The term "tatha- gata" is used to show that from the
beginning
of time the buddha causal ground has been within all beings.
Khenchen-Thrangu-Rinpoche-Asanga-Uttara-Tantra
The difference is simply their approach to buddha nature, but the object of their approach, enlightenment, is the same for all of them.
In more detail:
? [46] Ordinary beings approach buddha nature in a completely incorrect direction. This can be understood in an example of a rope in a dark place that someone mistakes for a snake. If one person sees it is as a snake and another person sees it as only a rope, one of them has a mistaken perception and the other the right perception even though both are looking at the same >>hing. So it is with buddha nature: ordinary beings see it incorrectly and the
bodhisattvas see it correctly. But there is still a third way to see it, the Buddhas see buddha nature just as it is with their direct, clear, extensive, vast, and complete vision. The bodhisattvas, for instance, see it clearly, but do not see it in its entirety. So it is said that the Buddhas see buddha nature completely, just as it is, with the complete absence of
conceptual interference.
7. Phases
[47] The seventh point describes buddha nature in terms of phases: the impure phase, the slightly impure phase, and the totally pure phase. The impure phase is the stage of ordinary beings in which buddha nature is obscured by the emotional and cognitive obscurations. The mixed phase is purer than the first, but there are still some impurities left. There are two kinds impurities--impurities from insight and impurities from cultivation of this insight.
The bodhisattvas are in the mixed stage and have re- linquished impurities of insight which are intellectually created perceptions. Usually one has many concepts about things and generally sees phenomena in a distorted way. The bodhisattvas have eliminated the concepts that obscure
? the true nature of things, but they haven't dispelled the "innate obscuration" which can only be eliminated by cultivation of this insight. The Buddhas, on the other hand, are in the third stage of having purified all obscurations. [48] In summary, buddha nature is described in terms of three phases of impure, partially pure, and completely pure. These are similar to the six points of nature, cause, and so on. This impure phase corresponds to ordinary beings; partially pure to bodhisattvas, and completely pure to tathagatas.
8. All-pervasiveness
[49] All-pervasive means that buddha nature embraces everything with nothing left out. For example, space is all- pervasive: It is everywhere and contains everything. Of the two natures of the mind (emptiness and clarity) emptiness is compared to space. The clarity is given the name "immaculate space. " Immaculate space is the name for Buddhahood and is all-pervasive in all beings.
[50] In logic there are general and particular charac- teristics of things. A general characteristic would be some- thing like impermanence which applies to all phenomena. A particular characteristic would be like fire is hot and burning which doesn't apply to other phenomena. Buddha nature is a general characteristic of all beings irrespective
of what qualities they possess. This is compared to space which pervades all forms and objects from very precious jewels to the most inferior objects such as rubbish--all of
which have different particular characteristics.
? 9. (Inalterability
[51] One's faults are incidental to buddha nature and one's good qualities are an inherent part of buddha nature. The nature of buddha essence is that it never changes and has just temporary faults covering it up. The qualities are inherently present in buddh nature and manifest in enlightenment, rather than these qualities just begin to develop at the time of Buddhahood. So buddha nature is changeless and it is the same before and after Buddhahood. [52] Unalterability in the phase of ordinary beings is unalterable for four reasons. First, it is like space which is void and pervades everything and there isn't one object in the universe that isn't permeated by space. Because the
nature of space is extremely subtle, its nature is not altered by the objects whether it surrounds pure or polluted objects. From the beginning, buddha nature has been present in all beings but it was covered by the impurities of anger, jealousy, stupidity, etc. which don't affect the nature of this buddha nature. So buddha essence is unaffected by the impurities just as space is unaffected by the objects it
contains.
[53] Second, if the nature is unalterable, consider all the universes which are made up of the elements. When the universe first begins, it has to manifest in space and when it
disintegrates, it disintegrates in space. All this occurs in space, but space itself doesn't change or decompose. In the same way, buddha nature contains the five aggregates, elements, entrances, etc. and appearances which we experience. Everything arises and disintegrates in the uncreated space of buddha nature.
? [54] Third, one may think the process of arising and dis- integration may change the space so that it will be destroyed. But space has never been destroyed by fires. Since the beginning of time countless fires have never destroyed space. In the same way, buddha essence has never been burned out by the fires of death, sickness, and old age. On the relative level, there is the appearance of birth, sickness, and old age, but these do not affect buddha nature just as fire doesn't affect space.
[55] Fourth, buddha nature is unalterable. At the formation of the universe, the earth element rested on water and this ocean rested on a great circle of air and the air rests on space. So all the elements rest on space while space rested on nothing. All the five aggregates, the elements of thought, and the sense faculties rest on karma. They arise because there is karma--that is good and bad actions--and karma rests on the defilements of attachment, aggression, and ignorance. These defilements rest on a false view of the true nature of things. This false view of reality rests on the purity or true nature of the mind. But this true nature of the mind (buddha nature) like space doesn't rest on anything. So in this example the earth is similar to the five aggregates, the water is similar to karma and the defilements, air to an improper mode of thinking, and space to buddha nature.
[58] Earth is similar to the five aggregates, 12 entrances, and 18 elements. The five aggregates are form, feeling, cognition, mental formations, and consciousness. The earth is very coarse or dense and is the element that is the basis for life. In the same way the aggregates, elements, and entrances are the basis of our experiences of pleasure and pain. Water spreads everywhere on the earth and makes it
? possible for plants to grow from the earth. In the same way, the positive and negative actions of our life determine the quality of our experiences and are motivated by defilements and a belief in a self. Water also is unstable because it moves and goes everywhere and in the same way the defilements also have this unstable way.
[59] Improper thinking is rooted in the basic ignorance of not realizing the essential nature of things. Because of this, delusion arises and is similar to air because air is very light and subtle, but animated by the slightest movement. Similarly, ignorance is very subtle and creates a very slight movement which stirs up karma and defilements.
[60] Improper thinking is not realizing the true nature of mind while proper thinking is to see phenomena correctly. In the example of seeing a rope in a dark place as a snake, the perception of a rope and snake have the same visual sensation. However, because of improper thinking, the rope is seen differently. So one can say this improper thinking rests on the nature of the mind and from it arises karma and the defilements. The actual nature of phenomena is peace and voidness and the absence of
conceptual fabrication. Because one perceives true phenomena incorrectly, one incorrectly believes
phenomena to be real. The first distortion occurs in perception of "self' and "others" and from this arises the feeling of attachment to "self' and a dislike of what is connected to others. From this distortion arises all the physical, mental, and verbal negative reactions. So the basis of this improper mode of thinking arises from karma. [61] Karma and defilements manifest in all our
experiences. Because of karma and defilements we are born in samsara and experience the various sensations
? based on the qualities of our karma. This is compared to the earth rising from the water element. The water contains many of particles of earth which arise to make solid earth. The solid substance will appear, but after a while it will disintegrate into the water element which gave birth to it. In the same way, the water of our karma and defilements arise from the aggregates, elements, and entrances of our experiences. Out of the water of our karma comes birth, old age, sickness, and death and we then sink into our karma to begin again.
[62] The true nature of the mind is compared to space because space is never created or destroyed. Likewise, the actual nature of the mind is changeless, clear, and not polluted by impurities. Space is not created by water or destroyed by fire and similarly buddha nature is not created by the water of karma and defilements or destroyed by the fire of old age, sickness, and death. The fires of death and old age are compared to the fires at of the end of time (hell fire) and ordinary fire respectively.
