Buddha Nature Talks

In Buddhist philosophy, Buddha-nature is the potential for all sentient beings to become a Buddha or the fact that all beings already have a pure buddha-essence within. "Buddha-nature" is the common English translation for several related Mahayana Buddhist terms, most notably tathāgatagarbha and buddhadhātu, but also sugatagarbha, and buddhagarbha. Tathāgatagarbha can mean "the womb" or "embryo" (garbha) of the "thus-gone one" (tathāgata), and can also mean "containing a tathāgata". Buddhadhātu can mean "buddha-element," "buddha-realm" or "buddha-substrate".

Buddha-nature has a wide range of (sometimes conflicting) meanings in Indian and later East Asian and Tibetan Buddhist literature. Broadly speaking, it refers to the belief that the luminous mind, "the natural and true state of the mind," which is pure (visuddhi) mind undefiled by kleshas, is inherently present in every sentient being, and is eternal and unchanging. It will shine forth when it is cleansed of the defilements, that is, when the nature of mind is recognised for what it is.

The Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra (written 2nd century CE), which was very influential in the Chinese reception of these teachings, linked the concept of tathāgatagarbha with the buddhadhātu. The term buddhadhātu originally referred to buddha relics. In the Mahāparinirvāṇa, it came to be used in place of the concept of tathāgatagārbha, reshaping the worship of physical buddha relics of the Buddha into worship of the inner Buddha as a principle of salvation.

The primordial or undefiled mind, the tathagatagarbha, is also often equated with emptiness; with the alayavijñana ("storehouse-consciousness", a yogacara concept); and with the interpenetration of all dharmas (in East Asian traditions like Huayan). Buddha nature ideas are central to East Asian Buddhism, which relies on key buddha-nature sources like the Mahāparinirvāṇa. In Tibetan Buddhism, buddha-nature ideas are also important, and are often studied through the key Indian treatise on buddha-nature, the Ratnagotravibhāga.

