.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "On the Views of Dolpopa, the 3rd Karmapa, and Different Views within the Kagyu School." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 5:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLF_ye2wOEg.
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Karl Brunnhölzl: What Can We Learn from Buddha-Nature Teachings?
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "What Can We Learn from Buddha-Nature Teachings?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 2:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCS6hnWk1o4.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. "What Can We Learn from Buddha-Nature Teachings?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, February 26, 2022. Video, 2:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aCS6hnWk1o4.
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Lopon Karma Phuntso's Introduction to the Conference
Lopon Karma Phuntsho introduces the Buddha-Nature Conference by pointing out the auspicious circumstances for the event. The auspicious venue (གནས་ཕུན་སུམ་ཚོགས་པ་) is the glorious temple of Shechen monastery, next to the Bouddha Stūpa, where the three great figures of Padmasambhava, Trisong Detsen, and Śāntarakṣita are said to have made the first prayers to spread the Buddha's teachings in Tibet, and in a country where the Buddha was born. The auspicious time (དུས་ཕུན་སུམ་ཚོགས་པ་) is the holy fourth month in the Himalayan Buddhist calendar, the auspicious teachers (སྟོན་པ་ཕུན་སུམ་ཚོགས་པ་) are the brilliant khenpos, lopens, and geshes chosen by the Tibetan Buddhist leaders to represent their respective traditions, and the auspicious retinue (འཁོར་ཕུན་སུམ་ཚོགས་པ་) includes the great scholars and monks from Shechen and representatives from some 32 monastic centers in Kathmandu and the virtual audience from all over the world. The auspicious dharma (ཆོས་ཕུན་སུམ་ཚོགས་པ་) is buddha-nature, the essence of the ground, path, and fruition of the Mahāyāna spiritual system.

He then briefly explains the project of Tsadra Foundation to spread the Tibetan Buddhist message of wisdom and compassion across the globe and the five main programs carried out to this effect. The five programs include grants for the study and practice of Tibetan Buddhism, funding translations and scholarly work, support for Tibetan Buddhist publications, organizing conferences, trainings, and workshops, and building IT infrastructure and tools to promote Buddhist teachings. The buddha-nature website, which was launched in 2020, falls within the fifth program.

Having built the web resources, he explains that Tsadra hosted three scholarly events on buddha-nature: an academic conference in Vienna in 2019, an online conversation series with distinguished scholars and practitioners in 2020 (an ongoing series), and a panel on buddha-nature in Prague in 2022. These meetings and conversations were conducted in English. Seeing the great need to introduce the web resource to the Tibetan Buddhist centers in the Himalayas and to engage traditional scholars, the conference in Kathmandu was planned.

Furthermore, he explains why Tsadra built the buddha-nature web resource by citing the verse from the Ultimate Continuum in which Maitreya presents the five flaws which the buddha-nature teachings help overcome. First is the sense of diffidence and timidity to do good or seek enlightenment. He points out that people today, more than ever before, are stressed, confused, and mentally vulnerable. Many suffer from depression, struggle even to live their life, and engage in self-harm. The second is the problem of contempt toward other beings. Despite globalization and enhanced interaction through technological advancement, people still remain insular and biased, leading to serious contempt and mistreatment of others, who are perceived as inferior or less privileged. The third flaw is of holding onto the misconception. The world is rife with misinformation, fake news, and commercial and political deception, and most people are engrossed in what is vain and popular. They do not see the real or the truth, which is the fourth problem. People do not understand the theory of cause and effect and the importance of inner wellbeing, let alone the ultimate nature of reality. The fifth problem Maitreya points out is self-love or attachment to one's own creed, race, color, or group. Lopon Karma Phuntsho says that efforts to promote the teachings on buddha-nature is an attempt to overcome these problems by highlighting the point that all beings are by nature good and, in fact, are pure and compassionate like the Buddha.

He then goes on to describe how the presenters have been chosen by the leaders of the respective Tibetan Buddhist teachings, the mode of the presentations and discussions, and the schedule. He ends with a prayer that the teachings of buddha-nature reach far and wide and help people reveal their innate good nature.
Phuntsho, Karma. "Karma Phuntsho Introduction to the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 13:17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omyw-1iKEZQ.
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Karma Phuntsho: Buddha-Nature and Dying: Clear Light at the Point of Death
Phuntsho, Karma. "Buddha-Nature and Dying: Clear Light at the Point of Death." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 15:47. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3lOZAUfKi8.
Phuntsho, Karma. "Buddha-Nature and Dying: Clear Light at the Point of Death." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 15:47. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3lOZAUfKi8.
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Khenpo Dakpa Senge on Rongtön’s Understanding of Buddha-Nature
རོང་སྟོན་ཤེས་བྱ་ཀུན་རིག་གི་བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོའི་དགོངས་བཞེད།
Rongtön Sheja Kunrig’s Understanding of Buddha-Nature


Khenpo begins by stating that he will be mainly explaining the position of Rongton Sheja Kunrig, whose understanding of buddha-nature is further clarified by Gorampa Sonam Senge, although the two do not always completely concur. Explaining the Sanskrit words kulla and gotra, he highlights how without the Buddha element, or spiritual gene, it is not possible to wish for happiness and grow tired of suffering and seek the state of enlightenment. However, all sentient beings possess the buddha-nature, which Khenpo identifies as the union of emptiness and appearance.

The element, in the lower Buddhist philosophical schools, is considered as a conditioned seed for liberation. However, in the Mādhyamika school according to the Sakya tradition, buddha-nature is the union of the subtle intrinsic luminous nature of the consciousness and its ultimate nature, which is emptiness free from all elaborations. Khenpo lists the five positions on buddha-nature which Gorampa refuted, including the assertion that (1) buddha-nature is a nonimplicative negation, (2) there are two types of buddha-nature, one which is conditioned and the other which is unconditioned, (3) beings are without buddha-nature, (4) the two phases of buddha-nature are contradictory, and (5) buddha-nature is the truly existent intrinsic nature.

Khenpo further explains the difference between Rongton and Gorampa in explaining the verse presenting the three arguments for the presence of buddha-nature in all beings. This led to an intense discussion on whether one of the arguments is a sufficient reason on its own to prove the existence of buddha-nature in all beings or whether all three are required to make it a complete and valid argument.
Dakpa Senge, Khenpo. "Khenpo Dakpa Senge at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 1, Talk 4. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 57:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z18KEtcFI_o.
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Khenpo Dawa Tsering on Buddha-Nature in the Single Intent and Drikung Tradition
དམ་ཆོས་དགོངས་གཅིག་གཞིར་བཟུང་ནས་དཔལ་འབྲི་གུང་བཀའ་བརྒྱུད་པའི་བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོའི་དགོངས་བཞེད་བཤད་པ།
Explaining the Drigung Kagyu Understanding of Buddha-Nature Based on the Single Intent


Khenpo Dawa Tsering starts by mentioning how buddha-nature is a profound and difficult topic to fathom even by enlightened beings, and he can merely make an attempt. In his presentation, Khenpo presents the theory and practice of buddha-nature in the Drigung Kagyu tradition, primarily based on the two verses on buddha-nature found in the Single Intent of Drigung Kyobpa Jikten Gönpo. To put it in historical context, he shares that Jikten Sumgon lived in the 12th century and the Single Intent has since had commentaries written on it not only by Drigung masters but also by Kagyu and Nyingma masters.

Based on the Single Intent, he confirms that the Drigung understanding of buddha-nature aligns with the direct experiential meditative tradition rather than the inferential and exegetical tradition. Out of many verses comprising 150 points in the Single Intent, there are only two lines explicitly mentioning buddha-nature. Like the Kagyu and Nyingma schools, the Drigung school also accepts that buddha-nature has the sublime qualities of the Buddha latent in it. These sublime qualities are, however, obscured by the impurities, which do not really penetrate or contaminate the actual state of buddha-nature.

In this respect, the term glo bur, or adventitious, does not have a temporal connotation of something happening suddenly and temporarily. The impurities have been around since the beginning. Rather, the term refers to the removable or separable nature of the impurities which cover buddha-nature. Following the Kagyu tradition originating in Dvagpopa, or Gampopa Sonam Rinchen, the Drigung school asserts that buddha-nature avoids the problems of denial and exaggeration. Because buddha-nature is free from or empty of impurities, it avoids the problem of imposition or exaggeration. Because buddha-nature primordially possesses noble qualities, it avoids the problem of denial or rejection.

Buddha-nature endowed with all sublime qualities of enlightenment is presented as being unconditioned and eternal, and three names of the impure, partially pure, and fully pure are used to refer to it in three stages. Just like Devadatta is known as a gardener for gardening, cook while cooking, etc., buddha-nature is also given three different titles at three stages, although it is one and the same in its essence.

According to the Single Intent, the third wheel of dharma on buddha-nature is said to be clearly definitive, while the middle wheel is not fully definitive, as it also teaches emptiness which is a nominal ultimate. Khenpo also adds that the two truths are perspectives and not two different ontological states and that the sūtras often classed as Mind Only-sūtras are considered as ultimately Mādhyamika. Sūtras themselves cannot be classed as Mind Only or Middle Way sūtras. While the three wheels of dharma are considered as progressive teachings for a person to follow gradually, the Single Intent also claims that the three wheels of dharma differ in focus and emphasis and they share all aspects with varying stress.
Dawa Tsering, Khenpo. "Khenpo Dawa Tsering at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 2, Talk 2. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu, June 1–3. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 59:21. https://youtu.be/_TvzvS2GUt4.
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Khenpo Lhakpa Yeshi on Karma Kagyu Understanding of Buddha-Nature
མི་བསྐྱོད་རྡོ་རྗེའི་དགོངས་པ་ལྟར་སྒྲུབ་བརྒྱུད་ཀམ་ཚང་བཀའ་བརྒྱུད་ལ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་གི་བཞེད་ཚུལ།
Explaining the Karma Kagyu Understanding of Buddha-Nature through the 8th Karmapa Mikyo Dorje's Works


Khenpo starts with the claim that in the midst of the diverse interpretations of buddha-nature, the understanding of buddha-nature among the different Karmapa incarnations has been consistent. From among them, his presentation focuses on the theory of buddha-nature in the writings of the 8th Karmapa Mikyo Dorje. Mikyo Dorje, like many other Kagyu elders, considered Gampopa to have said that the text for our Mahāmudrā is the Ultimate Continuum of Buddha Maitreya.

According to Mikyo Dorje, the middle wheel and the final wheel teach buddha-nature, with middle wheel teaching the temporary definitive and the final wheel being the ultimate definitive point. Many sūtras and tantras present buddha-nature, but it is the Ultimate Continuum which contains a concise presentation of buddha-nature through ten aspects of its formulation. In his presentation, Khenpo lists six points for discussion:

1. The reasons for the presence of buddha-nature in all sentient beings
2. The characteristics of buddha-nature
3. Analogies to demonstrate how impurities obscure buddha-nature
4. Engaging in the path to cleanse the impurities obscuring buddha-nature
5. The purpose of buddha-nature teachings
6. The works of Mikyo Dorje on buddha-nature

Khenpo discusses the three reasons in the Ultimate Continuum and underscores that the sphere of reality and pristine wisdom are nondual, and when this becomes manifest, it is said that the dharmakāya radiates or becomes evident. The point about the reality of sentient beings and the Buddha being identical also refers to sentient beings possessing buddha-nature which is pure by nature and is not tainted by temporary afflictions.

Buddha-nature is eternal, permanent, unconditioned reality which transcends thought and mind. It possesses both the dharmakāya and its manifestations latent in its nature. Thus, Khenpo points out the unique position in Mikyo Dorje's writings that even the embodied forms of the buddha are active in sentient beings. He concludes by showing the Kagyu practice for revealing the buddha-nature and its qualities through nonmentation, nondistraction, and noncontrivance, by remaining in the ordinary awareness and natural state.
Lhakpa Yeshi, Khenpo. "Khenpo Lhakpa Yeshi at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 3, Talk 2. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 1:00:10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T68IhXlXet8.
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Khenpo Ngawang Jorden on Buddha-Nature and Gorampa’s Refutations
གོ་བོ་རབ་འབྱམས་པས་སྡོམ་གསུམ་ཁ་སྐོང་ལ་གསུངས་པའི་གཤེགས་སྙིང་གི་དགག་བཞག་སྐོར།
Gorampa's Refutations of Some Interpretations of Buddha-Nature


Khenpo starts by saying how the conference is a wonderful opportunity to get exposure to and learn from each other, unlike other times when we are mostly stuck within the individual systems. He also mentions that as a senior figure he is very encouraged by younger participants and pleased to learn that the general state of Buddhist scholarship is very strong and that everyone must strive for the greater welfare of Buddha's teachings. He says that the topics were distributed among three Sakya scholars. While his two colleagues chose to speak on Rongtön and Śākya Chokden, he chose to speak about Gorampa, on whom he also did his PhD dissertation, although he has not written anything in Tibetan.