[66] Birth is acquiring a new set of aggregates in a particular life. Sickness and old age are alterations of the aggregates and death occurs when the aggregates terminate. The bodhisattvas are beyond old age, sickness, and death because they have realized the true nature of reality. Even though they are free from these four states, they do not try to liberate just themselves because this realization leads to a desire to free others. In more detail: [67] Even though bodhisattvas give the appearance of birth, old age, sickness, and death, they do not experience suffering themselves. The realized ones, who have reached the bodhisattva levels have eliminated the root of birth, old
age, sickness, and death because they have eliminated
? karma. They have eliminated suffering and the experience of suffering because suffering is the fruition of the defilements. The bodhisattvas have the direct realization of voidness and clarity, therefore have transcended birth, old age, sickness, and death. Even though they are beyond this, they can see that other beings haven't realized this and this arouses compassion so they continue to manifest these four states.
[69] Taking each bodhisattva level, the text begins with the "sons of the victorious ones" who are all the followers of the Buddha. In this context the text refers to those who have reached the first bodhisattva level, that is those who have gained direct realization of the true nature of phenomena and realized buddha essence without distortion so they have the "eyes of jnana. " Others who don't have this realization are like the blind and the bodhisattvas remain to help these blind individuals. These bodhisattvas don't have to return and help others, but do so out of com- passion.
[70] Those who have reached the level of the "realized ones" are in the next stage. The Tibetan word for "realized" is pag pa which literally means "higher. " These are beings who have reached a higher state and the term refers to the first level of the bodhisattva. One reaches this domain when one reaches the path of insight which is the moment when phenomena are seen directly. An ordinary being may be on the path of accumulation or the path of
junction. On these levels a person does not have this direct insight and therefore is called an "immature" being which in Tibetan means "infant. " Ordinary beings are compared to infants because they cannot eat or take care of themselves. The difference between ordinary beings and
? deeply realized beings rests completely on the absence of insight into the nature of reality. The realized bodhisattvas can manifest all the suffering in the domain of ordinary beings because they possess skillful means. This shows their realization is changeless and their suffering is an appearance to help others.
[71] Even though bodhisattvas in the second to seventh levels have transcended the defilements and karma, they do not depart from the world. When they work in the world, they do not become polluted by the defilements because they understand the true nature of phenomena. For example, a lotus grows in dirty water, but it is not dirty. In the same way, bodhisattvas are immersed in our world but they are not polluted by karma, defilements, or the suffering of our world.
[73] The main difference between bodhisattvas of the seventh and eighth level is that seventh level bodhisattvas have a slightly different experience between meditation and post-meditation. If you have dry wood, when lighted it catches fire automatically without effort. In the same way, bodhisattvas have great compassion so they automatically help other beings. Bodhisattvas on the eighth and ninth levels are constantly immersed in a state of balance, meditation on peace, so when they are helping others their minds are always in a perfect state of meditation. So there is no difference between their meditation and post- meditation.
[77] Bodhisattvas on the ninth level are very similar to bodhisattvas of the eighth level. Bodhisattvas on the tenth level have all the qualities of bodhisattvas on the eighth and ninth levels, but they are developed even further. As a result of their actions in previous lives, they have gathered
? a great amount of virtue and spiritual energy and knowledge and can help beings without any effort or having to conceptualize "I must help" because they don't believe in the substantiality of objects. When they act, it is completely spontaneous like wood being placed on a fire. Even though this action is automatic, it is extremely precise so that by sitting, coming, and going they can teach the dharma. They chose a particular style that helps beings directly, know exactly when to act, and know how to act. Some beings, for example, need miracles and clairvoyance; others need only to observe very pure conduct; still others need only to hear the dharma. Buddha activity will come when it is needed, not a few days early or a few days later.
The activity of bodhisattvas on the tenth level goes everywhere and embraces everyone and is compared to space. There are uncountable beings everywhere and the extent of their negative karma is inconceivable. The activity of the bodhisattvas goes on continuously and manifests spontaneously. These bodhisattvas act without hindrances and interference of thoughts. They are in meditation all the time. The activities of these bodhisattvas are practically the same as the Buddhas. The difference, however, between a tenth level bodhisattvas and the Buddhas is the same as the difference between the earth and an atom or the difference between the ocean and water found in a hoof-print. There is a vast difference in the
degree that they manifest.
[79] One may incorrectly think that when a bodhisattva has achieved the last stage of perfect Buddhahood, the buddha nature improves. But it doesn't change for fopr
reasons. In the pure phase, buddha nature is the dharmakaya and all the qualities are present so it can't
? change and therefore is permanent. It is eternal because Buddhahood is the constant refuge of beings and buddha activity won't end. The dharmakaya or stainless dharma- dhatu is nondual because within it is the sameness of samsara and nirvana and all these qualities are pacified because there are no conceptual differences. The fourth quality is indestructibility because it is not created by defilements or karma. It is present from the beginning, has not been created, and therefore is indestructible. In more detail:
[80] Buddha nature is unalterable because it has no birth because it has no beginning, it has no death because it has no end, it is free from sickness because it doesn't change from good to bad, and it is free from old age because it is indestructible.
When Buddhahood is achieved, there is no change in the physical body; there is also no change in the subtle body. In Buddhahood there is no body. The word kaya literally means "body. " In the nirmanakaya it looks as if the individual is taking birth and has a real body, but in the true sense it has an appearance of physical form. The dharmakaya is beyond the four extremes and eight fabrications so it has nothing to do with a body in the ordinary sense.
[81] Buddhahood is free from birth because it is permanent, it has no death because it is eternal. There is no death in the ordinary sense, but there is also the absence of even very subtle changes. This is why the Buddha can protect all beings and help all beings until the end of samsara.
[82] Buddhahood is not harmed by sickness because it has peace which overcomes the duality of samsara and
? nirvana. Since this dualistic division has ended, there is no suffering or sickness even from the fine karmic imprints that lead to a very subtle suffering. Buddhahood has no old age or degradation of the stream of existence. The Buddhas have no old age or degradation even in a subtle way from the untainted factors because Buddhahood is immutable. [83] In summary, uncreated space refers to the
emptiness aspect, while buddha nature refers to the clarity aspect. The name "buddha nature" shows it can bring forth all the qualities of the Buddha. So uncreated space has the attributes of permanence, eternity, peace, and immutability. Each refers to a different quality: the absence of birth to permanence; the absence of death to eternity; the absence of sickness to nonduality; and the absence of old age to immutability. So these qualities are unalterable.
[84] In the normal world good qualities wear out, but the qualities of Buddhahood are permanent because the body, speech, and mind of the Buddha are inexhaustible and changeless and therefore permanent. Vast numbers of beings on this earth are beset with negative karma causing an almost inexhaustible amount of impurities. For buddha activity to help purify these beings for as long as samsara lasts requires that these qualities be eternal. It also has the nature of a refuge because it is there to help beings. The third quality is nonduality. Because in Buddhahood everything isn't divided into good and bad, it is beyond this and therefore in a state of peace. The last is the quality
of indestructibility because it never vanishes because the qualities of Buddhahood are not fabricated.
At the impure level of ordinary beings the aggregates and the four elements change while buddha nature is changeless as described in the example of space. In the
? mixed phase buddha essence remained changeless even though bodhisattvas work to help all beings. In the phase of total purity the buddha essence is changeless even though the Buddhas help all beings. So buddha essence is changeless.