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Title	Speaker	Date
OLD - Wherever You Are, Enlightenment Is There Serial: SR-00143 Sesshin: First Night Lecture, “I Don't Know Zazen” September 1969 Tassajara Knowing that we have buddha nature even while we are in the... Buddha Nature, lecture, Hate, zen, Pain, reality	Suzuki Roshi	[field_wisdom_date] Tassajara
OLD - Wherever You Are, Enlightenment Is There Serial: SF-05912 Copy Master Suzuki Roshi 1969 summer sesshin lecture #1 - duplicate Five Ranks, Family Practice, Composure, Buddha Nature, Hate, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	[field_wisdom_date] Tassajara
Wisdom Seeks For Wisdom Serial: SF-05128A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #2, by Shundo David Haye ===== Among the tapes previously known to exist in the Zen Center archives, the earliest were from a sesshin... Precepts, Genjokoan, Instruction, Precepts, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Buddha Mind,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 22 1965 Los Altos
Forgotten the Value of Religion Serial: SF-05101A ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #5, by Shundo David Haye ===== The oldest recordings of Suzuki Roshi made at Sokoji, the home of the San Francisco Zen Center at the... Sesshin, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Inmost Nature, Religion, Don't Know Mind, Buddha...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 27 1965 1:00pm Sokoji
OLD - If You Understand Bodhisattva Mind in a Dualistic Way Serial: 65-07-28-C Sesshin Lecture Wednesday, July 28, 1965, 1 PM, Lecture C Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Shobogenzo, Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, Religion, Pain	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 28 1965 C Sokoji
If You Understand Bodhisattva Mind In A Dualistic Way Serial: SF-05126D Tape 3 Summer Sesshin July 1965 - Wednesday July 28 1965 Tape 3 Side 1: Wednesday 1pm lecture - transcribed; copied June 30 1973; SR001 Sesshin, Shobogenzo, Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, confusion	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 28 1965 C Sokoji
OLD - If You Understand Bodhisattva Mind In A Dualistic Way Serial: SF-05260A Tape #1 Summer Sesshin Wed July 28 1965; side 2: 1pm instruction, continued on tape #2 - (copy) first of three tapes: SR001 Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 28 1965 Sokoji
OLD -If You Understand Bodhisattva Mind In A Dualistic Way Serial: SF-05901B 1pm lecture (continued on tape #2) Buddha Nature, Buddha Mind, Anger, Religion, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 28 1965 Sokoji
OLD - Some More Questions Serial: 65-07-29-C Sesshin, Lecture C Thursday, July 29, 1965, 6:30 PM Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Emotions, Buddha Nature, Passions, Happiness, Religion...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 29 1965 C Sokoji
OLD - Questions Serial: 65-07-29-B Sesshin Lecture, Lecture B Thursday, July 29, 1965, 1 PM Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Emotions, Demons, Anger, Culture,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 29 1965 B Sokoji
OLD - Purpose of Practice is to have Direct Experience of Buddha Serial: 65-07-29-A Sesshin Lecture, Lecture A Thursday, July 29, 1965, 9 AM Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Evil, Family Practice, Balance, Wisdom, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 29 1965 A Sokoji
The Purpose of Practice is to Have a Direct Experience of Buddha Serial: SF-05103B Tape 4 Summer Sesshin 1965: Thursday July 29 9am lecture - transcribed Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Evil, Precepts, Ego, Instruction	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 29 1965 A Sokoji
Some More Questions Serial: SF-05104A Tape 5 Summer sesshin 1965 Thursday July 29th Side 1 - 6pm lecture; Continues on Side 2 [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Precepts, Emotions, Buddha Nature, Passions, training,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 29 1965 C Sokoji
Questions Serial: SF-05103C Tape 4 Summer Sesshin 1965: Thursday July 29 1pm lecture - transcribed Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Priest, Faith, Demons, Religion...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 29 1965 B Sokoji
OLD - Science or Philosophy is Like a Dissection Serial: 65-07-30-B Sesshin Lecture, Lecture B Friday, July 30, 1965, 9 AM Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Peace, Buddha Nature, Instruction, Meditation, Truth	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 30 1965 B Sokoji
OLD - Do You Have Some Questions? Serial: 65-07-30-D Sesshin Lecture Thursday, July 30, 1965, 6 PM, Lecture D Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Transmission, Emotions, training, Happiness, Truth,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 30 1965 D Sokoji
