Where does it say 'You Are Already Enlightened'?
I've heard Zen Buddhism characterised by the notion of 'Everyone is already enlightened'. Is that correct? - does Zen Buddhism actually say that and if so can someone give a reference to a text where it actually says that or something like it.
Many thanks as always
reference-request zen
asked 4 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
12.9k544121
add a comment |
I've heard Zen Buddhism characterised by the notion of 'Everyone is already enlightened'. Is that correct? - does Zen Buddhism actually say that and if so can someone give a reference to a text where it actually says that or something like it.
Many thanks as always
reference-request zen
asked 4 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
12.9k544121
add a comment |
I've heard Zen Buddhism characterised by the notion of 'Everyone is already enlightened'. Is that correct? - does Zen Buddhism actually say that and if so can someone give a reference to a text where it actually says that or something like it.
Many thanks as always
reference-request zen
asked 4 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
12.9k544121
I've heard Zen Buddhism characterised by the notion of 'Everyone is already enlightened'. Is that correct? - does Zen Buddhism actually say that and if so can someone give a reference to a text where it actually says that or something like it.
Many thanks as always
reference-request zen
reference-request zen
asked 4 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
12.9k544121
asked 4 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
12.9k544121
asked 4 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
12.9k544121
asked 4 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
12.9k544121
asked 4 hours ago
Crab BucketCrab Bucket
12.9k544121
12.9k544121
add a comment |
add a comment |
2 Answers
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It's a basic Mahayana doctrine, important in other schools as well as Zen.
Hongaku is an East Asian Buddhist doctrine often translated as
"inherent", "innate", "intrinsic" or "original" enlightenment... It is
first mentioned in the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana scripture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongaku
Wikipedia also says it can be traced back to sayings of the Buddha in the Anguttara Nikaya: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha-nature#Earliest_sources
answered 3 hours ago
Gavin SerraGavin Serra
687316
add a comment |
It's the most standard Mahayana teaching. The references are too numerous to cite, almost every other text has statements to this effect. However, it should never say "You are already Enlightened" (or anything naive like that), the phrases are more nuanced and the meaning is more subtle.
For example, it may say, "Our nature is fundamentally pure" or "Your original nature is no different from that of the Buddhas" etc. - in an attempt to turn our attention to the existential conflict between our dualistic mind of "this is wrong and I need to be something else" and the perfect suchness of Nirvana in the here-and-now.
Now, if you speak with an actual Zen (or another Mahayana) teacher, they will be quick to point out that even though our primordial nature is indeed Nirvana, the habits of craving and clinging are extremely difficult to overcome on the spot, which is why we must cultivate Sila/Prajna/Samadhi.
So in some sense the teaching has two sides and which one your teacher will drum depends on which way you lean in your particular state of confusion. If you are inclined to be complacent they will drum the Path and if you are obsessed with the goal, they will drum Buddha-Nature. It's kinda frustrating because you end up being wrong no matter which position you take. It's only when you mature beyond positions is when this contradiction resolves.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
37.7k330108
Thank you (again) for the answer. I had a thought that "You are already Enlightened" (naive) was actually an advanced teaching. Is that correct / got some truth to it?
– Crab Bucket
42 mins ago
add a comment |
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2 Answers
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2 Answers
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It's a basic Mahayana doctrine, important in other schools as well as Zen.
Hongaku is an East Asian Buddhist doctrine often translated as
"inherent", "innate", "intrinsic" or "original" enlightenment... It is
first mentioned in the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana scripture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongaku
Wikipedia also says it can be traced back to sayings of the Buddha in the Anguttara Nikaya: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha-nature#Earliest_sources
answered 3 hours ago
Gavin SerraGavin Serra
687316
add a comment |
It's a basic Mahayana doctrine, important in other schools as well as Zen.
Hongaku is an East Asian Buddhist doctrine often translated as
"inherent", "innate", "intrinsic" or "original" enlightenment... It is
first mentioned in the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana scripture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongaku
Wikipedia also says it can be traced back to sayings of the Buddha in the Anguttara Nikaya: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha-nature#Earliest_sources
answered 3 hours ago
Gavin SerraGavin Serra
687316
add a comment |
It's a basic Mahayana doctrine, important in other schools as well as Zen.
Hongaku is an East Asian Buddhist doctrine often translated as
"inherent", "innate", "intrinsic" or "original" enlightenment... It is
first mentioned in the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana scripture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongaku
Wikipedia also says it can be traced back to sayings of the Buddha in the Anguttara Nikaya: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha-nature#Earliest_sources
answered 3 hours ago
Gavin SerraGavin Serra
687316
It's a basic Mahayana doctrine, important in other schools as well as Zen.
Hongaku is an East Asian Buddhist doctrine often translated as
"inherent", "innate", "intrinsic" or "original" enlightenment... It is
first mentioned in the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana scripture.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hongaku
Wikipedia also says it can be traced back to sayings of the Buddha in the Anguttara Nikaya: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha-nature#Earliest_sources
answered 3 hours ago
Gavin SerraGavin Serra
687316
answered 3 hours ago
Gavin SerraGavin Serra
687316
answered 3 hours ago
Gavin SerraGavin Serra
687316
answered 3 hours ago
Gavin SerraGavin Serra
687316
687316
add a comment |
add a comment |
It's the most standard Mahayana teaching. The references are too numerous to cite, almost every other text has statements to this effect. However, it should never say "You are already Enlightened" (or anything naive like that), the phrases are more nuanced and the meaning is more subtle.