The main topic of Khenpo’s presentation is Gorampa's work on Sakya Paṇḍita's Distinguishing Three Vows. Although called A Supplement to Distinguishing Three Vows, Khenpo explains that it is not really a supplement to add something to make the former text complete but rather a sequel to it in order to continue the discussion. Gorampa presents the text in the framework of ground, path, and result, of which the ground refers to buddha-nature.

Claiming to carry on the traditions of Nāgārjuna as well as Maitreya and Asaṅga, whose thoughts converge on the ultimate point, Gorampa identifies the ultimate point to be the unconditioned, luminous, constant, unceasing union. Thus, buddha-nature in Gorampa's view is the unconditioned union of emptiness and luminosity. Gorampa refutes other scholars who he thinks failed to understand the teachings on buddha-nature.

Khenpo explains the verses in Gorampa's work about the reason for composition. Khenpo reads out the passages showing Gorampa's reasons for the refutation. The teachings, according to Gorampa, were misinterpreted in the centuries following Sapan, and his main reason for the composition of the text is to clarify things and dispel the misunderstanding.

The opponents whom Gorampa refutes were not identified in his own work, but the names were given in another work entitled Blooming Lotus. Gorampa's first refutation is of the Jonangpa interpretation, which Khenpo says he has already presented in another conference in English. The second opponent is Gyaltshab Je, who has written a commentary on the Ultimate Continuum and is the main source for the Geluk understanding of buddha-nature. Gyaltshab asserted a nonimplicative negation of mere absence of inherent existence to be buddha-nature. Gorampa refutes this, saying that such negation cannot be the ground for spiritual practice, the path of practice, and the resultant state of the Buddha.

The second opponent is Śākya Chokden, and the third opponent who Gorampa refutes is Dratsepa Rinchen Namgyal, the student of Buton Rinchen Drub. Refuting the positions espoused by these scholars, Gorampa formulated a definition of buddha-nature as a union of emptiness and luminosity, which is unconditioned and permanent, but one which transcends the ordinary sense of permanence and impermanence. Khenpo's presentation generated a lively discussion on the nature of union and how the union can be seen as unconditioned and permanent if one aspect of it is the subtle form of conditioned impermanent consciousness.
Ngawang Jorden, Khenpo. "Khenpo Ngawang Jorden at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 3, Talk 3. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu, June 1–3. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 59:30. https://youtu.be/hpvslhxx1R0.
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Khenpo Ngawang Lodoe on the Understanding of Buddha-Nature among Nyingma Masters
ཀློང་ཆེན་པ་དང་མི་ཕམ་རྒྱ་མཚོ་སོགས་རྙིང་མ་བའི་གཤེགས་སྙིང་གི་དགོངས་བཞེད་བཤད་པ།
The Understanding of Buddha-Nature among Longchenpa, Mipam Gyatso, and other Nyingmapas


Khenpo Ngawang Lodoe delivers a presentation on buddha-nature in the Nyingma tradition following the works of Longchenpa and Mipam Namgyal Gyatso. Discussing verses from different sūtras on buddha-nature, Khenpo Ngawang Lodoe carries out the identification of the "element" or "spiritual gene" as a pure, clear, luminous, unadulterated, and unconditioned nature according to Longchenpa and Mipam Namgyal Gyatso. He discusses the reasoning and evidence provided by the Nyingma scholars to establish the universal presence of buddha-nature in all sentient beings.

In the course of his presentation, he mentions the theories of the fourfold correct cognition and the fourfold modes of validation. He highlights how dharmakāya, in the case of Nyingma understanding, is not a true result conditioned by and arising from impermanent causes but rather considered a result for becoming free from adventitious features due to the agency of the path. He also classifies the buddha-nature element into two types corresponding to the two types of Buddha bodies and argues that both the middle and the last turning of the wheel are teachings of definitive nature. He also points out in his closing remarks that the innate mind taught in the tantras is identical to buddha-nature taught in the sūtras.
Ngawang Lodoe, Khenpo. "Khenpo Ngawang Lodoe at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 1, Talk 1. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 56:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxmC6RjmKr8.
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Khenpo Ngawang Thokmey on Śākya Chokden’s Understanding of Buddha-Nature
ཤཱཀྱ་མཆོག་ལྡན་གྱི་བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོའི་དགོངས་པ་བཞེས་ཚུལ་ཐུན་མོང་མིན་པ།
Śākya Chokden’s Unique Understanding of Buddha-Nature


Stating that his presentation will be on Śākya Chokden, Khenpo gives a brief introduction to the figure of Śākya Chokden, who was a brilliant scholar with many unique interpretations and explanations of many topics. Although a Sakyapa, he posed questions about some points made by Sakya Paṇḍita in his Distinguishing Three Vows. This spurred an explanation from other Sakya scholars, which led to much greater clarity in understanding this work and the issues it raised.

Regarding buddha-nature, Śākya Chokden held a very unique position in the Indo-Tibetan Buddhist world, asserting that buddha-nature, or tathāgatagarbha, is synonymous with buddha and that it is only fully present in the state of buddhahood. Buddha-nature is equivalent to resultant dharmakāya according to Śākya Chokden, and it exists only after someone reaches the stage of being a sublime being on the Mahāyāna path. Khenpo points out that Śākya Chokden also argued that buddha-nature is a conscious awareness or cognition, not a mere emptiness which is a non-implicative negation.

In connection to buddha-nature, Śākya Chokden also argued that the False Aspectarian school is not part of the Mind Only school but rather a Middle Way school. Śākya Chokden saw Nāgārjuna as highlighting the rangtong view and Maitreya as underscoring the zhentong system, and they are ultimately the same. He took the five writings of Maitreya as texts propounding Middle Way thought. Among twenty-four volumes of his writings, he has four commentaries on the Ornament of Realization in which he discusses buddha-nature in the section on gotra, or spiritual gene.

Śākya Chokden was emphatic in claiming that sentient beings do not possess buddha-nature, as buddha-nature is the sphere of reality which is endowed with inseparable qualities such as ten powers, and such qualities cannot coexist with the impurities of the ordinary beings. He argued that the three reasons presented by Maitreya only proves that sentient beings have the possibility to attain buddha-nature, not that they already have it. He rejects buddha-nature being a non-implicative negation and asserts that the final wheel shows buddha-nature fully, while the first and middle wheels only help overcome the clinging to self.
Ngawang Thokmey, Khenpo. "Khenpo Ngawang Thokmey at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 2, Talk 3. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu, June 1–3. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 57:07. https://youtu.be/gGPwGKD0VFY.
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Khenpo Sherab Phuntsho on Application of Buddha-Nature in Kagyu Tradition
སྒྲུབ་བརྒྱུད་ཀམ་ཚང་བཀའ་བརྒྱུད་དུ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་སྐོར་དགོངས་བཞེད་དང་ཉམས་བཞེས་སྐོར།
Understanding and Application of Buddha-Nature in the Karma Kagyu Tradition


Khenpo gives a clear explanation of the buddha-nature as understood in the Karma Kagyu tradition based on the teachings on the 3rd Karmapa Rangjung Dorje. He breaks down his presentation into three parts:

1. Literature on buddha-nature in Kagyu tradition in general and the Karma Kagyu subschool in particular
2. Rangjung Dorje's formulation of buddha-nature through 15 distinct points
3. The practical application of buddha-nature.

Khenpo skips the detailed listing of the works on buddha-nature in the Kagyu tradition, which he lists in his long article. Explaining Rangjung Dorje's formulation of buddha-nature, Khenpo says that Rangjung Dorje is a leading voice on buddha-nature, final wheel and tantras, and perhaps the first Tibetan to compose independent texts on buddha-nature, with his Treatise on Tathāgata Heart and Distinguishing Consciousness and Pristine Wisdom. He also wrote his commentary on Nāgārjuna's In Praise of Dharmadhātu, which mainly discusses the buddha-element. Although the writings of many later scholars such as Longchenpa, Jonangpa, et. al., are similar to Rangjung Dorje's understanding, he stands out as a clear and pioneering Tibetan thinker on buddha-nature.

Rangjung Dorje presents a clear definition of buddha-nature as possessing four characteristics of a union: indivisibility of emptiness and appearance like a reflection of the moon in water, indivisibility of emptiness and luminosity like a reflection in a mirror, indivisibility of emptiness and awareness like a rainbow, and indivisibility of emptiness and bliss like the taste of mute person. The definition is further clarified by his disciple Sherab Rinchen. Buddha-nature is thus the luminous nature of mind which has these four characteristics of union and is the natural ordinary consciousness.

Khenpo explains that Rangjung Dorje accepted both middle wheel and final wheel as definitive and concurring on the same point that is buddha-nature. Buddha-nature is the reality, ultimate truth, and dharmakāya. It is the ground for all existence, eternal, permanent, and unconditioned. It is pure by nature and not stained by impurities, but it is obscured by temporary impurities which do not corrupt its nature. Such buddha-nature is emptiness free from conceptual and linguistic elaborations. It is the innate mind or ground tantra taught in the tantric literature.

Explaining how the various Buddhist schools of thought view phenomena such as a flower or vase, Khenpo explains that the great middle way of zhentong is the ultimate way of grasping the nature of the flower as being identical with the nature of the mind. A flower is a projection of the mind, and the mind, by nature, is not only empty but also luminous, and it is the union of luminosity and emptiness which forms the ultimate truth. In this respect, Khenpo points out that there is nothing so surprising or unacceptable in seeing a vase, flower, or other objects as possessing buddha-nature. He elaborates the 15 points to demonstrate the essence of buddha-nature.
Sherab Phuntsho, Khenpo. "Khenpo Sherab Phuntsho at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video,
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Khenpo Tenpa Tshering on Three Wheels and Buddha-Nature in Nyingma Tradition
སྔ་འགྱུར་རྙིང་མ་བའི་བཀའ་འཁོར་ལོ་གསུམ་དང་གཤེགས་སྙིང་གི་དགོངས་བཞེད།
Nyingma Interpretation of the Three Wheels and Buddha-Nature


Buddha-nature is a central topic in the Nyingma tradition and very important for study and practice. Of the two transmissions of Maitreya's works, i.e. of the intellectual exegetical transmission based on inferential understanding passed down from Ngok Lotsāwa and the mystical meditative transmission based on direct experience passed down from Tsen Khawoche, the Nyingma tradition is more aligned to the latter tradition. Of the two schools of thought focusing on luminosity or emptiness, Khenpo explains that the Nyingma tradition puts equal emphasis on both aspects of reality. The emptiness aspect of buddha-nature is taught in the middle wheel and the luminosity of buddha-nature is taught explicitly in the final wheel of dharma. Although the middle wheel presents luminosity, it does not do so explicitly or in detail. For this reason, both the middle wheel and the final wheel of dharma are considered as definitive in the Nyingma tradition.

Although Longchenpa does not clearly state that the middle wheel is definitive, this can be inferred from his words. In his Treasury of Wish Fulfilling Jewel, Longchenpa explains how buddha-nature is also free from all elaborations in the ultimate sense. In his commentary on the Relaxation in the Nature of Mind, Longchenpa also explains how the buddha-nature teachings are definitive as buddha-nature is the ultimate truth and all other phenomena are illusory.

The theory of buddha-nature being empty of its nature, or rangtong, is presented in the context of two truths of emptiness and appearance. In this context, the Middle Wheel focusing on the concept of emptiness is the definitive teaching and buddha-nature, like all phenomena, lacks true existence. Thus, it is empty. However, in the context of the two truths of ontic existence and appearance associated with the Final Wheel, buddha-nature is presented as the ultimate. Thus, the final wheel is considered as the definitive teaching. Some sūtras such as the Laṅkāvatāra, which present the philosophical position of Mind Only, are, however, not considered definitive.

Khenpo then mentions that the presentation of this nature of buddha-nature which is the union of emptiness and luminosity varies from sūtra to tantra. What is emptiness and luminosity in the sūtra system is presented as purity and equality in Mahāyoga, Samantabhadra and Samantabhadri in Anuyoga and primordial purity and spontaneity in Atiyoga. The luminosity presented in these systems refers to the Buddha's pristine wisdom and not to any state of the ordinary mind. Ordinary mental states are impure, illusory, deceptive, and not worthy of being objects of refuge. The luminous nature is Buddha's pristine wisdom which is eternal and unconditioned. Such buddha-nature also has all the sublime qualities of the Buddha, including the three bodies. However, the three bodies latent in buddha-nature refer to the emptiness, luminosity, and nonduality and should not be understood as the Buddha bodies perceived by sentient beings.