OLD - If You Have A Question Serial: 65-07-30-C Sesshin Lecture Friday, July 30, 1965, 1 PM Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Death, Religion, Peace, Consciousness,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 30 1965 C Sokoji
Don't Be Bothered By Your Mind / Science of Philosophy is Like a Dissection Serial: SF-05104C Tape 5 Summer sesshin 1965 Thursday July 29th Side 2: 5:45 meditation, 9:00 AM lecture [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Peace, Buddha Nature, Current Events, Bodhidharma, Passions, Instruction,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 30 1965 A-B Sokoji
Do You Have Some Questions? Serial: SF-05107A Tape 7 Summer 1965 Sesshin: Side 1 Friday evening lecture (transcribed) [Case replaced 12/95. Original notes were transcribed verbatim - WKR] Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Transmission, training, Emotions, Buddha Nature,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 30 1965 D Sokoji
If You Have A Question Serial: SF-05105B Tape 6 Friday July 30 Side 1: 1pm lecture (continued on side 2) - transcribed Sesshin, Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Religion, Peace, Obstacles, confusion,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 30 1965 C Sokoji
OLD - Untitled Serial: 65-07-31 Saturday, July 31, 1965 Transcript in Progress – Problem Audio – Partial Thorsten Baer got this far. He is German and not sure about capitalization so did not use... Question-and-Answer, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, zen, reality, Balance, Happiness,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 31 1965
Saturday Evening Lecture Serial: SF-05117A Tape VIII (?) Side 1 Sat eve lecture (1 - 60); Side 2 Sat eve lecture (1-15?) Question-and-Answer, Daily Life, Buddha Nature, Happiness, Balance, Bell, Evil, Hate...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 31 1965 Sokoji
Where There is Some Limitation, There is Universality Serial: SF-05114B ===== Awakening the Archive - Tape #9, by Shundo David Haye ===== This talk is found on the same reel as the one previously discussed (https://suzukiroshi.engagewisdom.... Sesshin, Dogen, Buddha Nature, Faith, Evil, confusion, Freedom, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Feb 18 1966 Sokoji
Genjō Kōan, 1–3 Serial: SF-05095-C Sesshin Lecture: Genjo-Koan, Paragraphs 1–3 Sunday Morning, March 13, 1966, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco Sesshin, Dogen, Genjokoan, Duality, Faith, Buddha Nature, Attachment, Discrimination...	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 13 1966 A Sokoji
Ten Precepts Serial: SF-05098-B Sunday morning lecture by Suzuki Roshi June 19 1966 (19 added later?) Other notes on box: Incomplete (muddled) late on then ends. "Other side... Precepts, Precepts, Freedom, Observe, Faith, Buddha Nature, Priest	Suzuki Roshi	Jun 19 1966 C Sokoji
Shobogenzo Serial: SF-05097-D Sesshin Lecture 1966 Tape #2 Track 1 contd: Most of Suzuki's 6pm Lecture, Thursday evening continued on track 4 Track 4 continuation and finish of 6pm lecture of... Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Subject-and-Object, Attachment, Buddha Nature,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 18 1966 C Sokoji
OLD - Shōbōgenzō Serial: SR-00092 Friday, August 19, 1966 Sesshin Lecture: Friday Morning, Lecture A Sokoji, San Francisco Translation and discussion of fascicle Shobogenzo Sokushin Ze Butsu... Sesshin, Sixth Patriarch, Dogen, Shobogenzo, Subject-and-Object, War, Faith, Lay,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 19 1966 A Sokoji
OLD - The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking Mind Serial: SF-05838 This had been labeled as A - transript matches B. temporary audio from this date hidden - SDH Saturday, December 17, 1966 DECEMBER ONE-DAY SESSHIN LECTURE:... Sesshin, Dogen, training, New Year, Don't Know Mind, Buddha Nature, Practice...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji
The Need for Training in Buddhism without Self-Seeking Mind Serial: SF-05121B Original recording Sesshin, Dogen, training, Buddha Nature, Hate, Observe, Instruction, Doubt	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 17 1966 B Sokoji
Zen Is Also Buddhism Serial: SF-05130C SR013 date? Fall 1967 Tassajara III - Side 1 + 1/2 side 2 Suzuki lecture copied Mahayana, New Year, Buddha Nature, Hate, Observe, Concentration, Balance, Freedom,...	Suzuki Roshi	Sep 1967 Tassajara
True Practice Serial: SF-05133-B Evening Sesshin Lecture Friday Evening, December 1, 1967, Lecture B Zen Mountain Center Sesshin, Zuigan, Fox, Gratitude, Fox, Buddha Nature, Addiction, Discrimination,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 01 1967 B Tassajara
