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Your Buddha-Nature

Buddha-nature is the teaching that all people are fundamentally good. We have no "original sin" or any sort of imperfection that we need to get rid of or somehow transform. All the bad stuff is actually just an illusion, a mistake of the mind that causes all sorts of trouble. None of that is actually us—our true nature is pure and naturally vibrant, separate from all negativity.

What Then?

Everyone has the same buddha-nature, even the Buddha. The only difference is that the Buddha recognized his and the rest of us do not. The goal of Buddhist practice is to allow our true nature to shine forth. Since we're already perfect buddhas covered in the muck of ignorance, our task is simply to remove that muck. Ignorance, however, is not easily shrugged off. The Buddhist teachings and practices are all dedicated to retraining the mind and body, both by cultivating the proper outlook and behavior, and by stopping the negative thinking that causes dissatisfaction and suffering.

Read

• The evidence of our buddha-nature

• What is the history of buddha-nature teachings?

• What is the main source of buddha-nature teachings? Read On the Ratnagotravibhāga

• Learn about the "Three Reasons" in Verse_I.28

• Traditional Study Guide

WATCH & LISTEN

Your Buddha-Nature

Buddha-nature is the teaching that all people are fundamentally good. We have no "original sin" or any sort of imperfection that we need to get rid of or somehow transform. All the bad stuff is actually just an illusion, a mistake of the mind that causes all sorts of trouble. None of that is actually us—our true nature is pure and naturally vibrant, separate from all negativity.

What Then?

Everyone has the same buddha-nature, even the Buddha. The only difference is that the Buddha recognized his and the rest of us do not. The goal of Buddhist practice is to allow our true nature to shine forth. Since we're already perfect buddhas covered in the muck of ignorance, our task is simply to remove that muck. Ignorance, however, is not easily shrugged off. The Buddhist teachings and practices are all dedicated to retraining the mind and body, both by cultivating the proper outlook and behavior, and by stopping the negative thinking that causes dissatisfaction and suffering.

• The evidence of our buddha-nature

• What is the history of buddha-nature teachings?

• What is the main source of buddha-nature teachings? Read On the Ratnagotravibhāga

• Learn about the "Three Reasons" in Verse_I.28

• Traditional Study Guide

READ

• Read about the topics of debate about buddha-nature
• Read about the history of the study of buddha-nature in the west.
• Academics: Study the source texts here

On the Ratnagotravibhāga by Alexander Gardner

The Uttaratantra in the Land of Snows by Tsering Wangchuk

WATCH

Watch these traditional teachings on the Uttaratantra.

Khensur Rinpoche on the Uttaratantra

Uttaratantra by Kirti Tsenshab Rinpoche

Dudjom Dorjee on Buddha-Nature

PRACTICE

• Practice Texts in different traditions
• Verses of advice
• Uncover your true nature!
• Practice makes perfect... or does it?
• Yes. Yes it does. ~ Buddha

LISTEN

Listen now or download interviews and teachings and listen anywhere.

Interview with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo

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

Go to the page with the definition of 'ignorance'

These are the root verses of the Uttaratantra attributed to Maitreya by the Tibetan tradition.

Go to the page with the definition of 'Uttaratantra'

Uttaratantra - The Ultimate Continuum, or Gyü Lama, is often used as a short title in the Tibetan tradition for the key source text of buddha-nature teachings called the Ratnagotravibhāga of Maitreya/Asaṅga, also known as the Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra. Skt. उत्तरतन्त्र Tib. རྒྱུད་བླ་མ་ Ch. 寶性論

Go to the page with the definition of 'Uttaratantra'