In the state of buddhahood, all ordinary senses of individuality and phenomena are exhausted. That is why the state of ultimate enlightenment is called chos zad, or exhaustion of phenomena, in the Nyingma tradition. Only the latent sublime qualities of the Buddha remain.
Tenpa Tshering, Khenpo. "Khenpo Tenpa Tshering at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 2, Talk 1. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu, June 1–3. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 55:10. https://youtu.be/ucNg5N6E5JQ.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: How Do We Balance Practice and Study in Our Lives?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "How Do We Balance Practice and Study in Our Lives?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 3:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTQ2jzVW2c0.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "How Do We Balance Practice and Study in Our Lives?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 3:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTQ2jzVW2c0.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: How Does the Nyingma Tradition Think of Buddha-Nature in Terms of Practice?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "How Does the Nyingma Tradition Think of Buddha-Nature in Terms of Practice?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 6:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ65ZOudwQg.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "How Does the Nyingma Tradition Think of Buddha-Nature in Terms of Practice?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 6:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ65ZOudwQg.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: How Is Buddha-Nature Presented in the Nyingma Tradition?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "How Is Buddha-Nature Presented in the Nyingma Tradition?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 10:08. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcR3oQoV3xI.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "How Is Buddha-Nature Presented in the Nyingma Tradition?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 10:08. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcR3oQoV3xI.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: Is It Possible to Experience Buddha-Nature outside of an Ārya's Meditative Equipoise?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "Is It Possible to Experience Buddha-Nature outside of an Ārya's Meditative Equipoise?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 1:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptLQfN9gcws.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "Is It Possible to Experience Buddha-Nature outside of an Ārya's Meditative Equipoise?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 1:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptLQfN9gcws.
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Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: On Candrakīrti and Nāgārjuna and Why They Emphasized Emptiness over Clarity
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "On Candrakīrti and Nāgārjuna and Why They Emphasized Emptiness over Clarity." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 5:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv3ZPHXyXVA.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "On Candrakīrti and Nāgārjuna and Why They Emphasized Emptiness over Clarity." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 5:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sv3ZPHXyXVA.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: On His First Encounter with the Teachings of Buddha-Nature
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "On His First Encounter with the Teachings of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 5:34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8-DV14nDNo.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "On His First Encounter with the Teachings of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 5:34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B8-DV14nDNo.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: On the Difference between the Hindu Notion of Ātman and the Nyingma Understanding of Tathāgatagarbha
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "On the Difference between the Hindu Notion of Ātman and the Nyingma Understanding of Tathāgatagarbha." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 6:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMXR_Sy6wno.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "On the Difference between the Hindu Notion of Ātman and the Nyingma Understanding of Tathāgatagarbha." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 6:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMXR_Sy6wno.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: On the Position of Mipam vis-à-vis the Rang stong and Gzhan stong Debate
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "On the Position of Mipam vis-à-vis the Rang stong and Gzhan stong Debate." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 4:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rni74KUZDzc.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "On the Position of Mipam vis-à-vis the Rang stong and Gzhan stong Debate." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 4:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rni74KUZDzc.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: Pot Is Not Empty of Pot, but Empty of Inherent Existence. What Is the Fault in This Statement?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "Pot Is Not Empty of Pot, but Empty of Inherent Existence. What Is the Fault in This Statement?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 4:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxxzbfGENNc.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "Pot Is Not Empty of Pot, but Empty of Inherent Existence. What Is the Fault in This Statement?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 4:59. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxxzbfGENNc.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: What Advice Would You Give to Students Who Don't Have the Luxury of Going to a Shedra?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "What Advice Would You Give to Students Who Don't Have the Luxury of Going to a Shedra?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 4:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gK_w0v9DfU.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "What Advice Would You Give to Students Who Don't Have the Luxury of Going to a Shedra?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 4:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gK_w0v9DfU.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: What Books, Programs, or Retreats Would You Recommend to Others?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "What Books, Programs, or Retreats Would You Recommend to Others?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 2:54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toRzUpKSeY4.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "What Books, Programs, or Retreats Would You Recommend to Others?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 2:54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toRzUpKSeY4.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: What Inspired Figures Like Khenpo Shenga and Mipam to Embrace a Sūtra Perspective?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "What Inspired Figures Like Khenpo Shenga and Mipam to Embrace a Sūtra Perspective?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 6:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngiFR0svasM.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "What Inspired Figures Like Khenpo Shenga and Mipam to Embrace a Sūtra Perspective?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 6:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngiFR0svasM.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: What Is Our True Nature?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "What Is Our True Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 2:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VADRmkaaRdk.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "What Is Our True Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 2:52. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VADRmkaaRdk.
Video
Khenpo Tenzin Norgay: When One Gets a Glimpse of Buddha-Nature, Does It Require Effort to Sustain It?
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "When One Gets a Glimpse of Buddha-Nature, Does It Require Effort to Sustain It?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 2:26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsHsKLBxBuE.
Norgay, Khenpo Tenzin. "When One Gets a Glimpse of Buddha-Nature, Does It Require Effort to Sustain It?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 30, 2022. Video, 2:26. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsHsKLBxBuE.
Video
Khenpo Tshewang Sonam on Application of Buddha-Nature in the Nyingma Tradition
རྙིང་མ་དང་རྫོགས་ཆེན་ལ་བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོའི་བཞེད་ཚུལ་དང་ཉམས་བཞེས།
The Understanding and Application of Buddha-Nature in the Nyingma and Dzogchen Tradition


Khenpo starts by thanking the participants, organizers, and attendees for the wonderful gathering and for the hard work to spread the teachings on buddha-nature by hosting this conference. A real patron of Buddhist teachings, he says, is one who supports critical thinking and the promotion of wisdom through such programes and not just someone who sponsors rituals and prayers. He then discusses the concept of gotra, or family/clan, based on activities and based on causes or reasons. He highlightes how the participants gather together as one family, sharing the buddha-nature, and that everyone should cultivate a kindred spirit instead of seeing differences based on region, nationality, gender, status, etc.

Delving into the buddha-nature theories, Khenpo explains that the middle wheel teaches buddha-nature with the nomenclature of the Perfection of Wisdom and the final wheel discusses it as tathāgatagarbha. In the tantric teachings we find other names such as innate mind, Mahāmudrā, and Great Perfection used to refer to buddha-nature. Citing the line from the Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines, he explains what mind, the nonexistence of the mind, and luminous nature of mind refer to. In an ecumenical spirit, he argues that what the Geluk considered as the absence of inherent existence and the Nyingma and other schools as the lack of any foundation refer to the same point of not finding an entity as they appear when thoroughly searched for their existence. Thus, despite the difference in word and presentation, he argues that the different interpretations of buddha-nature in different schools reach the same point.

He also shares that in studying buddha-nature, there is the exegetical intellectual approach and the practical instructional approach to buddha-nature. The difference between sūtra and tantric approaches to buddha-nature also ends when one attains the path of seeing, because at this stage the meditator directly experiences reality or buddha-nature whether the person followed the sūtra or tantric path. At this stage, the practitioner has actualized the actual luminosity through direct perception.

Such direct experience of pure, clear, unperturbed, unconditioned luminosity or buddha-nature is cultivated through intellectual and contemplative meditation in the sūtra system, through the practice of channels and vital energy in father tantras, and through seminal fluid practices and so forth in the mother tantras. However, in the Dzogchen system of the Nyingma, no contrived efforts are made, but buddha-nature is actualized through resting in the natural state, like allowing water to settle down or the sky to be free from clouds. By using the skillful postures and gazes and leveraging the practices of visions and light rays in the transcendent practice of todgyal, one unravels the buddha-nature from within one's heart.
Tshewang Sonam, Khenpo. "Khenpo Tshewang Sonam at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 3, Talk 1. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu, June 1–3. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 1:04:45. https://youtu.be/FVvbqVoj7Mc.
Video
Khenpo Tsultrim Norbu on Buddha-Nature among Mipam Gyatso and his Students
མི་ཕམ་རྒྱ་མཚོ་སློབ་བརྒྱུད་བཅས་པའི་བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོའི་བཞེད་ཚུལ།
The Understanding of Buddha-Nature by Mipam Gyatso, His Students, and Scholars on Mipam


Khenpo starts his presentation by discussing the transmission of buddha-nature literature, particularly the Ultimate Continuum, to Tibet. Khenpo suspects that Mipam Gyatso might have considered the Ultimate Continuum and Distinguishing Phenomena and Their Nature to have been translated during the early diffusion of the dharma in the late eighth and early ninth century. This is different from the general claim that the Ultimate Continuum reached Tibet only in the later diffusion after Maitrīpa revealed it from a stūpa in the 11th century. It is likely that Mipam used the mention of the five treatises of Maitreya in Ugyen Lingpa's kathang biography of Guru Rinpoche as the main reason for this.

Khenpo then explains how Mipam saw the five works of Maitreya in terms of their doxographical affiliation, which Mipam explains in his commentary on Distinguishing Phenomena and Their Nature. Although Mipam takes the Ultimate Continuum, the main classic on buddha-nature, to be Mādhyamika in its ultimate purport, he does not mention whether it is aligned to Prāsaṅgika or Svātantrika Mādhyamika. It appears he considered it as a primary or root text (gzhung phyi mo) of the Mādhyamikas. The students of Mipam, including Zhechen Gyaltsab, Bodpa Trulku, Kaḥthog Situ, and Kunzang Palden also carried on his interpretation and understanding of the Ultimate Continuum as a Mādhyamika text, some classifying it as a text of the Prāsaṅgika school.

Discussing Mipam's understanding of buddha-nature, Khenpo states that Mipam did not accept buddha-nature to be mere emptiness as the Gelukpas accepted it or a truly established entity as some Tibetan scholars taught. He says Mipam considered buddha-nature to be empty because it is negated by the ultimate analysis. Yet, on the highest conventional level, buddha-nature exists latent in all sentient beings with all the sublime qualities of the Buddha. Thus, in this context, buddha-nature is empty of other afflictive emotions and impurities but not of the sublime qualities which are innate traits of buddha-nature. Before Mipam, Rongzom focused on the emptiness aspect of buddha-nature and Longchenpa on the luminosity of the nature of the mind. Mipam sought a balanced presentation, resulting in the union of emptiness and luminosity.