For example, it may say, "Our nature is fundamentally pure" or "Your original nature is no different from that of the Buddhas" etc. - in an attempt to turn our attention to the existential conflict between our dualistic mind of "this is wrong and I need to be something else" and the perfect suchness of Nirvana in the here-and-now.
Now, if you speak with an actual Zen (or another Mahayana) teacher, they will be quick to point out that even though our primordial nature is indeed Nirvana, the habits of craving and clinging are extremely difficult to overcome on the spot, which is why we must cultivate Sila/Prajna/Samadhi.
So in some sense the teaching has two sides and which one your teacher will drum depends on which way you lean in your particular state of confusion. If you are inclined to be complacent they will drum the Path and if you are obsessed with the goal, they will drum Buddha-Nature. It's kinda frustrating because you end up being wrong no matter which position you take. It's only when you mature beyond positions is when this contradiction resolves.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
37.7k330108
Thank you (again) for the answer. I had a thought that "You are already Enlightened" (naive) was actually an advanced teaching. Is that correct / got some truth to it?
– Crab Bucket
42 mins ago
add a comment |
It's the most standard Mahayana teaching. The references are too numerous to cite, almost every other text has statements to this effect. However, it should never say "You are already Enlightened" (or anything naive like that), the phrases are more nuanced and the meaning is more subtle.
For example, it may say, "Our nature is fundamentally pure" or "Your original nature is no different from that of the Buddhas" etc. - in an attempt to turn our attention to the existential conflict between our dualistic mind of "this is wrong and I need to be something else" and the perfect suchness of Nirvana in the here-and-now.
Now, if you speak with an actual Zen (or another Mahayana) teacher, they will be quick to point out that even though our primordial nature is indeed Nirvana, the habits of craving and clinging are extremely difficult to overcome on the spot, which is why we must cultivate Sila/Prajna/Samadhi.
So in some sense the teaching has two sides and which one your teacher will drum depends on which way you lean in your particular state of confusion. If you are inclined to be complacent they will drum the Path and if you are obsessed with the goal, they will drum Buddha-Nature. It's kinda frustrating because you end up being wrong no matter which position you take. It's only when you mature beyond positions is when this contradiction resolves.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
37.7k330108
Thank you (again) for the answer. I had a thought that "You are already Enlightened" (naive) was actually an advanced teaching. Is that correct / got some truth to it?
– Crab Bucket
42 mins ago
add a comment |
It's the most standard Mahayana teaching. The references are too numerous to cite, almost every other text has statements to this effect. However, it should never say "You are already Enlightened" (or anything naive like that), the phrases are more nuanced and the meaning is more subtle.
For example, it may say, "Our nature is fundamentally pure" or "Your original nature is no different from that of the Buddhas" etc. - in an attempt to turn our attention to the existential conflict between our dualistic mind of "this is wrong and I need to be something else" and the perfect suchness of Nirvana in the here-and-now.
Now, if you speak with an actual Zen (or another Mahayana) teacher, they will be quick to point out that even though our primordial nature is indeed Nirvana, the habits of craving and clinging are extremely difficult to overcome on the spot, which is why we must cultivate Sila/Prajna/Samadhi.
So in some sense the teaching has two sides and which one your teacher will drum depends on which way you lean in your particular state of confusion. If you are inclined to be complacent they will drum the Path and if you are obsessed with the goal, they will drum Buddha-Nature. It's kinda frustrating because you end up being wrong no matter which position you take. It's only when you mature beyond positions is when this contradiction resolves.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
37.7k330108
It's the most standard Mahayana teaching. The references are too numerous to cite, almost every other text has statements to this effect. However, it should never say "You are already Enlightened" (or anything naive like that), the phrases are more nuanced and the meaning is more subtle.
For example, it may say, "Our nature is fundamentally pure" or "Your original nature is no different from that of the Buddhas" etc. - in an attempt to turn our attention to the existential conflict between our dualistic mind of "this is wrong and I need to be something else" and the perfect suchness of Nirvana in the here-and-now.
Now, if you speak with an actual Zen (or another Mahayana) teacher, they will be quick to point out that even though our primordial nature is indeed Nirvana, the habits of craving and clinging are extremely difficult to overcome on the spot, which is why we must cultivate Sila/Prajna/Samadhi.
So in some sense the teaching has two sides and which one your teacher will drum depends on which way you lean in your particular state of confusion. If you are inclined to be complacent they will drum the Path and if you are obsessed with the goal, they will drum Buddha-Nature. It's kinda frustrating because you end up being wrong no matter which position you take. It's only when you mature beyond positions is when this contradiction resolves.
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
37.7k330108
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
37.7k330108
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
37.7k330108
answered 1 hour ago
Andrei Volkov♦Andrei Volkov
37.7k330108
37.7k330108
Thank you (again) for the answer. I had a thought that "You are already Enlightened" (naive) was actually an advanced teaching. Is that correct / got some truth to it?
– Crab Bucket
42 mins ago
add a comment |
Thank you (again) for the answer. I had a thought that "You are already Enlightened" (naive) was actually an advanced teaching. Is that correct / got some truth to it?
– Crab Bucket
42 mins ago
Thank you (again) for the answer. I had a thought that "You are already Enlightened" (naive) was actually an advanced teaching. Is that correct / got some truth to it?
– Crab Bucket
42 mins ago
Thank you (again) for the answer. I had a thought that "You are already Enlightened" (naive) was actually an advanced teaching. Is that correct / got some truth to it?
– Crab Bucket
42 mins ago
add a comment |
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