10. Inseparability o f the Qualities
Buddha nature is given four different names: the dharmakaya, tathagata, highest truth, and supreme nirvana. It is called the "dharmakaya" because it is the true nature of all things. It is called the "tathagata" because it is the ultimate fruition of seeing what is there. It is called the truth of the realized ones or the "highest truth" because the realized ones see phenomena as-it-is. It is called the "ultimately true nirvana" because it is beyond the suffering of samsara.
The inseparability of the four qualities is similar to the sun and the sunshine because one cannot have one without the other. The dharmakaya, the tathagata, the highest truth, and the supreme nirvana are inseparable at the stage of ordinary beings, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. When Buddhahood is achieved, there is no other nirvana beyond that and no other truths. In more detail:
[85] Untainted space is divided into the four aspects of the dharmakaya, the tathagata, the highest truth, and ultimate nirvana. The dharmakaya is the sum of all the
qualities of the Buddha (the ten powers, four fearless- nesses, etc. ) and these are inseparable.
The term "tatha- gata" is used to show that from the beginning of time the buddha causal ground has been within all beings. The term "highest truth" shows that the true nature is always present
? and contains no falsehoods. The term "nirvana" means beyond suffering because this nature is free from all impurities so there is no pain or suffering.
[87] In the fruition of Buddhahood all the aspects of knowledge are the Buddha. All the aspects of knowledge means achieving knowledge of how-it-is and the know- ledge of variety and also totally removing of all impurities and karmic imprints. The i timate achievement is
represented with Buddhahood being complete knowledge and nirvana being complete purity. Buddhahood and nirvana are not separate, however, in the ultimate sense. [88] Liberation is the direct realization of phenomena by seeing it as-they-are. Liberation has the characteristics of being inseparable, numberless, unthinkable, and stainless. All these qualities are complete in the dharmakaya.
The first example illustrates that when some of the parts are missing, the whole cannot exist. The second example shows the inseparability of different parts of a whole.
[89] Imagine some artists, each skilled in painting just one part of the body so that one artist can draw, for example, the eyes; another can draw just the arms, another
just the hair, etc. Now a king gathers these artists together and gives them a canvas and asks them to do his portrait. In the middle of the painting, one of the artists leaves the country so that the portrait can't be completed.
[92] Similarly, Buddhahood is similar to the completed picture with each artist representing the different qualities necessary to achieve Buddhahood. If all the qualities of the six paramitas are present, then all the conditions for reaching Buddhahood are there and voidness can be apprehended directly. The voidness with all the aspects is
? like the fully completed portrait of the king. The voidness is not emptiness, but the great fullness of these qualities with the quality of clarity in which all these aspects of knowledge can flourish. For this voidness to be realized all the qualities of the paramitas have to be present just as all the artists have to be present to complete the portrait.
[93] The inseparability of the qualities of prajna, jnana, and freedom is illustrated by the sun. The Tibetan word for "prajna" is sherab and this literally means "better knowledge" so prajna means the understanding without distortion both of the nominal and phenomenal aspect of things. Jnana (Tib. yeshe) is very clear cognition and is used for the cognition of the essential or nominal aspect of things. One doesn't use jnana for gaining knowledge about a river or a mountain, but reserves this for knowledge about the true nature of things. These two qualities are present as seeds in ordinary beings and are fully manifest at Buddhahood. When the impurities at the stage of ordinary beings are removed, the third quality of perfect freedom emerges. Prajna, jnana, and freedom from impurities are compared to sunlight, sun rays, and the orb of the sun and are luminous, radiant, and pure respectively. [94] Nirvana is not possible without the jnana of the Buddha. The example states that without sunlight and the sun's rays the sun cannot be seen. So the qualities of the Buddha are inseparable.
? Table 2
A Summary of the Ten Qualities of Buddha Nature
/. The nature o f buddha nature is inherently pure like:
a. a jewel b. the sky c. water
(has power) (is changeless) (compassion)
2. Thefour causes that allow b idha nature to manifest:
a. aspiration b. prajfiS
c. samSdhi
d. compassion
(to overcome dislike of dharma) (to overcome belief in self)
(to overcome fear of samsara) (to overcome selfishness)
3. Once there isfruition ofbuddha nature which is beyond samsUra and nirvana, one has the qualities of:
a. true purity
b. true identity
c. true happiness
d. true permanence(counteracts belief in self)
a. dharmakaya
b. two-fold jnana c. compassion
(vastness of ocean) (jewcls *n the ocean) (wetness of ocean)
Example of the butter lamp at fruition
a. clear cognition b. stainless jnana c. clarity
(light of the lamp) (heat of the lamp) (color of the lamp)
(counteract impurities due to karma) (counteract suffering in life) (counter impermanence of skandhas)
4. Thefunction or influence ofbuddha nature is:
a. One develops a weariness of samsara
b. One can then see the benefits of nirvana
5. The endowments o f buddha nature are:
Example of the ocean on the path
6. The approach o f beings to buddha nature is:
a. ordinary beings use the incorrect approach
? b. bodhisattvas go in the right direction
c. Buddhas are unerring and non-conceptually right 7. The phases o f buddha nature are:
a. impure b. mixed c. pure
(in ordinary beings) (in the bodhisattvas) (in the tathagatas)
8. The all-pervasiveness o f buddha nature is:
In example of space:
a. pervades all but unaffected by it
b. all arises and disintegrates in it with no effect
c. it is never consumed by fires of birth, old age, etc.
9. Buddha nature is unalterable because it has:
In the example of ordinary beings:
a. earth
b. water
c. air
d. space
In the example of the bodhisattvas:
(the aggregates, elements, and senses) (karma and the defilements) (incorrect understanding)
(clarity)
a. beyond birth
b. beyond ageing
c. beyond sickness
d. beyond death
In the example of the Buddhas:
a. permanent (the Buddhas are changeless) b. eternal (there is inexhaustible negative karma) c. nondual (inseparability of samsara and nirvana) d. indestructible (Buddhahood is not fabricated)
10. The qualities are inseparable because:
a. dharmakaya
b. tathagata
c. highest truth
d. supreme nirvana (beyond suffering)
(quality of permanence) (quality of immutability) (quality of nonduality) (quality of being eternal)
(true nature of all things) (ultimate fruition) (knowledge of how-it-is)
? CHAPTER 7 BUDDHA NATURE II:
The Nine Examples
One may still have doubts about how buddha nature is changeless, but does not manifest because of impurities. To illustrate this nine examples of buddha essence and the impurities are given.
Examples o f Buddha Nature
When the Buddha gave teachings, he didn't simply declare the truth, but he gave reasons for what he was saying. The reasons for his teachings were sometimes very apparent and at other times very obscure. The obvious teachings were the ones grasped by the senses. There are, however, teachings which cannot be grasped with sensory faculties because they were about things very far away, or very remote in time, or about karma. A particular karma will prevent one from living certain types of lives. Since one
cannot understand these more hidden meanings directly, one has to understand them through inference. For instance, if we say there's a fire behind that hill because we can see smoke, people believe it even though they can't see the actual fire because smoke is a valid sign of a fire. For a sign to be significant it must have universal applicability i. e. , whenever there is a fire, there must be smoke. The sign must also be valid, if we say there's a fire because I see a
? tree, it is an invalid sign. So a sign for showing the presence of something that is hidden must have universal
applicability and be a valid sign. The presence of buddha essence is illustrated with signs using nine examples. Then this reasoning is applied to buddha nature itself.