While Mipam's position may be considered to be rangtong because he asserted the lack of the true self-existence of buddha-nature, he also defended the zhentong position, leading many modern scholars to mistakenly think he is an adherent of the zhentong tradition. Khenpo Tsultrim Norbu explores the position of Mipam in his various writings, of his disciples, and also of the modern scholars who work on Mipam.
Tsultrim Norbu, Khenpo. "Khenpo Tsultrim Norbu at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 2, Talk 6. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 58:51. https://youtu.be/7_Exz6x36lw.
Interview
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.
Video
Klaus-Dieter Mathes: Tibetan Traditions of Buddha-Nature in the Light of Its Complex Indian Background
Mathes, Klaus-Dieter. "Tibetan Traditions of Buddha-Nature in the Light of Its Complex Indian Background." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 20:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT6-yMGKrdA.
Mathes, Klaus-Dieter. "Tibetan Traditions of Buddha-Nature in the Light of Its Complex Indian Background." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 20:27. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VT6-yMGKrdA.
Video
Lama Palden Drolma: A Guided Tonglen Meditation Practice
Drolma, Lama Palden. "A Guided Tonglen Meditation Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 15:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf4VmQ6eQcI.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "A Guided Tonglen Meditation Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 15:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wf4VmQ6eQcI.
Video
Lama Palden Drolma: Is Buddha-Nature a Teaching That Is Universal?
Drolma, Lama Palden. "Is Buddha-Nature a Teaching That Is Universal?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 4:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMxLlbsnyZQ.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "Is Buddha-Nature a Teaching That Is Universal?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 4:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMxLlbsnyZQ.
Video
Lama Palden Drolma: On Bringing Tonglen Practice to New Audiences
Drolma, Lama Palden. On "Bringing Tonglen Practice to New Audiences." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 6:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c6UNBP3yAg.
Drolma, Lama Palden. On "Bringing Tonglen Practice to New Audiences." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 6:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_c6UNBP3yAg.
Video
Lama Palden Drolma: On Doing Tonglen Practice for Oneself
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Doing Tonglen Practice for Oneself." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 5:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vx6RYW55MQ.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Doing Tonglen Practice for Oneself." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 5:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vx6RYW55MQ.
Video
Lama Palden Drolma: On Her First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Her First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 6:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ZRuxvQRdQ.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Her First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 6:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6ZRuxvQRdQ.
Video
Lama Palden Drolma: On Incorporating Vajrayana Practices into a Therapeutic Setting
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Incorporating Vajrayana Practices into a Therapeutic Setting." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 5:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVZtWqLMOE8.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Incorporating Vajrayana Practices into a Therapeutic Setting." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 5:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVZtWqLMOE8.
Video
Lama Palden Drolma: On Narcissism
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Narcissism." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 2:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4-lgGEw5pk.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Narcissism." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 2:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4-lgGEw5pk.
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Lama Palden Drolma: On Pharmaceuticals
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Pharmaceuticals." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 3:42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RIcd-z0QlI.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On Pharmaceuticals." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 3:42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0RIcd-z0QlI.
Video
Lama Palden Drolma: On The Meaning of Vajrayana and Deity Practice
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On The Meaning of Vajrayana and Deity Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 2:35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnThhCzPHII.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On The Meaning of Vajrayana and Deity Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 2:35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnThhCzPHII.
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Lama Palden Drolma: On the Relationship between Tonglen and Buddha-Nature
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On the Relationship between Tonglen and Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 7:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oFJwIe3YTw.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On the Relationship between Tonglen and Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 7:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5oFJwIe3YTw.
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Lama Palden Drolma: On the Shangpa Kagyu Tradition
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On the Shangpa Kagyu Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 8:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmOphVCSuhE.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On the Shangpa Kagyu Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 8:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmOphVCSuhE.
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Lama Palden Drolma: On the Sukhasiddhi Foundation
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On the Sukhasiddhi Foundation." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 2:20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlFtv8xBeI8.
Drolma, Lama Palden. "On the Sukhasiddhi Foundation." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 27, 2021. Video, 2:20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SlFtv8xBeI8.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Buddha-Nature and the Divine
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Buddha-Nature and the Divine." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 7:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP_GgoGx93c.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Buddha-Nature and the Divine." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 7:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uP_GgoGx93c.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Explaining the Shentong View to Beginners
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Explaining the Shentong View to Beginners." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 4:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljsT8T_moMs.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Explaining the Shentong View to Beginners." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 4:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljsT8T_moMs.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Her Approach to Teaching about the Process of Death and Dying
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Approach to Teaching about the Process of Death and Dying." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 7:35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnrBeUZcj_Y.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Approach to Teaching about the Process of Death and Dying." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 7:35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnrBeUZcj_Y.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Her Approach to the Guru Principle
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Approach to the Guru Principle." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 4:21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh5h7wBlupg.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Approach to the Guru Principle." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 4:21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jh5h7wBlupg.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Her Approach to the Maṇḍala Principle and Its Relationship to Buddha-Nature
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Approach to the Maṇḍala Principle and Its Relationship to Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 5:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zagovCGDdOI.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Approach to the Maṇḍala Principle and Its Relationship to Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 5:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zagovCGDdOI.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Her Approach to the Rangtong and Shentong Debate over the Nature of Reality
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Approach to the Rangtong and Shentong Debate over the Nature of Reality." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 20:36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzkQPncAK4k.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Approach to the Rangtong and Shentong Debate over the Nature of Reality." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 20:36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzkQPncAK4k.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Her Name "Shenpen" and Her First Impressions of the Buddha-Nature Teachings
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Name 'Shenpen' and Her First Impressions of the Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 4:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaJ2LkoVxYI.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Her Name 'Shenpen' and Her First Impressions of the Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 4:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NaJ2LkoVxYI.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On How the Prajñāpāramitā Tradition Promotes a Shentong View
Hookham, Shenpen. "On How the Prajñāpāramitā Tradition Promotes a Shentong View." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 7:34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_PmssfhzsM.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On How the Prajñāpāramitā Tradition Promotes a Shentong View." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 7:34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_PmssfhzsM.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Putting Buddha-Nature into Practice at the Awakened Heart Sangha
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Putting Buddha-Nature into Practice at the Awakened Heart Sangha." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 2:03. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDwOrxmB_t0.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Putting Buddha-Nature into Practice at the Awakened Heart Sangha." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 2:03. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDwOrxmB_t0.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Totality and the Analytical Approach
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Totality and the Analytical Approach." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 9:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYrjfgxHd8E.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Totality and the Analytical Approach." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 9:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mYrjfgxHd8E.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On Working with Resistance in Practice
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Working with Resistance in Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 2:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOarwmp4l38.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On Working with Resistance in Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 2:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOarwmp4l38.
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Lama Shenpen Hookham: On the Expectations of Western Students
Hookham, Shenpen. "On the Expectations of Western Students." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 4:16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox7TYy4ozt4.
Hookham, Shenpen. "On the Expectations of Western Students." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, July 30, 2022. Video, 4:16. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ox7TYy4ozt4.
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Longchenpa's View of Buddha-Nature by Wulstan Fletcher
Wulstan Fletcher discusses the unique way in which Longchenpa (1308-1364) approaches the topic of buddha-nature in his writings. Here he describes Longchenpa's language as somewhat difficult to understand, given his often poetic manner of expression. Furthermore, he also talks about the manner in which Longchenpa combines the second and third turning of the wheel of the Dharma and how he sees them as inseparable. Always speaking from the point of view of the Great Perfection (Dzogchen), Lonchenpa's approach was one that would influence later Nyingmapa thinkers such as Mipham Rinpoche.
Fletcher, Wulstan. “Longchenpa's View of Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 9, 2019. Video, 7:06. https://youtu.be/JOTrcR3gndI.
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Lopen Damcho Dorji on Buddha-Nature in Drukpa Kagyu Tradition
འབྲུག་པ་དཀར་བརྒྱུད་ལ་བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོའི་དགོངས་བཞེད་ཉམས་ལེན་སྐོར།
On Understanding and Practice of Buddha-Nature in Drukpa Kagyu Tradition


Explaining the concept of spiritual gene, or gotra, in the Madhyamaka tradition in general through citations from sūtras and commentarial literature, Lopen Damcho Dorji presents Buddha-Nature in the Drukpa Kagyu school, particularly as found in the writings of Pema Karpo, as the sphere of reality which is the emptiness free from all elaborations, specifically the emptiness of the mental consciousness. Pema Karpo, he explains, considers an emptiness transcending all extremes of existence, nonexistence, both, and neither to be buddha-nature and not a mere negation of true existence.

Pema Karpo also asserted that both the naturally present spiritual gene and the acquired spiritual gene are in reality the unconditioned innate reality, given different names for being totally obscured or partially obscured. While the naturally present spiritual gene exists in all beings, the acquired spiritual gene, or the spiritual gene which has some of its obscuration removed, is only associated with the sublime Mahāyāna beings. Lopen Damcho Dorji also points out that buddha-nature in the Drukpa Kagyu tradition is not an emptiness which is a mere nonimplicative negation but rather an emptiness endowed with all qualities because the buddha-nature of sentient beings is not different from that of the Buddha. Such buddha-nature or emptiness endowed with all qualities is then only realized by Mahāyāna saints and not by other beings, as they possess the four types of defilements which obscure the buddha-nature. He goes on to discuss how the conceptual mind by nature is the dharmakāya, or the gnosis of the Buddha, according to the Kagyu tradition.
Damcho Dorji, Lopen. "Lopen Damcho Dorji at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 1, Talk 3. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 1:02:54. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYCweSM0sX8.
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Lopen Dawa Zangpo on Buddha-Nature in Jonang and Nine Characteristics
དཔལ་ཇོ་ནང་པའི་གཤེགས་སྙིང་གི་དགོངས་ཚུལ་དགུའི་སྒོ་ནས་བཤད་པ།
Explaining the Understanding of Buddha-Nature in the Jonang Tradition through Nine Characteristics


Starting his presentation with a prayer of homage to Dolpopa, Lopen Dawa Zangpo explains how the buddha-nature has been received via Nāgārjuna and Asaṅga and their followers, who interpreted the buddha-nature sūtras. In this context, he clarifies that in the Jonang tradition, which holds the buddha-nature teachings, the first turning of the wheel of dharma showed buddha-nature without any clarity, the second turning showed buddha-nature with partial clarity, and the third turning showed buddha-nature with full clarity. Thus, the Jonang tradition highlights how the third turning is the definitive teaching.

In continuation of the presentation of buddha-nature as an eternal, permanent, absolute, and innate nature which is endowed with all the sublime qualities of enlightenment, he clarifies the sūtras which teach this doctrine. Explaining the etymology of buddha-nature, he explains that the term garbha implies the possession of all qualities, the term hṛdaya indicates the supreme and ultimate true nature of buddha-nature while other phenomena are illusory and deceptive, and the term sāra refers to the stability, firmness, and immutability of buddha-nature.

Lopen Dawa went on to explain the Jonangpa understanding of buddha-nature with nine characteristics.

1. Buddha-nature is permanent as it involves no birth, abiding and ceasing. What exists as an object of conceptual thought is impermanent and what is a realm of non-conceptuality is permanent and eternal.
2. Buddha-nature is all pervasive or immanent. It permeates all phenomena as the ultimate true nature.
3. Buddha-nature is self-awareness as it is open and luminous awareness or the consciousness of the ultimate truth.
4. Buddha-nature is diverse in its aspects as the ultimate truth can manifest in myriad expressions.
5. Buddha-nature is free from all elaborations of existence, non-existence, etc. and transcends all points of fixation.
6. Buddha-nature is stainless and pristine as it is not stained or polluted by the adventitious impurities even at the stage of sentient beings.
7. Buddha-nature is a union of emptiness and non-emptiness, i.e. emptiness of what is imputed and dependent, and non-empty of the absolute truth.
8. Buddha-nature is the spiritual gene or seed which exists in all sentient beings and serves as the basis of enlightenment.

9. Buddha-nature is the element or core nature of all beings.
Dawa Zangpo, Lopen. "Lopen Dawa Zangpo at the 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference." Day 2, Talk 4. 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu, June 1–3. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 57:55. https://youtu.be/MEDBfnEFK0g.
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Lopon Karma Phuntso's Introduction of Kyoton's Life and Works
Khenpo Gyurme Tshultrim and Lopon Karma Phuntsho launch the new book The Life and Works of Kyotön Monlam Tsultrim (སྐྱོ་སྟོན་སྨོན་ལམ་ཚུལ་ཁྲིམས་ཀྱི་མཛད་རྣམ་དང་གསུང་རྩོམ།). Following the formal release, Lopon Karma Phuntsho presents the account of why and how the book was created. The original texts, he shares, are in dbu med manuscript and were discovered about twenty years ago in the Nechu temple of Drepung monastery in Tibet. The texts are in volumes 50 and 61 of the Collection of Kadam Writings published by Paltsek Bodyig Penying Zhibjugkhang. The original texts, which are in archaic and difficult dbu med script with many abbreviations, were rendered in modern computer typeset so as to make the writings easily available to all Tibetan readers.

The book contains 32 works, including 30 titles attributed to Kyotön Monlam Tshultrim, one biography of Kyotön by his student, and a long introduction by the editor in English. He mentions how some titles from the two volumes from Drepung were excluded from this book, as they appear to be by other authors. He also explains the significance of Narthang and the early Kadam tradition for buddha-nature studies and how Kyotön lived at an interesting period of Tibetan religious history. The interest to publish the writings of this master came about as Kyotön has written several short and interesting works related to buddha-nature, which present the meditative tradition of Maitreya's teachings passed down from Tsen Khawoche.

The typeset was created and the layout and design done by the staff of Loden Foundation, which published the book with funding from Tsadra Foundation.
Karma Phuntsho. "Lopon Karma Phuntso's Introduction of Kyoton's Life and Works." 2023 Buddha-Nature Conference, Shechen Monastery, Kathmandu. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video,
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Maitripa: India's Yogi of Nondual Bliss by Klaus-Dieter Mathes
Klaus-Dieter Mathes and Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho discuss Mathes's new book "Maitripa: India's Yogi of Nondual Bliss", which has been published by Shambhala Publications.

