Buddha Nature

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My personal opinion is that the Buddha Nature isn't the self and that it only affirms the potential of enlightenment for every sentient being. Also, I came upon the idea of the Buddha is the Dharma/Dhamma in one of the books by Ajahn Chah

Amazing, Doug! This is the best video about Buddha Nature (its origins and development) which I've ever watched so far! Thanks a lot! 🐱🙏 The view that Buddha Nature is something (some thing) resembles - imho - the Vedic idea that "Atman (individual 'soul') has to become one with Brahman (universal 'soul')" a lot. So much that I dare to say it contradicts the Buddhist No-Self so massively that it's not really Buddhist anymore... 🐱🙏

“ Oh Nobly Born , sons and daughters awake and understand WHO YOU ARE .” ❤

This I fell into cessation several times, and one of them it saw a disc of white light resting over an ocean of black water, it feels like its the root of mind resting on the colective unconcious. Thanks for so much great content :face-red-heart-shape:

Hello Doug, Thank you for your videos. I’m currently doing my master’s in theology, and my studies have made me more curious to learn about other religions and philosophies. I’m delighted to see that there are similarities both in the scholarship and in the philosophical/theological ideas.

Incredibly well explained. Probably the best video about this subject. Thanks.

If I heard the concluding words correctly it really is that simple Increase the positive Eliminate the negative Cultivate compassion Buddha nature is every time we turn away from the distractions of the world - when we help others recognize the worldly dharmas and when we work to make positive change in the world for no other reason besides positive change There have been many buddhas - many and probably most of which have never heard of the Buddha we think of It’s mind state and action and not a magical rank earned through dogmatic belief

Mahayana texts developed with the influence of Sanskrit and Hindi culture after the end of Nanda dynasty in Magadha. Early Buddhists used Prakrit languages until Hindi/Urdu language took power.

A clear commentary on the Buddha Nature concept and it's development. Well done!

Zhentong (1) The natural, beginningless absence from the clear light level of mental activity of "other" levels of mental activity, which are all limited by fleeting stains. (2) Voidness, beyond words and concepts and which can only be cognized non-conceptually: it is "other" than the voidnesses of truly established existence, truly established non-existence, both and neither, which can only be cognized conceptually. - From the Berzin archives

Perfect timing ❤

The concept of buddha nature seems so confusing when I read about it, because it's described so differently in literature. At one point I was reading about tibetan buddhism and came across the subject and I was so confused when it was described as a permanent and everlasting self. I thought this is definitely not in accordance with what the Buddha taught about non-self. Now I see that it must have been a particular tibetan school that supports the view of shentong about a permanent and everlasting self. It's strange that this particular tibetan school supports such a view when it seems to directly contradict the original buddhist teachings of non-self, but still consider themselves buddhist. It seems more like what the upanishads where teaching, which the Buddha opposed. Great video and thanks for making it clear about this subject!

I love this type of concept-history videos. I think that early and later Mahayana gave us some of the highest peaks on philosophical buddhist concepts, but sometimes these speculations have gone too far compared to the early pragmatic view taught by the Buddha.

Great, Doug. Keep'em coming and thanks! To me, personally, that's too much thinking altogether. Too much attachment to doctrines.

Thank you !

I always appreciate your content my friend. From the usual French monk in Thailand. Keep it up

I like that solution you mentioned, that Buddha nature is non-self. I could be wrong, I believe that’s how our Kwan Um School interprets it. To access Buddha nature, you go to a “before thinking” mind.

BUDDHA is your mind And the Way goes nowhere. Don’t look for anything but this. -Ryokan

Interesting concept Buddha nature. I spoke to a monk once and told me that due to the lack of interest in early Chinese Buddhism, which predates Zen in Japan by many centuries, that they introduced the idea of Buddha nature to get more bums on seats. I once asked "Does Buddha nature not change"? It really put the cat amongst the pigeons