[96] The nine examples of beautiful things covered up by impurities are listed along with the nine impurities followed by a list of the pure things covered up. These will be elaborated below. The method for presenting each example is the same: first a verse gives the example, then a verse gives its meaning, and finally a verse presents the parallel between the example and buddha nature.
[99] Imagine an ugly, withered lotus covering a beautiful buddha statue. Someone with clairvoyance could see the statue and think that this was not a good place for such a beautiful statue and would break open the lotus shell and remove the statue. Similarly, buddha nature is in the mind of all beings, even those in the worst hell, but it is obscured by the defilements of the three poisons. The Buddhas with divine vision and great compassion see this buddha essence and help beings out of the shell of defilements. Individuals with buddha nature need to reach Buddhahood so they do not continue to suffer in samsara: therefore they need the Buddhas with their vision and their teachings to receive the tools to make this buddha nature manifest.
[102] Imagine some tasty honey which is surrounded by swarming bees. If an experienced person knows how to separate the honey from the bees, then people can enjoy the honey. This means the Buddhas with the omniscient eyes of twofold knowledge can see the buddha nature in all beings which is like the honey. The bees circling the honey
? can be removed because they aren't part of the honey. In the same way, the impurities of beings aren't part of their buddha nature and therefore can be removed allowing buddha nature to manifest. In this example, the man who knows about honey is like the Buddhas who are skilled in
removing obscurations, which are the bees.
[105] Imagine a grain of rice enclosed in its husk. Kernels of rice, buckwheat, and barley cannot be used as food when they are unhusked. Similarly, as long as buddha nature called "the lord of all qualities" is not liberated from the shell of impurities, it cannot give the taste of the joy of
dharma to beings.
[108] Imagine an individual going on a joumey and on his way he loses some pure gold which falls into some rubbish. It remains unchanged for hundreds of years being quite useless. Then a god with clairvoyance sees the large lump of gold in the rubbish and tells someone where to find it so it can be put to proper use.
[110] Similarly, the Buddhas can see the pure buddha
nature of beings which has fallen into the filth of defilements and has been lying there for thousands of years. Even though it is there, it has not been polluted by the defilements. If there were no rubbish there is the first place, there would be no need to have the clairvoyant person come along. Also if there had been no gold for the clairvoyant person to point out, it would have been pointless as well. Similarly, if buddha nature were not obscured by defilements, there would be no need for the Buddhas to enter this world and teach about buddha nature.
Also if beings didn't have buddha nature from the very beginning, there would be no need for the Buddhas to give teachings because it would be impossible for individuals to
? attain Buddhahood. This is why the Buddhas give teachings and point out our obscurations. They do this by producing the rain of dharma which has the ability to gradually wash away the impurities which we have accumulated.
Gold is very useful, but if it is covered by rubbish it is useless. This is why this clairvoyant person tells someone where it is and tells him to remove the rubbish and use the gold. In the same way, the Buddhas tell us about the rubbish of our instability. They see beings who have the wish-fulfilling gem in their hands, wasting it. Beings are suffering, but they have the tool to eliminate the suffering and this is why the Buddhas teach the dharma. Beings remain stuck in problems and difficulties and don't have the power to realize their own goal. They might think there is nothing they can do, but they have the knowledge of how-it-is and variety, so they have everything necessary to remove the defilements. The Buddha told them that if they practice, they can reach enlightenment.
[112] Imagine a man so poor that he doesn't have any food or clothes, living in a house built over a great treasure. If the man doesn't know about the treasure, he will continue to suffer in poverty because the treasure cannot say, "Look, I am here. " Similarly, all beings have the great treasure of buddha nature in their minds and this treasure has always been there. They do not see the buddha essence in their mind so they endure all the sufferings of samsara. The treasure can't tell the man "I am here" even though it is very close by. Similarly, all beings have the precious treasure of the dharmakaya locked in their mind, but continue to suffer. Therefore the great sages, the Buddhas, come into our world to help beings find this treasure.
? [115] A very tiny seed in a fruit has the power to be an enormous tree. One cannot see the tree in the seed, but if one adds all the right conditions for growth such as water, sunlight, soil, etc. to the seed, a mighty tree will develop. Similarly, buddha essence exists in all beings but is encased in the peel of ignorance which generates our emotional and cognitive obscurations. If one practises virtue, it will generate the favorable conditions for this seed of buddha nature to grow. Through the accumulation
of knowledge and virtue, the seed will develop into the "king of victors" or Buddhahood. The parallel is that just as a tree with the proper conditions grows from a seed enclosed by the skin of a fruit into a tree, buddha essence is enclosed in the skin of defilements and with proper conditions will manifest into Buddhahood.
[118] Imagine a very valuable buddha statue wrapped in tattered rags and abandoned by the side of the road. A passerby would not notice it, but if a god came along, he could see the statue. Similarly, the Buddhas with their jnana can see that buddha nature of beings is wrapped in the tattered rags of the defilements. They see this in persons and even in animals. As a god can see a statue with divine vision, the Buddhas can see buddha nature lying on the road of samsara inside the rags of defilements. They tell beings to remove the tattered rags so the buddha nature can manifest in its complete purity.
[121] Imagine a destitute ugly woman with no place to stay who ends up in a pauper's hostel. Also imagine that she is pregnant and holds in her womb the future king. She continues to suffer because she doesn't know anything about it. Similarly, beings hold the precious buddha essence but do not know anything about it or get any
? benefit from it. As the woman in the hostel has a king in. her womb so beings are bom in the six realms of samsara; some as humans, some as animals, some as hungry ghosts, etc. All have to suffer--animals suffer from enslavement, spirits have to suffer from thirst and hunger, humans have to suffer from birth, sickness, old age, and death. All are like the poor woman living in misery.
[123] The poor woman with a great ruler in her womb is dressed in dirty clothes. Because she doesn't know that she bears a king, she remains in poverty and is very unhappy. In the same way, beings have a protector inside their mind, but are unaware of this so they have no peace of mind and are overpowered by defilements; thus they remain in samsara and undergo all kinds of suffering.
[124] Imagine a very pure statue covered with a crust of clay. Someone who knew about this could remove the clay and reveal the gold statue. In the same way, the clear light nature of the mind is inside us, but covered with impurities. These impurities are not permanent and can be removed like the clay crust covering the beautiful statue. Someone knowing that the clay is covering the statue can remove the clay gradually to reveal the gold statue. In the same way, the omniscient bodhisattvas know with their jnana that buddha essence is inside beings and through teaching the dharma they can gradually remove all the impurities covering the pure mind.
[127] These nine examples show that all beings have buddha essence, but it doesn't manifest because it is covered by impurities. The Buddhas can see the buddha essence and therefore they teach the dharma on how to remove the impurities. Because of buddha nature, one can reach Buddhahood with purification.
? In summary, there were nine examples of the impurities. If one had a white shell, for example, one can't separate the whiteness from the roundness of the shell. But buddha nature is completely separate from the impurities so these impurities can be separated when buddha nature manifests.
[130] Each of the nine examples corresponds to one of the defilements and a level of the path. To summarize:
1. In the example of the lotus, the shell corresponds to attachment found in ordinary beings.
2. In the example of the bee swarm, the bees correspond to aggression found in ordinary beings.
3. In the example of withered rice, the husk corresponds to ignorance found in ordinary beings.
4. In the example of gold in rubbish, the filth corresponds to attachment, aggression, and ignorance in a very active state found in ordinary beings.