Drawing on Maitripa’s autobiographical writings and literary work, this book is the first comprehensive portrait of the life and teachings of this influential Buddhist master. Klaus-Dieter Mathes also offers the first complete English translation of his teachings on nonconceptual realization, which is the foundation of Mahamudra meditation.
Mathes, Klaus-Dieter. "Maitripa: India's Yogi of Nondual Bliss." A book launch event hosted by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 1, 2021. Video, 1:11:02. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyLEwfwgbdc.
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On Buddha-Nature and Emptiness by Douglas Duckworth
Douglas Duckworth discusses the concept of buddha-nature vis-a-vis the notion of emptiness.
Duckworth, Douglas. "On Buddha-Nature and Emptiness." Interview by Alex Gardner. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 20, 2018. Video, 6:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuTyzVZH8S8.
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On Buddha-Nature as a Topic of Debate by Tokpa Tenpa
Continuing his discussion of the curriculum at Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling, Tokpa Tulku explains that buddha-nature can be a part of debate. However, it is a much more difficult topic than attempting to debate the topic of emptiness. The difficulty lies in the fact that buddha-nature is beyond one's experience.
Tokpa Tulku. “On Buddha-Nature as a Topic of Debate.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 22, 2019. Video, 2:32. https://youtu.be/nio3b9t9PMY.
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On Chapter 1 Verse 28 of the Uttaratantra by Karl Brunnhölzl
Karl Brunnhölzl, author of When the Clouds Part, discusses chapter 1 verse 28 of the Uttaratantrashastra, the famous verse in this text which talks about the three reasons all sentient beings have buddha-nature.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “On Chapter 1 Verse 28 of the Uttaratantra.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 5:50. https://youtu.be/6ZTHfbtX5Z8.
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On Hakamaya Noriaki and Matsumoto Shiro's Criticism of Tathāgatagarbha by Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson
Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson discuss the criticisms laid out by Hakamaya Noriaki and Matsumoto Shiro with respect to the doctrine of buddha-nature, or Tathāgatagarbha.
Hubbard, Jamie, and Paul Swanson. "On Hakamaya Noriaki and Matsumoto Shiro's Criticism of Tathāgatagarbha." Interview by Marcus Perman, Alex Gardner, and José Cabezón. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 2018. Video, 4:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-ceLJnM8hM.
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On Hakamaya Noriaki and Matsumoto Shiro's Doctrinal Positions, the Japanese Response, and the Legacy of Critical Buddhism by Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson
Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson discuss Hakamaya Noriaki and Matsumoto Shiro's doctrinal positions, the Japanese response, and the legacy of Critical Buddhism.
Hubbard, Jamie, and Paul Swanson. "On Hakamaya Noriaki and Matsumoto Shiro's Doctrinal Positions, the Japanese Response, and the Legacy of Critical Buddhism." Interview by Marcus Perman, Alex Gardner, and José Cabezón. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 2018. Video, 12:20. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmpBqnXso_s.
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On His Book When the Clouds Part by Karl Brunnhölzl
Karl Brunnhölzl discusses his motivation for writing his book on the Uttaratantra called When the Clouds Part and how the project took shape.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “On His Book When the Clouds Part.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 4:12. https://youtu.be/PrMMjo6fDwg
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On His First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku describes how the first time he engaged with buddha-nature teachings was via the Lion’s Roar: Exposition of Buddha-Nature (Bde gshegs snying po'i stong thun chen mo seng+ge'i nga ro) by Mipam Gyatso. He explains how this approach was unusual and was determined by the availability of texts.
Ringu Tulku. “On His First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 2:08. https://youtu.be/mVOxtut0Bi4.
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On His Personal Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings by Wulstan Fletcher
Wulstan Fletcher describes his own experience with the teachings of buddha-nature. In particular he speaks about how his study of the emptiness teachings of Madhyamaka has been essential to his understanding of buddha-nature. He goes on to discuss how practice is a means of developing the recognition of the buddha-nature within.
Fletcher, Wulstan. “On His Personal Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 9, 2019. Video, 7:39. https://youtu.be/IqAWmB_nDRM.
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On How Beginning Students Might Engage with Buddha-Nature Teachings by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku talks about how beginning students might start to orient themselves toward buddha-nature teachings in practice. He explains that it is important to recognize that everybody has the seed of wisdom and compassion within them, which can develop over time. The development of this wisdom through education, training, etc., is the practice of Buddhism and is what the path is all about.
Ringu Tulku. “On How Beginning Students Might Engage with Buddha-Nature Teachings.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 9:05. https://youtu.be/HZ2EGsfaLEw.
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On How He Came to Study the Yogachara Tradition by Venerable Dhammadipa
Venerable Dhammadipa describes how he came to study the Yogachara tradition, having been first ordained in the Theravada tradition.
Thero, Ven. Dhammadipa. "On How He Came to Study the Yogachara Tradition." Interview by Marcus Perman. Salon Tibétain, Tsadra Foundation, Boulder, CO, Jan 30, 2019. Video, 6:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsQpIOx_9rQ.
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On How to Approach Buddha-Nature in Practice by Tokpa Tulku
In this video Tokpa Tulku begins by describing the difficulty inherent in understanding the unity of emptiness and luminosity, or appearance, an understanding made more difficult by our habitual patterns of thinking. He goes on to describe how buddha-nature is considered the ground of one's practice, as it is concerned with the view and the possibility of becoming a buddha. Gaining certainty that one has buddha-nature aids in one's practice. It is especially important in modern times, where people are looking elsewhere for security and happiness. Buddha-nature, in contrast, is that which is always within you, as a refuge.
Tokpa Tulku. “On How to Approach Buddha-Nature in Practice.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 22, 2019. Video, 7:47. https://youtu.be/N932YmrzHAE.
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On Jamgon Kongtrul and the Different Approaches to Understanding Buddha-Nature by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku discusses Jamgön Kongtrul's Rime, or nonpartisan, approach to buddha-nature as opposed to the typical three-fold Tibetan approach of negating others' views, positing one's own view, and engaging in further debate. Such an approach, he suggests, while important, tends to lead to dogmatic views. He goes on to describe how the differences in views of buddha-nature are generally subtle differences, different ways to talk about the same thing. He continues by explaining how, according to Kongtrul, if one is engaged in analyzing reality, then the rangtong approach is best. And if one is trying to describe the experience of buddha-nature, then the zhentong approach works to accomplish this. In this way Kongtrul brings these two approaches together and sees them as two different ways of describing the same thing.
Ringu Tulku. “On Jamgon Kongtrul and the Different Approaches to Understanding Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 9:10. https://youtu.be/IVcFzZ7r-co.
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On Learning about the Uttaratantrashastra in the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Shedra by Tokpa Tulku
Tokpa Tulku discusses his experiences learning about the Uttaratantrashastra, or Gyü Lama, in the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling shedra. This is a topic, he explains, that comes later on in the eighth year of studies, after the the study of the sūtras. He describes how the text acts as a bridge between sūtra and tantra, as there is a certain transition that one goes through when moving from one to the other. The text aids in this transition.
Tokpa Tulku. “On Learning about the Uttaratantrashastra in the Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Shedra.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 22, 2019. Video, 4:13. https://youtu.be/Jj3gRgZ3dl0.
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On Mipham and the Nyingma Approach to Buddha-Nature by Wulstan Fletcher
Wulstan Fletcher discusses Mipham's view of buddha-nature. He describes how he was influenced by Longchenpa's view of the inseparability of the second and third turnings of the wheel of the Dharma. He goes on to discuss Mipham's approach to the two truths (conventional and ultimate), in particular the way in which ultimate reality is described as the union of the two truths. Buddha-nature, he explains, is that which transcends the duality of permanence and impermanence. It is a permanence that transcends this binary. However, for Mipham, and more generally for the Nyingma, buddha-nature is not to be understood as a "real" substantive thing. Nor is it to be understood as a nonaffirming negation, as a mere emptiness.
Fletcher, Wulstan. “On Mipham and the Nyingma Approach to Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 9, 2019. Video, 19:04. https://youtu.be/ZUquZdCSXA8.
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On Rangtong and Shentong Views of Buddha-Nature by Tokpa Tulku
Tokpa Tulku describes the differences between the rangtong and shentong views of buddha-nature. He follows Mipam rinpoche in describing these seemingly opposing views as two different ways of describing the same buddha-nature. While many scholars have emphasized the emptiness aspect or the luminous or permanent aspect of buddha-nature, both, he suggests, need to be brought together in order to go beyond extremes and dualistic thinking.
Tokpa Tulku. “On Rangtong and Shentong Views of Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 22, 2019. Video, 4:12. https://youtu.be/VJZ3wU4W9Gw.
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On Teaching Buddha-Nature to Beginners by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku talks about how the most important thing that Western students should understand about buddha-nature teachings is that buddha-nature refers to one's basic goodness. One always retains this sense of basic goodness, an idea that he places in contrast to the notion of Original Sin. He points out that Gampopa's text Jewel Ornament of Liberation teaches buddha-nature right from the beginning, an approach which he suggests makes sense for Westerners.
Ringu Tulku. “On Teaching Buddha-Nature to Beginners.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 3:18. https://youtu.be/RNFC4OdeRFw.
Video
On Their Book Pruning the Bodhi Tree and Responses to Critical Buddhism by Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson
Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson discuss their book Pruning the Bodhi Tree and the scholarly responses to Critical Buddhism.
Hubbard, Jamie, and Paul Swanson. "On Their Book Pruning the Bodhi Tree and Responses to Critical Buddhism." Interview by Marcus Perman, Alex Gardner, and José Cabezón. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 2018. Video, 6:56. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPbu8N5Jr34.
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On Their Own Position on the Critical Buddhism Debate by Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson
Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson discuss their own personal relationship to the material in their book Pruning the Bodhi Tree and Critical Buddhism.
Hubbard, Jamie, and Paul Swanson. "On Their Own Position on the Critical Buddhism Debate." Interview by Marcus Perman, Alex Gardner, and José Cabezón. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 2018. Video, 5:31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBf4xyzdwSQ.
Video
On Various Texts That Teach about Buddha-Nature by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku discusses the various texts that teach about buddha-nature beyond the Uttaratantraśāstra. He points to Nāgārjuna's praises, sūtras that are considered to be part of the third turning of the wheel of Dharma, Gampopa's Jewel Ornament of Liberation, Tāranātha's Jonang teachings, and works by Śākya Chokden, Longchenpa, and Mipam Rinpoche.
Ringu Tulku. “On Various Texts That Teach about Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Produced by Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 5:24. https://youtu.be/jjrS-TWoHJ8.
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On Yogachara, Shamatha and Vipashyana Meditation, and Tathāgatagarbha as Skillful Means by Venerable Dhammadipa
Venerable Dhammadipa discusses the Yogachara tradition and some of its main texts, touching upon the importance of Shamatha and Vipashyana meditation.
Thero, Ven. Dhammadipa. "On Yogachara, Shamatha and Vipashyana Meditation, and Tathāgatagarbha as Skillful Means." Interview by Marcus Perman. Salon Tibétain, Tsadra Foundation, Boulder, CO, Jan 30, 2019. Video, 3:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl18UDkaB-4.
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On the Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna by Venerable Dhammadipa
Venerable Dhammadipa discusses the significance of the text Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna, a text which he has translated into Czech.
Thero, Ven. Dhammadipa. "On the Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna." Interview by Marcus Perman. Salon Tibétain, Tsadra Foundation, Boulder, CO, Jan 30, 2019. Video, 15:45. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T31Tk_Pj_nI.
Video
On the Concepts of Presence and Absence as a Means for Understanding Buddha-Nature by Douglas Duckworth
Douglas Duckworth discusses the concepts of presence and absence as a means for understanding buddha-nature and touches on his work on Mipam Gyatso.
Duckworth, Douglas. "On the Concepts of Presence and Absence as a Means for Understanding Buddha-Nature." Interview by Alex Gardner. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 20, 2018. Video, 7:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7f_Yf9U1SF8&t=3s.
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On the Dialectical Relationship between Presence and Absence in Discussions on Buddha-Nature by Douglas Duckworth
Douglas Duckworth talks about the dialectical relationship between the notions of presence and absence in discussions on buddha-nature.
Duckworth, Douglas. "On the Dialectical Relationship between Presence and Absence in Discussions on Buddha-Nature." Interview by Alex Gardner. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 20, 2018. Video, 11:07. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QCDDayidTRI.
Video
On the Future of Buddha-Nature Studies by Karl Brunnhölzl
Karl Brunnhölzl lays out the areas that are yet to be explored within buddha-nature studies. Among the areas he suggests are ripe for exploration are Longchenpa's writings on buddha-nature, the many types of shentong views that exist, as well as the views of various Sakya authors.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “On the Future of Buddha-Nature Studies.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 1:33. https://youtu.be/ex_6hi_58YY.
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On the Issue of Buddha-Nature and Practice in East Asian Buddhist Traditions by Jamie Hubbard and Paul Swanson
Jamie Hubbard discusses how one of the critical features of East Asian Buddhist traditions consists of reconciling the concept of buddha-nature with the reality of everyday life. This situation has, he argues, opened up new avenues for practice.
Hubbard, Jamie, and Paul Swanson. "On the Issue of Buddha-Nature and Practice in East Asian Buddhist Traditions." Interview by Marcus Perman, Alex Gardner, and José Cabezón. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 2018. Video, 3:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrBsxf0vk7o.
Video
On the Meaning of Chapter 1 Verse 28 of the Ratnagotravibhāga by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku explains the three reasons that are posited for why sentient beings have buddha-nature in chapter 1, verse 28 of the Ratnagotravibhāga. He explains that the first verse is referring to the notion that all beings have the same consciousness, a consciousness that is, at its core, luminous and clear. The second verse is referring to the idea that all phenomena are the same; it is appearance and emptiness. There is no differentiation between phenomena; hence the notion that, in reality, saṃsāra and nirvāṇa are the same. It is only that a person experiencing nirvana is experiencing reality in an undeluded way, whereas a saṃsāric being sees reality in a deluded way. The difference is in perception. The third verse is referring the fact that everyone possesses some seed of wisdom that can develop. For these reasons all beings are said to have buddha-nature. In his concluding remarks he discusses the relationship between a sentient being and a buddha.
Ringu Tulku. “On the Meaning of Chapter 1 Verse 28 of the Ratnagotravibhāga.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 13:26. https://youtu.be/pkd9S_V6Dlk.
Video
On the Nature of Mind and Its Relationship to Buddha-Nature by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku continues his discussion of buddha-nature by further distinguishing what Buddha nature means. He explains that buddha-nature is not something external or something that is in our bodies to be located. Rather, buddha nature describes the way we are. He explains that the consciousness of the Buddha, which is clear and luminous, is the same as every other consciousness, but we do not recognize this as such. We instead tend to react to our experiences with dualistic thinking, which leads to negative emotions and to saṃsāric experience. Given that our minds share the same capacity for enlightenment as the Buddha, the task is then to recognize this and transform our experience.
Ringu Tulku. “On the Nature of Mind and Its Relationship to Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 7:46. https://youtu.be/0NKhxlJCelo.
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On the Nature of Mind in Yogachara by Venerable Dhammadipa
Venerable Dhammadipa discusses the nature of mind in the Yogachara tradition, touching upon notions such as luminosity, emptiness, and suchness.
Thero, Ven. Dhammadipa. "On the Nature of Mind in Yogachara." Interview by Marcus Perman. Salon Tibétain, Tsadra Foundation, Boulder, CO, Jan 30, 2019. Video, 10:17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z5CKnHRJ9E.
Video
On the Origins and Authorship of the Uttaratantrashastra by Karl Brunnhölzl
Karl Brunnhölzl responds to a question regarding the origins and authorship of the Uttaratantrashastra. He describes how there is evidence that the Uttaratantra and its commentary was considered to be a singular text in India. However, the issue of when it arrived in Tibet and who brought it there is still a matter for further research.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “On the Origins and Authorship of the Uttaratantrashastra.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 4:31. https://youtu.be/uzRwoCR-85Y.
Video
On the Relationship between a Sentient Being and a Buddha by Ringu Tulku
In this excerpt, Ringu Tulku discusses the relationship between a sentient being and a buddha. He discusses how a Buddha is a being that sees reality in an undeluded, clear way, and when beings do not see reality clearly, they are called sentient beings. That is, a buddha is not something that exists on its own, apart from sentient beings; it is more like a description for a being who has developed wisdom to its fullest and experiences reality as it is. He goes on to explain how sometimes the categories of "sentient being" and its association with saṃsāṛa and "Buddha" and its association with nirvāṇa are often reified, and this tends to lead to confusion.
Ringu Tulku. “On the Relationship between a Sentient Being and a Buddha” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 5:07. https://youtu.be/6rTj6lLcUR0.
Video
On the Roots of Tathāgatagarbha and His Position on the Concept by Venerable Dhammadipa
Venerable Dhammadipa discusses the concept of tathāgatagarbha, or buddha-nature, and its appearance in Chinese Buddhist traditions, noting that one hardly finds anything about the concept in the Theravada tradition.
Thero, Ven. Dhammadipa. "On the Roots of Tathāgatagarbha and His Position on the Concept." Interview by Marcus Perman. Salon Tibétain, Tsadra Foundation, Boulder, CO, Jan 30, 2019. Video, 7:35. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvQ4W0U7JY8.
