Discover
From Buddha-Nature
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
Evidence of Our Buddhanature
Gyatrul Rinpoche is a famed modern Tibetan teacher of the Nyingmapa school and holder of the Dudjom Tersar Lineage. This short teaching is a clear and pithy presentation of the Tibetan Buddhist view of buddha-nature from the Nyingma viewpoint that reminds us not only that it is obvious that all sentient beings have buddha-nature, but also that recognizing our buddha-nature depends upon learning in a deep way. We must "chew" on what we have learned and really take it to heart: "If you don’t know your buddhanature, learn about it! Don’t just complain that you don’t understand, or say it is too difficult. How can you see it? How can you recognize it? By learning."
Gyatrul Rinpoche. "Evidence of Our Buddhanature". Vimala. 2018 Online Teaching Series by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche. Winter, February 26th, 2018. https://vimala.org/downloads/VGR-SR-02252018-EvidenceOfBuddhanature.pdf.
Gyatrul Rinpoche. "Evidence of Our Buddhanature". Vimala. 2018 Online Teaching Series by Venerable Gyatrul Rinpoche. Winter, February 26th, 2018. https://vimala.org/downloads/VGR-SR-02252018-EvidenceOfBuddhanature.pdf.;Evidence of Our Buddhanature;Contemporary;Gyatrul Rinpoche; 
On the Ratnagotravibhāga
The Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra is one of the main sources for buddha-nature theory in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism (in China, the Awakening of Faith was of much greater importance). This article summarizes what is known about the textual tradition, author, and date of its composition and translations.
Gardner, Alex. "On the Ratnagotravibhāga." Buddha-Nature: A Tsadra Foundation Initiative, September 12, 2018. https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/Articles/On_the_Ratnagotravibh%C4%81ga.
Gardner, Alex. "On the Ratnagotravibhāga." Buddha-Nature: A Tsadra Foundation Initiative, September 12, 2018. https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/Articles/On_the_Ratnagotravibh%C4%81ga.;On the Ratnagotravibhāga;Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra;History of buddha-nature in India;History of buddha-nature in China;History of buddha-nature in Tibet;Alex Gardner; 
Watch & Listen
Dealing with Depression: Interview with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo on Study Buddhism
Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo discusses buddha-nature beautifully for a general audience.
Palmo, Tenzin. "Dealing with Depression." Interview by Matt Linden and Yura Milyutin. Produced by Study Buddhism (Website), September 2016. Video, 3:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ChZpIBgSo.
Palmo, Tenzin. "Dealing with Depression." Interview by Matt Linden and Yura Milyutin. Produced by Study Buddhism (Website), September 2016. Video, 3:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0ChZpIBgSo.;Dealing with Depression: Interview with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo on Study Buddhism;provisional;potential;Potential or already-perfected;Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo;Dealing with Depression: Interview with Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo
Your True Nature: Talk on Refuge and Buddha-Nature by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche
In this short video, Tibetan meditation teacher Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche teaches how our true nature is fundamentally pure and good. When we take refuge in the Buddha, he explains, we are ultimately taking refuge in our own Buddha nature. This video is excerpted from a series of teachings entitled, Ngöndro: The Foundational Practices, Parts I & II.
Mingyur, Yongey, 7th. "Your True Nature." Produced by Tergar Learning Community, February 29, 2012. Video, 4:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCd9lTgHuUc.
Mingyur, Yongey, 7th. "Your True Nature." Produced by Tergar Learning Community, February 29, 2012. Video, 4:43. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCd9lTgHuUc.;Your True Nature: Talk on Refuge and Buddha-Nature by Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche;Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche;Your True Nature - A Talk on Refuge and Buddha-Nature
Buddha Nature and Permission: Anne Klein at Dawn Mountain
"Your buddha-nature is really all there is. And it is never ever violated."
Klein, Anne. "Buddha-Nature and Permission." Produced by Dawn Mountain Online, July 26, 2016. Video, 1:07. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HXPia-AzlM.
Klein, Anne. "Buddha-Nature and Permission." Produced by Dawn Mountain Online, July 26, 2016. Video, 1:07. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HXPia-AzlM.;Buddha Nature and Permission: Anne Klein at Dawn Mountain;Anne Klein;Buddha-Nature and Permission
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.
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.;Klaus-Dieter Mathes Interview on Buddha-Nature;Debate(s);History;The Problem of buddha-nature;Kagyu;Ngok Tradition;Tsen Tradition;Terms;Meditative Tradition;Klaus-Dieter Mathes; Marcus Perman;Alex Gardner