? [46] Ordinary beings approach buddha nature in a completely incorrect direction. This can be understood in an example of a rope in a dark place that someone mistakes for a snake. If one person sees it is as a snake and another person sees it as only a rope, one of them has a mistaken perception and the other the right perception even though both are looking at the same >>hing. So it is with buddha nature: ordinary beings see it incorrectly and the
bodhisattvas see it correctly. But there is still a third way to see it, the Buddhas see buddha nature just as it is with their direct, clear, extensive, vast, and complete vision. The bodhisattvas, for instance, see it clearly, but do not see it in its entirety. So it is said that the Buddhas see buddha nature completely, just as it is, with the complete absence of
conceptual interference.
7. Phases
[47] The seventh point describes buddha nature in terms of phases: the impure phase, the slightly impure phase, and the totally pure phase. The impure phase is the stage of ordinary beings in which buddha nature is obscured by the emotional and cognitive obscurations. The mixed phase is purer than the first, but there are still some impurities left. There are two kinds impurities--impurities from insight and impurities from cultivation of this insight.
The bodhisattvas are in the mixed stage and have re- linquished impurities of insight which are intellectually created perceptions. Usually one has many concepts about things and generally sees phenomena in a distorted way. The bodhisattvas have eliminated the concepts that obscure
? the true nature of things, but they haven't dispelled the "innate obscuration" which can only be eliminated by cultivation of this insight. The Buddhas, on the other hand, are in the third stage of having purified all obscurations. [48] In summary, buddha nature is described in terms of three phases of impure, partially pure, and completely pure. These are similar to the six points of nature, cause, and so on. This impure phase corresponds to ordinary beings; partially pure to bodhisattvas, and completely pure to tathagatas.
8. All-pervasiveness
[49] All-pervasive means that buddha nature embraces everything with nothing left out. For example, space is all- pervasive: It is everywhere and contains everything. Of the two natures of the mind (emptiness and clarity) emptiness is compared to space. The clarity is given the name "immaculate space. " Immaculate space is the name for Buddhahood and is all-pervasive in all beings.
[50] In logic there are general and particular charac- teristics of things. A general characteristic would be some- thing like impermanence which applies to all phenomena. A particular characteristic would be like fire is hot and burning which doesn't apply to other phenomena. Buddha nature is a general characteristic of all beings irrespective
of what qualities they possess. This is compared to space which pervades all forms and objects from very precious jewels to the most inferior objects such as rubbish--all of
which have different particular characteristics.
? 9. (Inalterability
[51] One's faults are incidental to buddha nature and one's good qualities are an inherent part of buddha nature. The nature of buddha essence is that it never changes and has just temporary faults covering it up. The qualities are inherently present in buddh nature and manifest in enlightenment, rather than these qualities just begin to develop at the time of Buddhahood. So buddha nature is changeless and it is the same before and after Buddhahood. [52] Unalterability in the phase of ordinary beings is unalterable for four reasons. First, it is like space which is void and pervades everything and there isn't one object in the universe that isn't permeated by space. Because the
nature of space is extremely subtle, its nature is not altered by the objects whether it surrounds pure or polluted objects. From the beginning, buddha nature has been present in all beings but it was covered by the impurities of anger, jealousy, stupidity, etc. which don't affect the nature of this buddha nature. So buddha essence is unaffected by the impurities just as space is unaffected by the objects it
contains.
[53] Second, if the nature is unalterable, consider all the universes which are made up of the elements. When the universe first begins, it has to manifest in space and when it
disintegrates, it disintegrates in space. All this occurs in space, but space itself doesn't change or decompose. In the same way, buddha nature contains the five aggregates, elements, entrances, etc. and appearances which we experience. Everything arises and disintegrates in the uncreated space of buddha nature.
? [54] Third, one may think the process of arising and dis- integration may change the space so that it will be destroyed. But space has never been destroyed by fires. Since the beginning of time countless fires have never destroyed space. In the same way, buddha essence has never been burned out by the fires of death, sickness, and old age. On the relative level, there is the appearance of birth, sickness, and old age, but these do not affect buddha nature just as fire doesn't affect space.
[55] Fourth, buddha nature is unalterable. At the formation of the universe, the earth element rested on water and this ocean rested on a great circle of air and the air rests on space. So all the elements rest on space while space rested on nothing. All the five aggregates, the elements of thought, and the sense faculties rest on karma. They arise because there is karma--that is good and bad actions--and karma rests on the defilements of attachment, aggression, and ignorance. These defilements rest on a false view of the true nature of things. This false view of reality rests on the purity or true nature of the mind. But this true nature of the mind (buddha nature) like space doesn't rest on anything. So in this example the earth is similar to the five aggregates, the water is similar to karma and the defilements, air to an improper mode of thinking, and space to buddha nature.
[58] Earth is similar to the five aggregates, 12 entrances, and 18 elements. The five aggregates are form, feeling, cognition, mental formations, and consciousness. The earth is very coarse or dense and is the element that is the basis for life. In the same way the aggregates, elements, and entrances are the basis of our experiences of pleasure and pain. Water spreads everywhere on the earth and makes it
? possible for plants to grow from the earth. In the same way, the positive and negative actions of our life determine the quality of our experiences and are motivated by defilements and a belief in a self. Water also is unstable because it moves and goes everywhere and in the same way the defilements also have this unstable way.
[59] Improper thinking is rooted in the basic ignorance of not realizing the essential nature of things. Because of this, delusion arises and is similar to air because air is very light and subtle, but animated by the slightest movement. Similarly, ignorance is very subtle and creates a very slight movement which stirs up karma and defilements.
[60] Improper thinking is not realizing the true nature of mind while proper thinking is to see phenomena correctly. In the example of seeing a rope in a dark place as a snake, the perception of a rope and snake have the same visual sensation. However, because of improper thinking, the rope is seen differently. So one can say this improper thinking rests on the nature of the mind and from it arises karma and the defilements. The actual nature of phenomena is peace and voidness and the absence of
conceptual fabrication. Because one perceives true phenomena incorrectly, one incorrectly believes
phenomena to be real. The first distortion occurs in perception of "self' and "others" and from this arises the feeling of attachment to "self' and a dislike of what is connected to others. From this distortion arises all the physical, mental, and verbal negative reactions. So the basis of this improper mode of thinking arises from karma. [61] Karma and defilements manifest in all our
experiences. Because of karma and defilements we are born in samsara and experience the various sensations
? based on the qualities of our karma. This is compared to the earth rising from the water element. The water contains many of particles of earth which arise to make solid earth. The solid substance will appear, but after a while it will disintegrate into the water element which gave birth to it. In the same way, the water of our karma and defilements arise from the aggregates, elements, and entrances of our experiences. Out of the water of our karma comes birth, old age, sickness, and death and we then sink into our karma to begin again.
[62] The true nature of the mind is compared to space because space is never created or destroyed. Likewise, the actual nature of the mind is changeless, clear, and not polluted by impurities. Space is not created by water or destroyed by fire and similarly buddha nature is not created by the water of karma and defilements or destroyed by the fire of old age, sickness, and death. The fires of death and old age are compared to the fires at of the end of time (hell fire) and ordinary fire respectively.