Video
On the Term Ordinary Mind by Elizabeth Callahan
In this video Elizabeth Callahan explains the term ordinary mind, a term that is often used in the Kagyu tradition, and its use as a term to describe buddha-nature. Ordinary mind, she explains, is the nature of mind that is not in its deluded state.
Callahan, Elizabeth. “On the Term Ordinary Mind.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 9, 2019. Video, 2:16. https://youtu.be/qx1NAke8aV0
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On the Terminology Associated with Buddha-Nature by Elizabeth Callahan
In this video Elizabeth Callahan discusses the various terminology that is used when talking about buddha-nature. She describes buddha-nature as who we are at our very core and goes on to discuss several terms that are associated with uncovering this buddha-nature within Mahāyāna, Vajrayāna, and Mahāmudrā contexts.
Callahan, Elizabeth. “On the Terminology Associated with Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 9, 2019. Video, 8:29. https://youtu.be/ValneCRetjc.
Video
On the Three Reasons That All Beings Have Buddha-Nature by Tokpa Tulku
Tokpa Tulku discusses the three reasons all beings have buddha-nature, which come from chapter 1 verse 28 of the Uttaratantraśāstra, or Gyü Lama. As for the first reason, he points to the fact that the Buddha was once a deluded sentient being. Therefore, if the Buddha, through developing wisdom, attained enlightenment, this proves that sentient beings have buddha-nature, that they can also achieve the same. The second verse, he explains, points to the notion that the Buddha's mind and the mind of a sentient being are the same; while they are different in terms of their obscurations and level of delusion, from the ultimate point of view they are of the same nature. As for the third reason, he points to the fact that all sentient beings want to be happy and free of suffering, a quality which proves that all beings have buddha-nature.
Tokpa Tulku. “On the Three Reasons That All Beings Have Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, April 22, 2019. Video, 6:29. https://youtu.be/yx60OVqkuxc.
Video
On the Topic of Buddha-Nature Understood as Luminosity versus Buddha-Nature Understood as Emptiness by Douglas Duckworth
Douglas Duckworth discusses the debate about buddha-nature understood as luminosity (or as having qualities) versus buddha-nature understood as emptiness.
Duckworth, Douglas. "On the Topic of Buddha-Nature Understood as Luminosity (or as Having Qualities) versus Buddha-Nature Understood as Emptiness." Interview by Alex Gardner. AAR Annual Meeting, Denver, CO, Nov. 20, 2018. Video, 7:24. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezum9pXNl44.
Video
On the Uttaratantrashastra as a Bridge between Sutra and Tantra by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku. “On the Uttaratantrashastra as a Bridge between Sutra and Tantra” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 2:10. https://youtu.be/lNUpq1Rq2n0.
Ringu Tulku. “On the Uttaratantrashastra as a Bridge between Sutra and Tantra” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 2:10. https://youtu.be/lNUpq1Rq2n0.
Video
Peter Skilling: Is Prabhāsvaracitta (Luminous Mind) Conditioned or Unconditioned?
Skilling, Peter. "Is Prabhāsvaracitta (Luminous Mind) Conditioned or Unconditioned?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 2:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL3CXgQMNg0.
Skilling, Peter. "Is Prabhāsvaracitta (Luminous Mind) Conditioned or Unconditioned?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 2:14. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL3CXgQMNg0.
Video
Peter Skilling: On How He Started His Career in Buddhist Studies
Skilling, Peter. "On How He Started His Career in Buddhist Studies." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 3:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBBypiaogWE.
Skilling, Peter. "On How He Started His Career in Buddhist Studies." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 3:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBBypiaogWE.
Video
Peter Skilling: On Practices Associated with Luminosity in the Early Pāli & Theravāda Tradition
Skilling, Peter. "On Practices Associated with Luminosity in the Early Pāli & Theravāda Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 4:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzEA9d87mns.
Skilling, Peter. "On Practices Associated with Luminosity in the Early Pāli & Theravāda Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 4:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BzEA9d87mns.
Video
Peter Skilling: On the Concept of Luminosity in the Aṅguttara Nikāya
Skilling, Peter. "On the Concept of Luminosity in the Aṅguttara Nikāya." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 5:09. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGVdTNgw2k.
Skilling, Peter. "On the Concept of Luminosity in the Aṅguttara Nikāya." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 5:09. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpGVdTNgw2k.
Video
Peter Skilling: On the Concept of Self (atta) in Pāli Sources
Skilling, Peter. "On the Concept of Self (atta) in Pāli Sources." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 5:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lAgAGNrk8.
Skilling, Peter. "On the Concept of Self (atta) in Pāli Sources." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 5:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6lAgAGNrk8.
Video
Peter Skilling: On the Concept of the Three Bodhis and Its Historical Evolution
Skilling, Peter. "On the Concept of the Three Bodhis and Its Historical Evolution." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 7:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94K_tC5G7Is.
Skilling, Peter. "On the Concept of the Three Bodhis and Its Historical Evolution." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 7:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94K_tC5G7Is.
Video
Peter Skilling: On the Cuḷasuññata Sutta and Its Relationship to Maitreya's Madhyāntavibhāga
Skilling, Peter. "On the Cuḷasuññata Sutta and Its Relationship to Maitreya's Madhyāntavibhāga." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 8:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEVQMmbrKB8.
Skilling, Peter. "On the Cuḷasuññata Sutta and Its Relationship to Maitreya's Madhyāntavibhāga." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 8:05. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lEVQMmbrKB8.
Video
Peter Skilling: On the Importance of Luminosity in the Early Stages of the Pāli Tradition
Skilling, Peter. "On the Importance of Luminosity in the Early Stages of the Pāli Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 2:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x6nT5lyuCI.
Skilling, Peter. "On the Importance of Luminosity in the Early Stages of the Pāli Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 2:41. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7x6nT5lyuCI.
Video
Peter Skilling: On the Origins and Dating of the Concept of Prabhāsvara (Luminosity)
Skilling, Peter. "On the Origins and Dating of the Concept of Prabhāsvara (Luminosity)." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 8:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_wVpCl7-u8.
Skilling, Peter. "On the Origins and Dating of the Concept of Prabhāsvara (Luminosity)." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 8:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_wVpCl7-u8.
Video
Peter Skilling: On the Relationship between the Early Pāli Sūtras and the Kangyur
Skilling, Peter. "On the Relationship between the Early Pāli Sūtras and the Kangyur." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 3:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ZM_5xOUvY.
Skilling, Peter. "On the Relationship between the Early Pāli Sūtras and the Kangyur." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 3:11. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n8ZM_5xOUvY.
Video
Peter Skilling: On the Source of the Luminous Mind in the Aṅguttara Nikāya & the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras
Skilling, Peter. "On the Source of the Luminous Mind in the Aṅguttara Nikāya & the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 2:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0g4AjM0dGQ.
Skilling, Peter. "On the Source of the Luminous Mind in the Aṅguttara Nikāya & the Prajñāpāramitā Sūtras." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 2:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0g4AjM0dGQ.
Video
Peter Skilling: Reflections on a Middle-Indic Verse from a Ratnagotravibhāga Commentary
Skilling, Peter. "Reflections on a Middle Indic Verse from a Ratnagotravibhāga Commentary." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 17:28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTDvxdjffro.
Skilling, Peter. "Reflections on a Middle Indic Verse from a Ratnagotravibhāga Commentary." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 17:28. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTDvxdjffro.
Video
Peter Skilling: Which Pāli Sūtras Should be Translated into Tibetan?
Skilling, Peter. "Which Pāli Sūtras Should be Translated into Tibetan?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 1:57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woh6eCEDlAI.
Skilling, Peter. "Which Pāli Sūtras Should be Translated into Tibetan?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Oct 29, 2022. Video, 1:57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=woh6eCEDlAI.
Video
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Background to the Nibbāna as Self or Not-Self Debate
Cholvijarn, Potprecha. "On the Background to the Nibbāna as Self or Not-Self Debate." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, March 28, 2022. Video, 6:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9L-KcGTJQs.
Cholvijarn, Potprecha. "On the Background to the Nibbāna as Self or Not-Self Debate." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, March 28, 2022. Video, 6:49. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9L-KcGTJQs.
Video
Potprecha Cholvijarn: On the Inspiration behind His Study of Self & Non-Self Debates in the Thai Theravāda Tradition
Cholvijarn, Potprecha. "On the Inspiration behind His Study of Self & Non-Self Debates in the Thai Theravāda Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, March 28, 2022. Video, 2:18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9AAxD_wZcM.
Cholvijarn, Potprecha. "On the Inspiration behind His Study of Self & Non-Self Debates in the Thai Theravāda Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, March 28, 2022. Video, 2:18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9AAxD_wZcM.
Video
Rev. Kokyo Henkel: Does the Zen Tradition Have an Equivalent to Mandala Practice in Vajrayana?
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Does the Zen Tradition Have an Equivalent to Mandala Practice in Vajrayana?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 3:05. https://youtu.be/7BXKaoiMcZ0.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Does the Zen Tradition Have an Equivalent to Mandala Practice in Vajrayana?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 3:05. https://youtu.be/7BXKaoiMcZ0.
Video
Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On Dogen's Articulation of Buddha-Nature
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On Dogen's Articulation of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 3:58. https://youtu.be/he2iN7V23g8.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On Dogen's Articulation of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 3:58. https://youtu.be/he2iN7V23g8.
Video
Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On His First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On His First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 4:10. https://youtu.be/S-5SXBcPnd8.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On His First Encounter with Buddha-Nature Teachings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 4:10. https://youtu.be/S-5SXBcPnd8.
Video
Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On Mazu's Statements: "Mind Itself Is Buddha" and "Ordinary Mind Is the Way"
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On Mazu's Statements: 'Mind Itself Is Buddha' and 'Ordinary Mind Is the Way'." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 3:01. https://youtu.be/CpEBZZnL-sE.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On Mazu's Statements: 'Mind Itself Is Buddha' and 'Ordinary Mind Is the Way'." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 3:01. https://youtu.be/CpEBZZnL-sE.
Video
Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On the Connection between Zen and Dzogchen
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Connection between Zen and Dzogchen." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 7:56. https://youtu.be/3jhWo3MtvxY.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Connection between Zen and Dzogchen." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 7:56. https://youtu.be/3jhWo3MtvxY.
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Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On the Differences between Zen and Dzogchen and the Practice of Shikantaza, or "Just Sitting"
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Differences between Zen and Dzogchen and the Practice of Shikantaza, or 'Just Sitting'." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 8:07. https://youtu.be/PkEA0bYGLAM.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Differences between Zen and Dzogchen and the Practice of Shikantaza, or 'Just Sitting'." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 8:07. https://youtu.be/PkEA0bYGLAM.
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Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On the Famous Mu Koan
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Famous Mu Koan." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 4:26. https://youtu.be/YPAoanRK0F4.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Famous Mu Koan." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 4:26. https://youtu.be/YPAoanRK0F4.
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Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On the Term "Big Mind"
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Term 'Big Mind'." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 3:56. https://youtu.be/IlSnKFUTH80.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Term 'Big Mind'." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 3:56. https://youtu.be/IlSnKFUTH80.
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Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On the Use of the Term "Atman" in Buddha-Nature Scriptures
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Use of the Term 'Atman' in Buddha-Nature Scriptures." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 5:02. https://youtu.be/XlKbPTxJE3o.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Use of the Term 'Atman' in Buddha-Nature Scriptures." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 5:02. https://youtu.be/XlKbPTxJE3o.
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Rev. Kokyo Henkel: On the Various Early Influences on the Formation of the Zen Tradition
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Various Early Influences on the Formation of the Zen Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 8:05. https://youtu.be/6w6KD6Ez8Yc.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "On the Various Early Influences on the Formation of the Zen Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 8:05. https://youtu.be/6w6KD6Ez8Yc.
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Rev. Kokyo Henkel: Resource Recommendations for Learning about Buddha-Nature in the Zen Tradition
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Resource Recommendations for Learning about Buddha-Nature in the Zen Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 5:25. https://youtu.be/GaTapNdwKRo.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Resource Recommendations for Learning about Buddha-Nature in the Zen Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 5:25. https://youtu.be/GaTapNdwKRo.
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Rev. Kokyo Henkel: Sources of Buddha-Nature Teachings in the Zen Tradition
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Sources of Buddha-Nature Teachings in the Zen Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 20:56. https://youtu.be/vvdgwHudOrU.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Sources of Buddha-Nature Teachings in the Zen Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 20:56. https://youtu.be/vvdgwHudOrU.
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Rev. Kokyo Henkel: Zhiyi's Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime and the Relationship between Tiantai and Zen
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Zhiyi's Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime and the Relationship between Tiantai and Zen." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 4:14. https://youtu.be/6n8SpHNZC4o.
Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Zhiyi's Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime and the Relationship between Tiantai and Zen." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 4:14. https://youtu.be/6n8SpHNZC4o.
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Robert Thurman: On Buddha-Nature and the Risk of It Being Used to Build Further Egoism
Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho discusses themes of freedom, spirituality, and buddha-nature with world-renowned Buddhist scholar, translator, writer, and activist Robert Thurman.
Thurman, Robert. "On Buddha-Nature and the Risk of It Being Used to Build Further Egoism." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 7:33. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3b2ubPu9fbE.
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Robert Thurman: On Buddha-Nature as a Positive Philosophical Concept
Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho discusses themes of freedom, spirituality, and buddha-nature with world-renowned Buddhist scholar, translator, writer, and activist Robert Thurman.
Thurman, Robert. "On Buddha-Nature as a Positive Philosophical Concept." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 12:36. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-AWjV2mWZU.
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Robert Thurman: On His First Encounter with the Concept of Buddha-Nature
Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho discusses themes of freedom, spirituality, and buddha-nature with world-renowned Buddhist scholar, translator, writer, and activist Robert Thurman.
Thurman, Robert. "On His First Encounter with the Concept of Buddha-Nature." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 7:42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zUI-Ls75o0.
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Robert Thurman: On His Own Spiritual Practice
Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho discusses themes of freedom, spirituality, and buddha-nature with world-renowned Buddhist scholar, translator, writer, and activist Robert Thurman.
Thurman, Robert. "On His Own Spiritual Practice." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 7:21. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FBEXoEAAfY.
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Robert Thurman: On How Buddha-Nature Can Help Us to Cope with Depression and Stress
Thurman, Robert. "On How Buddha-Nature Can Help Us to Cope with Depression and Stress." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 7:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9t8nmplVms.
Thurman, Robert. "On How Buddha-Nature Can Help Us to Cope with Depression and Stress." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 7:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9t8nmplVms.
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Robert Thurman: On the Different Conceptions of Buddha-Nature within the Various Schools of Tibetan Buddhism
Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho discusses themes of freedom, spirituality, and buddha-nature with world-renowned Buddhist scholar, translator, writer, and activist Robert Thurman.
Thurman, Robert. "On the Different Conceptions of Buddha-Nature within the Various Schools of Tibetan Buddhism." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 12:13. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtbfXkkX7Tg.
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Robert Thurman: On the Reception of Buddhism in the West
Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho discusses themes of freedom, spirituality, and buddha-nature with world-renowned Buddhist scholar, translator, writer, and activist Robert Thurman.
Thurman, Robert. "On the Reception of Buddhism in the West." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 5:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_IHAt3W4Z_A.
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Robert Thurman: On the Western Understanding of Buddha-Nature
Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho discusses themes of freedom, spirituality, and buddha-nature with world-renowned Buddhist scholar, translator, writer, and activist Robert Thurman.
