tathagatagarbha
Tathagatagarbha is a Buddhist concept meaning "buddha-nature" or "buddha-embryo"—the idea that all sentient beings possess an innate potential for enlightenment.
The term combines *tathagata* (one who has thus gone—a buddha) with *garbha* (womb, embryo, or essence).
Central to Mahayana Buddhism, it suggests that awakening isn't acquired but uncovered, like clearing clouds to reveal the sun already shining.
Profound spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- dharmakayaBuddha's absolute, formless nature
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- suchnessEssential nature of reality
atman · essence · seed · potential · unconditioned · deathless · unborn
Release from constraint
- realizationGrasping what's true
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- defilementsActs of corrupting purity
- obscurationsThings that block clarity
purification · path · practice · meditation · recognition · uncovering · actualizing · latent
Absence of substance
- essentialismDoctrine of fixed natures
- monismSingle-substance metaphysics
- non-dualityAbsence of fundamental division
- permanenceQuality of lasting indefinitely
impermanence · selflessness · paradox · ontology · Hinduism · Vedanta · critique · controversy
Explanatory notes on texts
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
- translationConverting between languages
- provisionalConditional and possibly temporary
enlightenment
Profound spiritual awakening
- nirvanaRelease from cyclical existence
- dharmakayaBuddha's absolute, formless nature
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
suchness · atman · essence · seed · potential · unconditioned · deathless · unborn
liberation
Release from constraint
- realizationGrasping what's true
- awakeningReturn to consciousness
- defilementsActs of corrupting purity
obscurations · purification · path · practice · meditation · recognition · uncovering · actualizing · latent · inherent
emptiness
Absence of substance
- essentialismDoctrine of fixed natures
- monismSingle-substance metaphysics
- non-dualityAbsence of fundamental division
permanence · impermanence · selflessness · paradox · ontology · Hinduism · Vedanta · critique · controversy · interpretation
commentaries
Explanatory notes on texts
- exegesisCritical textual interpretation
- hermeneuticsStudy of interpretation methods
- translationConverting between languages
- Buddha-naturedharmakaya, true nature, suchness, natural state, true self
- Buddhist conceptskarma, nirvana, dharma, samsara, Four Noble Truths
- Buddhist philosophyemptiness, ultimate truth, two truths, non-duality, pratityasamutpada
- Mahayana Buddhismbodhisattva, emptiness, prajnaparamita, mind training, Tara
- BuddhismBuddha, dharma wheel, Four Noble Truths, nirvana, dharma
- Buddhist HistoryBuddha, Mahayana, Theravada, councils, stupas