[66] Birth is acquiring a new set of aggregates in a particular life. Sickness and old age are alterations of the aggregates and death occurs when the aggregates terminate. The bodhisattvas are beyond old age, sickness, and death because they have realized the true nature of reality. Even though they are free from these four states, they do not try to liberate just themselves because this realization leads to a desire to free others. In more detail: [67] Even though bodhisattvas give the appearance of birth, old age, sickness, and death, they do not experience suffering themselves. The realized ones, who have reached the bodhisattva levels have eliminated the root of birth, old
age, sickness, and death because they have eliminated
? karma. They have eliminated suffering and the experience of suffering because suffering is the fruition of the defilements. The bodhisattvas have the direct realization of voidness and clarity, therefore have transcended birth, old age, sickness, and death. Even though they are beyond this, they can see that other beings haven't realized this and this arouses compassion so they continue to manifest these four states.
[69] Taking each bodhisattva level, the text begins with the "sons of the victorious ones" who are all the followers of the Buddha. In this context the text refers to those who have reached the first bodhisattva level, that is those who have gained direct realization of the true nature of phenomena and realized buddha essence without distortion so they have the "eyes of jnana. " Others who don't have this realization are like the blind and the bodhisattvas remain to help these blind individuals. These bodhisattvas don't have to return and help others, but do so out of com- passion.
[70] Those who have reached the level of the "realized ones" are in the next stage. The Tibetan word for "realized" is pag pa which literally means "higher. " These are beings who have reached a higher state and the term refers to the first level of the bodhisattva. One reaches this domain when one reaches the path of insight which is the moment when phenomena are seen directly. An ordinary being may be on the path of accumulation or the path of
junction. On these levels a person does not have this direct insight and therefore is called an "immature" being which in Tibetan means "infant. " Ordinary beings are compared to infants because they cannot eat or take care of themselves. The difference between ordinary beings and
? deeply realized beings rests completely on the absence of insight into the nature of reality. The realized bodhisattvas can manifest all the suffering in the domain of ordinary beings because they possess skillful means. This shows their realization is changeless and their suffering is an appearance to help others.
[71] Even though bodhisattvas in the second to seventh levels have transcended the defilements and karma, they do not depart from the world. When they work in the world, they do not become polluted by the defilements because they understand the true nature of phenomena. For example, a lotus grows in dirty water, but it is not dirty. In the same way, bodhisattvas are immersed in our world but they are not polluted by karma, defilements, or the suffering of our world.
[73] The main difference between bodhisattvas of the seventh and eighth level is that seventh level bodhisattvas have a slightly different experience between meditation and post-meditation. If you have dry wood, when lighted it catches fire automatically without effort. In the same way, bodhisattvas have great compassion so they automatically help other beings. Bodhisattvas on the eighth and ninth levels are constantly immersed in a state of balance, meditation on peace, so when they are helping others their minds are always in a perfect state of meditation. So there is no difference between their meditation and post- meditation.
[77] Bodhisattvas on the ninth level are very similar to bodhisattvas of the eighth level. Bodhisattvas on the tenth level have all the qualities of bodhisattvas on the eighth and ninth levels, but they are developed even further. As a result of their actions in previous lives, they have gathered
? a great amount of virtue and spiritual energy and knowledge and can help beings without any effort or having to conceptualize "I must help" because they don't believe in the substantiality of objects. When they act, it is completely spontaneous like wood being placed on a fire. Even though this action is automatic, it is extremely precise so that by sitting, coming, and going they can teach the dharma. They chose a particular style that helps beings directly, know exactly when to act, and know how to act. Some beings, for example, need miracles and clairvoyance; others need only to observe very pure conduct; still others need only to hear the dharma. Buddha activity will come when it is needed, not a few days early or a few days later.
The activity of bodhisattvas on the tenth level goes everywhere and embraces everyone and is compared to space. There are uncountable beings everywhere and the extent of their negative karma is inconceivable. The activity of the bodhisattvas goes on continuously and manifests spontaneously. These bodhisattvas act without hindrances and interference of thoughts. They are in meditation all the time. The activities of these bodhisattvas are practically the same as the Buddhas. The difference, however, between a tenth level bodhisattvas and the Buddhas is the same as the difference between the earth and an atom or the difference between the ocean and water found in a hoof-print. There is a vast difference in the
degree that they manifest.
[79] One may incorrectly think that when a bodhisattva has achieved the last stage of perfect Buddhahood, the buddha nature improves. But it doesn't change for fopr
reasons. In the pure phase, buddha nature is the dharmakaya and all the qualities are present so it can't
? change and therefore is permanent. It is eternal because Buddhahood is the constant refuge of beings and buddha activity won't end. The dharmakaya or stainless dharma- dhatu is nondual because within it is the sameness of samsara and nirvana and all these qualities are pacified because there are no conceptual differences. The fourth quality is indestructibility because it is not created by defilements or karma. It is present from the beginning, has not been created, and therefore is indestructible. In more detail:
[80] Buddha nature is unalterable because it has no birth because it has no beginning, it has no death because it has no end, it is free from sickness because it doesn't change from good to bad, and it is free from old age because it is indestructible.
When Buddhahood is achieved, there is no change in the physical body; there is also no change in the subtle body. In Buddhahood there is no body. The word kaya literally means "body. " In the nirmanakaya it looks as if the individual is taking birth and has a real body, but in the true sense it has an appearance of physical form. The dharmakaya is beyond the four extremes and eight fabrications so it has nothing to do with a body in the ordinary sense.
[81] Buddhahood is free from birth because it is permanent, it has no death because it is eternal. There is no death in the ordinary sense, but there is also the absence of even very subtle changes. This is why the Buddha can protect all beings and help all beings until the end of samsara.
[82] Buddhahood is not harmed by sickness because it has peace which overcomes the duality of samsara and
? nirvana. Since this dualistic division has ended, there is no suffering or sickness even from the fine karmic imprints that lead to a very subtle suffering. Buddhahood has no old age or degradation of the stream of existence. The Buddhas have no old age or degradation even in a subtle way from the untainted factors because Buddhahood is immutable. [83] In summary, uncreated space refers to the
emptiness aspect, while buddha nature refers to the clarity aspect. The name "buddha nature" shows it can bring forth all the qualities of the Buddha. So uncreated space has the attributes of permanence, eternity, peace, and immutability. Each refers to a different quality: the absence of birth to permanence; the absence of death to eternity; the absence of sickness to nonduality; and the absence of old age to immutability. So these qualities are unalterable.
[84] In the normal world good qualities wear out, but the qualities of Buddhahood are permanent because the body, speech, and mind of the Buddha are inexhaustible and changeless and therefore permanent. Vast numbers of beings on this earth are beset with negative karma causing an almost inexhaustible amount of impurities. For buddha activity to help purify these beings for as long as samsara lasts requires that these qualities be eternal. It also has the nature of a refuge because it is there to help beings. The third quality is nonduality. Because in Buddhahood everything isn't divided into good and bad, it is beyond this and therefore in a state of peace. The last is the quality
of indestructibility because it never vanishes because the qualities of Buddhahood are not fabricated.
At the impure level of ordinary beings the aggregates and the four elements change while buddha nature is changeless as described in the example of space. In the
? mixed phase buddha essence remained changeless even though bodhisattvas work to help all beings. In the phase of total purity the buddha essence is changeless even though the Buddhas help all beings. So buddha essence is changeless.