Thurman, Robert. "On the Western Understanding of Buddha-Nature." Interview by Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Buddha-Nature as the Foundation of Freedom: Conversations on Buddha-Nature Series 2. November 28, 2020. Video, 5:01. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQlxh3uad1s.
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The Debate over Buddha-Nature by Karl Brunnhölzl
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “The Debate over Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 4:21. https://youtu.be/jMV3uHDWg_o.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “The Debate over Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 4:21. https://youtu.be/jMV3uHDWg_o.
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Thupten Jinpa: Advice for the Younger Generation
Jinpa, Thupten. "Advice for the Younger Generation." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 5:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSWXQBuYIik.
Jinpa, Thupten. "Advice for the Younger Generation." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 5:40. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSWXQBuYIik.
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Thupten Jinpa: Buddha-Nature and the Tension between Two Fundamental Concepts of Mahayana Thought
Jinpa, Thupten. "Buddha-Nature and the Tension between Two Fundamental Concepts of Mahayana Thought." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 13:02. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJFSHBff8FU.
Jinpa, Thupten. "Buddha-Nature and the Tension between Two Fundamental Concepts of Mahayana Thought." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 13:02. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJFSHBff8FU.
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Thupten Jinpa: Geluk Authors' Perspectives on Buddha-Nature
Jinpa, Thupten. "Geluk Authors' Perspectives on Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 3:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNKljd8fjLQ.
Jinpa, Thupten. "Geluk Authors' Perspectives on Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 3:23. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNKljd8fjLQ.
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Thupten Jinpa: How Can Buddha-Nature Teachings Be Applied to Politics?
Jinpa, Thupten. "How Can Buddha-Nature Teachings Be Applied to Politics?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 5:09. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FTSTpod5qg.
Jinpa, Thupten. "How Can Buddha-Nature Teachings Be Applied to Politics?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 5:09. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FTSTpod5qg.
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Thupten Jinpa: How Does Dharmakaya Differ from Buddha-Nature?
Jinpa, Thupten. "How Does Dharmakaya Differ from Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 2:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGs-gsowqp0.
Jinpa, Thupten. "How Does Dharmakaya Differ from Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 2:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGs-gsowqp0.
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Thupten Jinpa: How Does One Know That the Essence of Buddha-Nature Exists in Oneself?
Jinpa, Thupten. "How Does One Know That the Essence of Buddha-Nature Exists in Oneself?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 1:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUMMXtAMCNE.
Jinpa, Thupten. "How Does One Know That the Essence of Buddha-Nature Exists in Oneself?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 1:38. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUMMXtAMCNE.
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Thupten Jinpa: Is It Possible for Other Spiritual Traditions to Experience Buddha-Nature?
Jinpa, Thupten. "Is It Possible for Other Spiritual Traditions to Experience Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 4:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xv4Fj4kViE.
Jinpa, Thupten. "Is It Possible for Other Spiritual Traditions to Experience Buddha-Nature?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 4:22. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xv4Fj4kViE.
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Thupten Jinpa: On Determining Semantic Arguments vs. Substantive Arguments as a Translator
Jinpa, Thupten. "On Determining Semantic Arguments vs. Substantive Arguments as a Translator." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 4:02. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAhGPKHvOPI.
Jinpa, Thupten. "On Determining Semantic Arguments vs. Substantive Arguments as a Translator." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 4:02. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xAhGPKHvOPI.
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Thupten Jinpa: On His First Encounter with the Concept of Buddha-Nature
Jinpa, Thupten. "On His First Encounter with the Concept of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 5:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ3t3rr5tCA.
Jinpa, Thupten. "On His First Encounter with the Concept of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 5:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ3t3rr5tCA.
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Thupten Jinpa: On Taking Mind Itself as the Basis for Meditative Practice
Jinpa, Thupten. "On Taking Mind Itself as the Basis for Meditative Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 3:32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wMxjhElwfo.
Jinpa, Thupten. "On Taking Mind Itself as the Basis for Meditative Practice." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 3:32. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wMxjhElwfo.
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Thupten Jinpa: On the Buddha-Nature of Insentient Things
Jinpa, Thupten. "On the Buddha-Nature of Insentient Things." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 4:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z64IE6r2zxk.
Jinpa, Thupten. "On the Buddha-Nature of Insentient Things." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 4:04. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z64IE6r2zxk.
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Thupten Jinpa: On the Collection of Buddha-Nature Treatises in the Library of Tibetan Classics
Jinpa, Thupten. "On the Collection of Buddha-Nature Treatises in the Library of Tibetan Classics." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 5:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTV3gMTD6jk.
Jinpa, Thupten. "On the Collection of Buddha-Nature Treatises in the Library of Tibetan Classics." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 5:15. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTV3gMTD6jk.
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Thupten Jinpa: On the Ratnagotravibhaga and Its Place in the Gelukpa Curriculum
Jinpa, Thupten. "On the Ratnagotravibhaga and Its Place in the Gelukpa Curriculum." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 1:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rcRurBgowU.
Jinpa, Thupten. "On the Ratnagotravibhaga and Its Place in the Gelukpa Curriculum." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 1:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rcRurBgowU.
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Thupten Jinpa: Tsongkhapa on Emptiness and the Experience of Emptiness
Jinpa, Thupten. "Tsongkhapa on Emptiness and the Experience of Emptiness." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 11:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL-9r6TO1uo.
Jinpa, Thupten. "Tsongkhapa on Emptiness and the Experience of Emptiness." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 11:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL-9r6TO1uo.
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Thupten Jinpa: What Is the Relationship between Bliss and Emptiness?
Jinpa, Thupten. "What Is the Relationship between Bliss and Emptiness?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 4:10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az9nDBUY4pY.
Jinpa, Thupten. "What Is the Relationship between Bliss and Emptiness?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, January 29, 2022. Video, 4:10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=az9nDBUY4pY.
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Vajrayana Practice & Buddha-Nature by Karl Brunnhölzl
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “Vajrayana Practice & Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 7:20. https://youtu.be/fEwwwz_dmx8.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “Vajrayana Practice & Buddha-Nature.” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 7:20. https://youtu.be/fEwwwz_dmx8.
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What Is Buddha-Nature? by Elizabeth Callahan
In this video Elizabeth Callahan discusses the meaning of buddha-nature, a term that, she describes, refers to who sentient beings really are. Buddha-nature is not something that we have to acquire. Rather it is always present as our best qualities. She goes on to discuss how buddha-nature is sometimes made manifest or recognizable during moments of great suffering and tragedy.
Callahan, Elizabeth. “What Is Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 9, 2019. Video, 3:00. https://youtu.be/0vOxXvDIpsU.
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What Is Buddha-Nature? by Karl Brunnhölzl
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “What Is Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 00:46. https://youtu.be/RmB7lZm3jBc.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “What Is Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 00:46. https://youtu.be/RmB7lZm3jBc.
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What Is Buddha-Nature? by Ringu Tulku
In describing the meaning of buddha-nature, Ringu Tulku explains that the point to be understood is that there is no essential difference between an enlightened being and an ordinary being, as both are the same. The enlightened being only recognizes who he/she is and the other does not. He goes on to explain how the buddha-nature teachings indicate that the enlightened state is possible for everyone, not just for a select few. The seeds of the idea of Buddha-nature, he continues, are present even in the early sūtras, and gradually such teachings became more explicit over time, especially in the Vajrayana.
Ringu Tulku. “What Is Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 8:14. https://youtu.be/LdI_620Uj0M.
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What Is Buddha-Nature? by Wulstan Fletcher
Wulstan Fletcher explains buddha-nature as the deepest aspect of oneself, a wellspring of goodness and wisdom that is always present. One only needs to uncover it in order to experience true happiness. He describes it as something that can be relied upon in times of great suffering, as it can remind one that the suffering that is experienced is impermanent and is something that can be removed.
Fletcher, Wulstan. “What Is Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, November 9, 2019. Video, 4:36. https://youtu.be/1XmwW45aGio.
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What Is Luminosity? by Karl Brunnhölzl
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “What Is Luminosity?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 4:21. https://youtu.be/pOeoZJIHdL8.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “What Is Luminosity?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 4:21. https://youtu.be/pOeoZJIHdL8.
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What Is the Purpose of Buddha-Nature Teachings? by Karl Brunnhölzl
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “What Is the Purpose of Buddha-Nature Teachings?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 3:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVUa8LOb_4Q.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “What Is the Purpose of Buddha-Nature Teachings?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 3:58. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVUa8LOb_4Q.
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Which Tibetans Wrote about Buddha-Nature? by Karl Brunnhölzl
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “Which Tibetans Wrote about Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 6:58. https://youtu.be/wWzrtDltUwE.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “Which Tibetans Wrote about Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 6:58. https://youtu.be/wWzrtDltUwE.
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Why Study Buddha-Nature? by Karl Brunnhölzl
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “Why Study Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 2:07. https://youtu.be/ucYPoDioF_U.
Brunnhölzl, Karl. “Why Study Buddha-Nature?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, December 3, 2018. Video, 2:07. https://youtu.be/ucYPoDioF_U.
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Why Was Buddha-Nature Taught as Part of the Third Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma? by Ringu Tulku
Ringu Tulku explains why buddha-nature teachings appear during the third turning of the wheel of the Dharma. He contends that the Buddha taught it later on in order to avoid confusion over whether buddha-nature was similar to the Hindu notion of ātman. This is why, he implies, the Buddha taught about emptiness first, so that buddha-nature teachings would not be understood to be positing a kind of substantial self.
Ringu Tulku. “Why Was Buddha-Nature Taught as Part of the Third Turning of the Wheel of the Dharma?” Interview by Marcus Perman. Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 10, 2019. Video, 2:32. https://youtu.be/wmgYoSja0Q8.
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Yaroslav Komarovski: On Buddha-Nature in Shakya Chokden's Tantric Writings
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Buddha-Nature in Shakya Chokden's Tantric Writings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 5:10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpZp2hIT2cA.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Buddha-Nature in Shakya Chokden's Tantric Writings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 5:10. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZpZp2hIT2cA.
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Yaroslav Komarovski: On His First Encounter with the Teachings on Buddha-Nature
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On His First Encounter with the Teachings on Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 2:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKrFZWtvYTc.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On His First Encounter with the Teachings on Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 2:53. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKrFZWtvYTc.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On How He Came to Specialize in the Works of Shakya Chokden
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On How He Came to Specialize in the Works of Shakya Chokden." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 5:08. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51SveklPd84.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On How He Came to Specialize in the Works of Shakya Chokden." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 5:08. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51SveklPd84.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On How Shakya Chokden Inspired His Book Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Experience
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On How Shakya Chokden Inspired His Book Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Experience." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 4:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPnB9zJZVZc.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On How Shakya Chokden Inspired His Book Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Experience." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 4:50. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iPnB9zJZVZc.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On Shakya Chokden's Terminology in Articulating the Buddha-Nature
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Shakya Chokden's Terminology in Articulating the Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 9:56. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXeVspw-zfY.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Shakya Chokden's Terminology in Articulating the Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 9:56. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXeVspw-zfY.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On Shakya Chokden's Understanding of Madhyamaka
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Shakya Chokden's Understanding of Madhyamaka." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 5:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL_6wAXWaAM.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Shakya Chokden's Understanding of Madhyamaka." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 5:37. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aL_6wAXWaAM.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On Shakya Chokden's Unique Interpretation of Buddha-Nature
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Shakya Chokden's Unique Interpretation of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 3:12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ml06Lck7oo.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Shakya Chokden's Unique Interpretation of Buddha-Nature." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 3:12. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Ml06Lck7oo.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On Where We Find Discussions of Buddha-Nature in Shakya Chokden's Works
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Where We Find Discussions of Buddha-Nature in Shakya Chokden's Works." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 4:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMiaDziTO9s.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On Where We Find Discussions of Buddha-Nature in Shakya Chokden's Works." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 4:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMiaDziTO9s.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On the Development of Shakya Chokden's Views
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On the Development of Shakya Chokden's Views." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 6:51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIiLV6g27F0.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On the Development of Shakya Chokden's Views." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 6:51. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIiLV6g27F0.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On the Life & Works of Shakya Chokden
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On the Life & Works of Shakya Chokden." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 4:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SFGMtwozpA.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On the Life & Works of Shakya Chokden." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 4:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SFGMtwozpA.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: On the Various Types of Tathagatagarbha in Shakya Chokden's Writings
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On the Various Types of Tathagatagarbha in Shakya Chokden's Writings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 10:57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dk8AtHdsVI.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "On the Various Types of Tathagatagarbha in Shakya Chokden's Writings." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 10:57. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4dk8AtHdsVI.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: Shakya Chokden on Tathāgatagarbha in the Tantric Practice of the Two Stages
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "Shakya Chokden on Tathāgatagarbha in the Tantric Practice of the Two Stages." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 20:42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_gwSb3n8nk.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "Shakya Chokden on Tathāgatagarbha in the Tantric Practice of the Two Stages." Old Topic, New Insights: Buddha-Nature at the Crossroads between Doctrine and Practice. The 16th IATS Conference, Prague, July 3–9, 2022. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department. Video, 20:42. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_gwSb3n8nk.
Video
Yaroslav Komarovski: What Does Shakya Chokden Mean by Ultimate Sentient Beings?
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "What Does Shakya Chokden Mean by Ultimate Sentient Beings?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 3:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydT_Abjuuwc.
Komarovski, Yaroslav. "What Does Shakya Chokden Mean by Ultimate Sentient Beings?" Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, October 30, 2021. Video, 3:46. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydT_Abjuuwc.

