Definition
Reading: Bussho / Reading (ZH): Fóxìng / Sanskrit: Buddhā-dhātu
仏性 (Buddha-nature) is the possibility of becoming a Buddha. 大乗仏教 (Mahayana Buddhism) teaches that anyone can become a Buddha, and it emphasizes the pure nature of the original mind. To explain this more specifically, people say that 如来蔵 (the Tathagatagarbha), which means the child of the Tathagata, exists inside us. The word "Buddha-nature" was first used in 涅槃経 (the Nirvana Sutra) of Mahayana Buddhism. Tathagatagarbha and Buddha-nature are special terms of Mahayana Buddhism that did not exist in Early Buddhism or Abhidharma Buddhism. The Nirvana Sutra teaches that "all living beings have Buddha-nature." This teaching is called 一切衆生悉有仏性 (Universal Buddha-nature, Issai Shujo Shitsu-u Bussho) in Japanese. You can also read this term as "Shittsu Bussho."
Q&A
- Q: Why can we not reach enlightenment just as we are, even though we have Buddha-nature?
- A: Because, although Buddha-nature is naturally inside us, it is covered by "defilements" like worldly desires and attachments (Avidya) from birth, so we cannot realize our inner Buddha-nature as we are.