OLD - Inner Power of Practice Serial: SF-05828 SR-67-12-04-A (start) (finish) - This tape repeated 67-12-02, but section at end was missing section of 67-12-01 and -02! Monastic Practice, Concentration, Precepts, Buddha Nature, Conversation, Beginners,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 02 1967 Tassajara
Inner Power of Practice Serial: SF-05137A SR017 - Track 1 - slow - Roshi Lecture - 12/2/67 - afternoon - copied Sesshin, Blue Cliff Record, Concentration, Precepts, Monastic Practice, New Year,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 02 1967 Tassajara
OLD - Everything Itself Is Buddha Serial: 67-12-06-B Evening Sesshin Lecture Wednesday, December 6, 1967, Lecture B Tassajara Sesshin, Buddha Nature, American, Observe, Beginners, Hate, Forms, Building, Death,...	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 06 1967 B Tassajara
Everything Itself Is Buddha Serial: SF-05140A SR20 - Reel #5 Suzuki track 1 - Roshi's lecture sesshin #7 12/6/67 Afternoon - copied (This audio is only the first part of the talk) Sesshin, Buddha Nature, Buddha Nature, Observe, Hate, Faith	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 06 1967 B Tassajara
Shuso Ceremony Serial: SF-05143C SR023 Last 2/3 side 2 Philip's discussion ceremony - copied 2 tapes [there are also photographs of hand-written notes on missing portions of Q&A - per tape operator... Sesshin, Shuso Ceremony, Big Mind, Bell, Bodhidharma, Gratitude, Buddha Nature,...	Suzuki Roshi, Philip Wilson	Apr 23 1968 C Tassajara
OLD - What is Soto and what is Rinzai? Buddha Nature, Bodhidharma, Family Practice, Mahayana, Bowing, Death, Diversity,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 21 1968 Tassajara
What is Soto and what is Rinzai? Serial: SF-05144A SR024 Tass July 26/68 Roshi Sectarianism copied; July 21 Chino Sensei; July 24 Chino Sensei - also many handwritten notes on the content NB: the date for the SR talk in... Soto Zen, Rinzai, Buddha Nature, Bodhidharma, Evil, Bowing, Mahayana, Gratitude, Ego...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 26 1968 Tassajara
Lotus Sutra, Lecture No. II-5 Serial: SR-00100 Fall, 1968 Lotus Sutra, Wisdom, Discrimination, Perfect Wisdom, Monks, Mahayana, Buddha Nature,...	Suzuki Roshi	Oct 1968 Series 2, Talk 5 Tassajara
True Happiness and Renewal of Practice at Year's End Serial: SF-05970-A Newly uploaded recording of this talk. Happiness, Buddha Nature, Happiness, Buddha Nature, Composure, Observe	Suzuki Roshi	Dec 21 1968 Sokoji
Sun-Faced Buddha, Moon-Faced Buddha Serial: SR-00009 Sunday, March 9, 1969 Sokoji, San Francisco Koan story of sun-faced buddha, moon-faced buddha. Practicing while well or while sick. Accepting what we don't like.... Baso, Koan, Blue Cliff Record, Attachment, Composure, Discrimination, difficulty,...	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 09 1969 Sokoji
Find Out for Yourself Serial: SR-00011 Find out what "buddha-nature" and "enlightenment" mean. Study without purpose. How his teacher in Japan treated him; trying to discover the right thing to do. Sesshin, Zazen, Eiheiji, Suffering, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Beginners, Posture, zen,...	Suzuki Roshi	Mar 15 1969 Sokoji
The Only Desire That Is Complete Is Buddha's Desire Buddha Nature, Freedom, difficulty, Wisdom, War, Culture, Posture, lecture, Precepts...	Suzuki Roshi	Apr 08 1969
Jumping Off the 100-Foot Pole Serial: SR-00016 Sunday Lecture Sunday, April 20, 1969 Buddha Nature, Evil, Priest, Big Mind, Compassion, Continuous, reality	Suzuki Roshi	Apr 20 1969
Rinzai Zen and Soto Zen Serial: SR-00033 July 1969 San Francisco Morning. Dogen, Buddha Nature, Evil, Freedom, Priest, Ego, Tassajara, Transmission, Culture,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 1969 Sokoji
I have nothing in my mind Emptiness, Forms, Zazen, Buddha Nature, Freedom, Passions, Interview, Beginners,...	Suzuki Roshi	Jul 15 1969 Sokoji
Question and Answer Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Suffering, Separation, Pain, American, Anger,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 25 1969 Tassajara
OLD - Question and Answer Serial: SR-00134 This is another version of 00083, which had been incorrectly dated. This is an incomplete version although the audio has been improved. Set aside as duplicate. Question-and-Answer, Buddha Nature, Attachment, Suffering, American, Separation,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 25 1969 Tassajara
OLD - Questions And Answers Serial: SR-00082 Set aside as duplicate. Question-and-Answer, Breath, Concentration, Family Practice, Emptiness, Pain, sitting...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 28 1969 Tassajara
Some Questions Question-and-Answer, Breath, Buddha Nature, Posture, sitting, Tassajara, Offering,...	Suzuki Roshi	Aug 28 1969 Tassajara

Buddha Nature Talks

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