Buddha-nature
Inherent awakened potential
Buddha-nature is a concept in Mahayana Buddhism holding that all sentient beings possess an inherent potential for enlightenment—the capacity to become a Buddha.
The idea suggests that awakening is not something acquired from outside but uncovered within.
Different Buddhist schools interpret whether this nature is already fully present or must be cultivated: Every being has Buddha-nature, even if obscured by ignorance.
Return to consciousness
- bodhiBuddhist spiritual awakening
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- realizationGrasping what's true
liberation · illumination · unbinding · transcendence · self-discovery · gnosis · epiphany · samadhi
Uncontaminated quality
- clarityState of being understandable
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
- stillnessComplete lack of motion
perfection · wholeness · unconditioned · unborn · deathless · immaculate · primordial · innate
Focused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- zazenZen seated meditation
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- self-inquiryExamining one's own mind
recognition · transmission · realization · uncovering · unveiling · polishing · mirror · reflection
- dharmakayaBuddha's absolute, formless nature
- seedEmbryonic plant capsule
- potentialLatent capacity for development
- essenceFundamental nature of something
ground · substratum · womb · embryo · storehouse · Zen
awakening
Return to consciousness
- bodhiBuddhist spiritual awakening
- satoriSudden spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
realization · liberation · illumination · unbinding · transcendence · self-discovery · gnosis · epiphany · samadhi · non-duality
purity
Uncontaminated quality
- clarityState of being understandable
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- awarenessState of perceiving reality
stillness · perfection · wholeness · unconditioned · unborn · deathless · immaculate · primordial · innate · radiance
meditation
Focused attention practice
- mindfulnessAwareness of the present
- zazenZen seated meditation
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
self-inquiry · recognition · transmission · realization · uncovering · unveiling · polishing · mirror · reflection · contemplation
pratityasamutpada
- dharmakayaBuddha's absolute, formless nature
- seedEmbryonic plant capsule
- potentialLatent capacity for development
essence · ground · substratum · womb · embryo · storehouse · Zen
- Buddhist philosophyemptiness, ultimate truth, two truths, non-duality, pratityasamutpada
Buddha-natureoriginal sin
Inherited spiritual corruption
total depravity · spiritual emptiness · soullessness · defilement · benightedness
nature, Bodhisattva, Buddhism, Buddhist, Dharma, Buddha, Buddhahood