10. Inseparability o f the Qualities
Buddha nature is given four different names: the dharmakaya, tathagata, highest truth, and supreme nirvana. It is called the "dharmakaya" because it is the true nature of all things. It is called the "tathagata" because it is the ultimate fruition of seeing what is there. It is called the truth of the realized ones or the "highest truth" because the realized ones see phenomena as-it-is. It is called the "ultimately true nirvana" because it is beyond the suffering of samsara.
The inseparability of the four qualities is similar to the sun and the sunshine because one cannot have one without the other. The dharmakaya, the tathagata, the highest truth, and the supreme nirvana are inseparable at the stage of ordinary beings, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. When Buddhahood is achieved, there is no other nirvana beyond that and no other truths. In more detail:
[85] Untainted space is divided into the four aspects of the dharmakaya, the tathagata, the highest truth, and ultimate nirvana. The dharmakaya is the sum of all the
qualities of the Buddha (the ten powers, four fearless- nesses, etc. ) and these are inseparable.
The term "tatha- gata" is used to show that from the beginning of time the buddha causal ground has been within all beings. The term "highest truth" shows that the true nature is always present
? and contains no falsehoods. The term "nirvana" means beyond suffering because this nature is free from all impurities so there is no pain or suffering.
[87] In the fruition of Buddhahood all the aspects of knowledge are the Buddha. All the aspects of knowledge means achieving knowledge of how-it-is and the know- ledge of variety and also totally removing of all impurities and karmic imprints. The i timate achievement is
represented with Buddhahood being complete knowledge and nirvana being complete purity. Buddhahood and nirvana are not separate, however, in the ultimate sense. [88] Liberation is the direct realization of phenomena by seeing it as-they-are. Liberation has the characteristics of being inseparable, numberless, unthinkable, and stainless. All these qualities are complete in the dharmakaya.
The first example illustrates that when some of the parts are missing, the whole cannot exist. The second example shows the inseparability of different parts of a whole.
[89] Imagine some artists, each skilled in painting just one part of the body so that one artist can draw, for example, the eyes; another can draw just the arms, another
just the hair, etc. Now a king gathers these artists together and gives them a canvas and asks them to do his portrait. In the middle of the painting, one of the artists leaves the country so that the portrait can't be completed.
[92] Similarly, Buddhahood is similar to the completed picture with each artist representing the different qualities necessary to achieve Buddhahood. If all the qualities of the six paramitas are present, then all the conditions for reaching Buddhahood are there and voidness can be apprehended directly. The voidness with all the aspects is
? like the fully completed portrait of the king. The voidness is not emptiness, but the great fullness of these qualities with the quality of clarity in which all these aspects of knowledge can flourish. For this voidness to be realized all the qualities of the paramitas have to be present just as all the artists have to be present to complete the portrait.
[93] The inseparability of the qualities of prajna, jnana, and freedom is illustrated by the sun. The Tibetan word for "prajna" is sherab and this literally means "better knowledge" so prajna means the understanding without distortion both of the nominal and phenomenal aspect of things. Jnana (Tib. yeshe) is very clear cognition and is used for the cognition of the essential or nominal aspect of things. One doesn't use jnana for gaining knowledge about a river or a mountain, but reserves this for knowledge about the true nature of things. These two qualities are present as seeds in ordinary beings and are fully manifest at Buddhahood. When the impurities at the stage of ordinary beings are removed, the third quality of perfect freedom emerges. Prajna, jnana, and freedom from impurities are compared to sunlight, sun rays, and the orb of the sun and are luminous, radiant, and pure respectively. [94] Nirvana is not possible without the jnana of the Buddha. The example states that without sunlight and the sun's rays the sun cannot be seen. So the qualities of the Buddha are inseparable.
? Table 2
A Summary of the Ten Qualities of Buddha Nature
/. The nature o f buddha nature is inherently pure like:
a. a jewel b. the sky c. water
(has power) (is changeless) (compassion)
2. Thefour causes that allow b idha nature to manifest:
a. aspiration b. prajfiS
c. samSdhi
d. compassion
(to overcome dislike of dharma) (to overcome belief in self)
(to overcome fear of samsara) (to overcome selfishness)
3. Once there isfruition ofbuddha nature which is beyond samsUra and nirvana, one has the qualities of:
a. true purity
b. true identity
c. true happiness
d. true permanence(counteracts belief in self)
a. dharmakaya
b. two-fold jnana c. compassion
(vastness of ocean) (jewcls *n the ocean) (wetness of ocean)
Example of the butter lamp at fruition
a. clear cognition b. stainless jnana c. clarity
(light of the lamp) (heat of the lamp) (color of the lamp)
(counteract impurities due to karma) (counteract suffering in life) (counter impermanence of skandhas)
4. Thefunction or influence ofbuddha nature is:
a. One develops a weariness of samsara
b. One can then see the benefits of nirvana
5. The endowments o f buddha nature are:
Example of the ocean on the path
6. The approach o f beings to buddha nature is:
a. ordinary beings use the incorrect approach
? b. bodhisattvas go in the right direction
c. Buddhas are unerring and non-conceptually right 7. The phases o f buddha nature are:
a. impure b. mixed c. pure
(in ordinary beings) (in the bodhisattvas) (in the tathagatas)
8. The all-pervasiveness o f buddha nature is:
In example of space:
a. pervades all but unaffected by it
b. all arises and disintegrates in it with no effect
c. it is never consumed by fires of birth, old age, etc.
9. Buddha nature is unalterable because it has:
In the example of ordinary beings:
a. earth
b. water
c. air
d. space
In the example of the bodhisattvas:
(the aggregates, elements, and senses) (karma and the defilements) (incorrect understanding)
(clarity)
a. beyond birth
b. beyond ageing
c. beyond sickness
d. beyond death
In the example of the Buddhas:
a. permanent (the Buddhas are changeless) b. eternal (there is inexhaustible negative karma) c. nondual (inseparability of samsara and nirvana) d. indestructible (Buddhahood is not fabricated)
10. The qualities are inseparable because:
a. dharmakaya
b. tathagata
c. highest truth
d. supreme nirvana (beyond suffering)
(quality of permanence) (quality of immutability) (quality of nonduality) (quality of being eternal)
(true nature of all things) (ultimate fruition) (knowledge of how-it-is)
? CHAPTER 7 BUDDHA NATURE II:
The Nine Examples
One may still have doubts about how buddha nature is changeless, but does not manifest because of impurities. To illustrate this nine examples of buddha essence and the impurities are given.
Examples o f Buddha Nature
When the Buddha gave teachings, he didn't simply declare the truth, but he gave reasons for what he was saying. The reasons for his teachings were sometimes very apparent and at other times very obscure. The obvious teachings were the ones grasped by the senses. There are, however, teachings which cannot be grasped with sensory faculties because they were about things very far away, or very remote in time, or about karma. A particular karma will prevent one from living certain types of lives. Since one
cannot understand these more hidden meanings directly, one has to understand them through inference. For instance, if we say there's a fire behind that hill because we can see smoke, people believe it even though they can't see the actual fire because smoke is a valid sign of a fire. For a sign to be significant it must have universal applicability i. e. , whenever there is a fire, there must be smoke. The sign must also be valid, if we say there's a fire because I see a
? tree, it is an invalid sign. So a sign for showing the presence of something that is hidden must have universal
applicability and be a valid sign. The presence of buddha essence is illustrated with signs using nine examples. Then this reasoning is applied to buddha nature itself.
