Definition
Reading: nyoraizo / Sanskrit: tathāgatagarbha
如来蔵 (Tathagatagarbha) is a term meaning the "womb of the Buddha" or the "hidden treasury of the Buddha." It is the philosophy that the nature of enlightenment is inherently present within all living beings. It describes a state where the Dharmakaya, the universal truth of the universe, dwells inside us even when it is covered by worldly desires. This teaching provides the foundation for "hope" and "dignity," showing that we do not bring in a Buddha from the outside through practice. Instead, anyone can become a Buddha by awakening to the truth already within themselves. This idea is built upon three perspectives: the Kegon view that the Dharmakaya is present everywhere in the universe, the Esoteric view that one can become one with Mahavairocana through their own body, and the Zen view that the person practicing zazen is the very manifestation of the Buddha.
Q&A
- Q: Why are different ideas like Zen, Esoteric Buddhism, and Kegon mixed together?
- A: This is because Japanese Buddhism has integrated these ideas over a long history to understand the Dharmakaya more deeply and from many angles. While the Zen taught by Bodhidharma is extremely simple, the question of "What am I?" leads us to the universal connections of Kegon and the physical experiences of Esoteric Buddhism. These perspectives fit together like pieces of a puzzle. Although these traditions interacted in India and China, it is a very unique evolution in Japan that the walls between Zen, Esoteric Buddhism, and Kegon were removed to create such a deep and unified system.