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Cittamātra - Though it is sometimes used synonymously with Yogācāra, it is in fact one of the more prominent philosophical theories associated with this school. It asserts that the objects in the external world with which we interact are actually mentally created representations appearing as those objects. The character of these perceptions is predetermined by our own karmic conditioning that is stored in the ālayavijñāna. Skt. चित्तमात्र Tib. སེམས་ཙམ་

Cittamātra - Though it is sometimes used synonymously with Yogācāra, it is in fact one of the more prominent philosophical theories associated with this school. It asserts that the objects in the external world with which we interact are actually mentally created representations appearing as those objects. The character of these perceptions is predetermined by our own karmic conditioning that is stored in the ālayavijñāna. Skt. चित्तमात्र Tib. སེམས་ཙམ་

An important sūtra source for the Ratnagotravibhāga, particularly for its discussion of the nine examples that illustrate how all sentient beings possess buddha-nature.

prabhāsvaratā - In a general sense, that which clears away darkness, though it often appears in Buddhist literature in reference to the mind or its nature. It is a particularly salient feature of Tantric literature, especially in regard to the advanced meditation techniques of the completion-stage yogas. Skt. प्रभास्वर Tib. འོད་གསལ་ Ch. 光明

prabhāsvaratā - In a general sense, that which clears away darkness, though it often appears in Buddhist literature in reference to the mind or its nature. It is a particularly salient feature of Tantric literature, especially in regard to the advanced meditation techniques of the completion-stage yogas. Skt. प्रभास्वर Tib. འོད་གསལ་ Ch. 光明

bīja - A seed, commonly used figuratively in the sense of something which has the potential to develop or grow, and likewise as the basic cause for this development or growth. Skt. बीज Tib. ས་བོན་ Ch. 無漏種

Cittamātra - Though it is sometimes used synonymously with Yogācāra, it is in fact one of the more prominent philosophical theories associated with this school. It asserts that the objects in the external world with which we interact are actually mentally created representations appearing as those objects. The character of these perceptions is predetermined by our own karmic conditioning that is stored in the ālayavijñāna. Skt. चित्तमात्र Tib. སེམས་ཙམ་

prabhāsvaratā - In a general sense, that which clears away darkness, though it often appears in Buddhist literature in reference to the mind or its nature. It is a particularly salient feature of Tantric literature, especially in regard to the advanced meditation techniques of the completion-stage yogas. Skt. प्रभास्वर Tib. འོད་གསལ་ Ch. 光明

avidyā - Literally "unknowing," it refers to a lack of knowledge or misunderstanding of the nature of reality. As such, it is considered to be the root cause of suffering and the basis for the arising of all other negative mental factors. Skt. अविद्या Tib. མ་རིག་པ་ Ch. 無明

sugatagarbha - 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. Skt. सुगतगर्भ Tib. བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོ་

sugatagarbha - 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. Skt. सुगतगर्भ Tib. བདེ་གཤེགས་སྙིང་པོ་

byams chos sde lnga - This refers to a series of five texts that, according to the Tibetan tradition, Asaṅga received directly from Maitreya in the pure realm of Tuṣita. Tib. བྱམས་ཆོས་སྡེ་ལྔ་

Tsen Tradition - Tsen Khawoche's "meditative tradition" of exegesis of the Uttaratantra; it is one of two major Tibetan traditions of exegesis, both stemming from students of Sajjana. Tib. བཙན་ལུགས་

advaya - Literally, "without duality," it refers to that which is indivisible, in that it is not divided into two. Skt. अद्वय Tib. གཉིས་མེད་ Ch. 不二

Anuyoga - The second set of the three inner tantras and the eighth of the nine vehicles according to the Nyingma tradition. Anuyoga includes many yogini tantras and focuses on the Completion Stage practices of sacred channels, energies and essential fluids and espouses the actualisation of empty bliss. Skt. अनुयोग Tib. ཨ་ནུ་ཡོ་ག

Atiyoga - A system of esoteric thought and practice associated with the Nyingma tradition and equivalent to Great Perfection, it is considered as the pinnacle of the nine vehicles or paths one can follow to reach Buddhahood. The system focusses on the pure, luminous and empty nature of the mind as the ground reality which must be realised through the path of trekchö and thögal practice. Skt. अतियोग Tib. ཨ་ཏི་ཡོ་ག,ཤིན་ཏུ་རྣལ་འབྱོར།

advaya - Literally, "without duality," it refers to that which is indivisible, in that it is not divided into two. Skt. अद्वय Tib. གཉིས་མེད་ Ch. 不二

byams chos sde lnga - This refers to a series of five texts that, according to the Tibetan tradition, Asaṅga received directly from Maitreya in the pure realm of Tuṣita. Tib. བྱམས་ཆོས་སྡེ་ལྔ་

Ngok Tradition - Ngok Lotsāwa Loden Sherab's "analytic tradition" of exegesis of the Uttaratantra; one of two major Tibetan traditions of exegesis, both stemming from students of Sajjana. Tib. རྔོག་ལུགས་

Tsen Tradition - Tsen Khawoche's "meditative tradition" of exegesis of the Uttaratantra; it is one of two major Tibetan traditions of exegesis, both stemming from students of Sajjana. Tib. བཙན་ལུགས་

Tsen Tradition - Tsen Khawoche's "meditative tradition" of exegesis of the Uttaratantra; it is one of two major Tibetan traditions of exegesis, both stemming from students of Sajjana. Tib. བཙན་ལུགས་

bodhi - Enlightenment or awakening. In Tibetan it is translated as "purified" (byang) and "perfected" (chub), which corresponds to Siddhartha Gautama's achievement of purifying all obscurations and perfecting or attaining all qualities associated with a buddha. Skt. बोधि Tib. བྱང་ཆུབ་ Ch. 菩提,悟,覺

The Awakening of Faith is a key source text for buddha-nature theory in East Asian Buddhism.

The Awakening of Faith is a key source text for buddha-nature theory in East Asian Buddhism.

anātman - The nonexistence of the self as a permanent, unchanging entity. Skt. अनात्मन् Tib. བདག་མེད་པ་ Ch. 无我

"This sūtra became an important scriptural source for the discussion of buddha-nature in China and is famous for associating the term buddhadhātu with tathāgatagarbha.

prabhāsvaratā - In a general sense, that which clears away darkness, though it often appears in Buddhist literature in reference to the mind or its nature. It is a particularly salient feature of Tantric literature, especially in regard to the advanced meditation techniques of the completion-stage yogas. Skt. प्रभास्वर Tib. འོད་གསལ་ Ch. 光明

Descent into Laṅka Sūtra, a very influential text in East Asia and Nepal.

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