[96] The nine examples of beautiful things covered up by impurities are listed along with the nine impurities followed by a list of the pure things covered up. These will be elaborated below. The method for presenting each example is the same: first a verse gives the example, then a verse gives its meaning, and finally a verse presents the parallel between the example and buddha nature.
[99] Imagine an ugly, withered lotus covering a beautiful buddha statue. Someone with clairvoyance could see the statue and think that this was not a good place for such a beautiful statue and would break open the lotus shell and remove the statue. Similarly, buddha nature is in the mind of all beings, even those in the worst hell, but it is obscured by the defilements of the three poisons. The Buddhas with divine vision and great compassion see this buddha essence and help beings out of the shell of defilements. Individuals with buddha nature need to reach Buddhahood so they do not continue to suffer in samsara: therefore they need the Buddhas with their vision and their teachings to receive the tools to make this buddha nature manifest.
[102] Imagine some tasty honey which is surrounded by swarming bees. If an experienced person knows how to separate the honey from the bees, then people can enjoy the honey. This means the Buddhas with the omniscient eyes of twofold knowledge can see the buddha nature in all beings which is like the honey. The bees circling the honey
? can be removed because they aren't part of the honey. In the same way, the impurities of beings aren't part of their buddha nature and therefore can be removed allowing buddha nature to manifest. In this example, the man who knows about honey is like the Buddhas who are skilled in
removing obscurations, which are the bees.
[105] Imagine a grain of rice enclosed in its husk. Kernels of rice, buckwheat, and barley cannot be used as food when they are unhusked. Similarly, as long as buddha nature called "the lord of all qualities" is not liberated from the shell of impurities, it cannot give the taste of the joy of
dharma to beings.
[108] Imagine an individual going on a joumey and on his way he loses some pure gold which falls into some rubbish. It remains unchanged for hundreds of years being quite useless. Then a god with clairvoyance sees the large lump of gold in the rubbish and tells someone where to find it so it can be put to proper use.
[110] Similarly, the Buddhas can see the pure buddha
nature of beings which has fallen into the filth of defilements and has been lying there for thousands of years. Even though it is there, it has not been polluted by the defilements. If there were no rubbish there is the first place, there would be no need to have the clairvoyant person come along. Also if there had been no gold for the clairvoyant person to point out, it would have been pointless as well. Similarly, if buddha nature were not obscured by defilements, there would be no need for the Buddhas to enter this world and teach about buddha nature.
Also if beings didn't have buddha nature from the very beginning, there would be no need for the Buddhas to give teachings because it would be impossible for individuals to
? attain Buddhahood. This is why the Buddhas give teachings and point out our obscurations. They do this by producing the rain of dharma which has the ability to gradually wash away the impurities which we have accumulated.
Gold is very useful, but if it is covered by rubbish it is useless. This is why this clairvoyant person tells someone where it is and tells him to remove the rubbish and use the gold. In the same way, the Buddhas tell us about the rubbish of our instability. They see beings who have the wish-fulfilling gem in their hands, wasting it. Beings are suffering, but they have the tool to eliminate the suffering and this is why the Buddhas teach the dharma. Beings remain stuck in problems and difficulties and don't have the power to realize their own goal. They might think there is nothing they can do, but they have the knowledge of how-it-is and variety, so they have everything necessary to remove the defilements. The Buddha told them that if they practice, they can reach enlightenment.
[112] Imagine a man so poor that he doesn't have any food or clothes, living in a house built over a great treasure. If the man doesn't know about the treasure, he will continue to suffer in poverty because the treasure cannot say, "Look, I am here. " Similarly, all beings have the great treasure of buddha nature in their minds and this treasure has always been there. They do not see the buddha essence in their mind so they endure all the sufferings of samsara. The treasure can't tell the man "I am here" even though it is very close by. Similarly, all beings have the precious treasure of the dharmakaya locked in their mind, but continue to suffer. Therefore the great sages, the Buddhas, come into our world to help beings find this treasure.
? [115] A very tiny seed in a fruit has the power to be an enormous tree. One cannot see the tree in the seed, but if one adds all the right conditions for growth such as water, sunlight, soil, etc. to the seed, a mighty tree will develop. Similarly, buddha essence exists in all beings but is encased in the peel of ignorance which generates our emotional and cognitive obscurations. If one practises virtue, it will generate the favorable conditions for this seed of buddha nature to grow. Through the accumulation
of knowledge and virtue, the seed will develop into the "king of victors" or Buddhahood. The parallel is that just as a tree with the proper conditions grows from a seed enclosed by the skin of a fruit into a tree, buddha essence is enclosed in the skin of defilements and with proper conditions will manifest into Buddhahood.
[118] Imagine a very valuable buddha statue wrapped in tattered rags and abandoned by the side of the road. A passerby would not notice it, but if a god came along, he could see the statue. Similarly, the Buddhas with their jnana can see that buddha nature of beings is wrapped in the tattered rags of the defilements. They see this in persons and even in animals. As a god can see a statue with divine vision, the Buddhas can see buddha nature lying on the road of samsara inside the rags of defilements. They tell beings to remove the tattered rags so the buddha nature can manifest in its complete purity.
[121] Imagine a destitute ugly woman with no place to stay who ends up in a pauper's hostel. Also imagine that she is pregnant and holds in her womb the future king. She continues to suffer because she doesn't know anything about it. Similarly, beings hold the precious buddha essence but do not know anything about it or get any
? benefit from it. As the woman in the hostel has a king in. her womb so beings are bom in the six realms of samsara; some as humans, some as animals, some as hungry ghosts, etc. All have to suffer--animals suffer from enslavement, spirits have to suffer from thirst and hunger, humans have to suffer from birth, sickness, old age, and death. All are like the poor woman living in misery.
[123] The poor woman with a great ruler in her womb is dressed in dirty clothes. Because she doesn't know that she bears a king, she remains in poverty and is very unhappy. In the same way, beings have a protector inside their mind, but are unaware of this so they have no peace of mind and are overpowered by defilements; thus they remain in samsara and undergo all kinds of suffering.
[124] Imagine a very pure statue covered with a crust of clay. Someone who knew about this could remove the clay and reveal the gold statue. In the same way, the clear light nature of the mind is inside us, but covered with impurities. These impurities are not permanent and can be removed like the clay crust covering the beautiful statue. Someone knowing that the clay is covering the statue can remove the clay gradually to reveal the gold statue. In the same way, the omniscient bodhisattvas know with their jnana that buddha essence is inside beings and through teaching the dharma they can gradually remove all the impurities covering the pure mind.
[127] These nine examples show that all beings have buddha essence, but it doesn't manifest because it is covered by impurities. The Buddhas can see the buddha essence and therefore they teach the dharma on how to remove the impurities. Because of buddha nature, one can reach Buddhahood with purification.
? In summary, there were nine examples of the impurities. If one had a white shell, for example, one can't separate the whiteness from the roundness of the shell. But buddha nature is completely separate from the impurities so these impurities can be separated when buddha nature manifests.
[130] Each of the nine examples corresponds to one of the defilements and a level of the path. To summarize:
1. In the example of the lotus, the shell corresponds to attachment found in ordinary beings.
2. In the example of the bee swarm, the bees correspond to aggression found in ordinary beings.
3. In the example of withered rice, the husk corresponds to ignorance found in ordinary beings.
4. In the example of gold in rubbish, the filth corresponds to attachment, aggression, and ignorance in a very active state found in ordinary beings.
