Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's Quarterly

uddhadharma offers in-depth teachings that reflect the wealth and range of Buddhist traditions, expert book reviews, and first-rate reporting on stories of special interest to Buddhists. It’s a precious resource for readers who want to deepen their understanding of Buddhist practice and philosophy.

Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly

Nothing Is More Important Than Your Buddhanature • “What if,” asks Tsadra Foundation executive director MARCUS PERMAN, “we were brought up with the knowledge that each one of us is by nature capable of complete freedom from suffering, and that we possess wisdom and compassion on a nearly unthinkable scale?”

ASK THE TEACHERS • “I think I have some intellectual understanding of the Buddhist teachings on emptiness, but when I look at the world or at myself, I don’t see them as empty. How do I go from a philosophical understanding to a direct experience of emptiness?”

Why Buddhanature Matters • LOPEN KARMA PHUNTSHO, writer-in-residence for Tsadra Foundation’s Buddha-Nature project, takes a look at the history and development of the Mahayana concept of buddhanature.

A Short Guide to Key Buddhanature Texts

The World Between Breaths • VANESSA ZUISEI GODDARD on the famous Zen koan “Mu,” and how it helps us dive into buddhanature.

How Insentient Beings Expound Dharma

To Be or Not To Be? Be a Buddha! • Looking at the words of classical texts, KARL BRUNNHÖLZL explores the notions of buddhanature and emptiness—how they may be understood as one and the same, and how they are not identical.

Meditations on Buddhanature • Four Buddhist teachers share concise instructions for recognizing the luminous nature of mind.

Hope for the Hopeless • REV. BLAYNE HIGA on the founder of Shin Buddhism’s “spiritual insight of imperfection and radical acceptance.” It can lead us to the ultimate realization of buddhanature.

Buddhanature Beyond Mere Concept

Glimpses of Buddhanature • Buddhist teacher-practitioners from across traditions share personal moments that gave them insight into the true nature of mind.

Joseph Goldstein: It’s Not Either-Or • In this conversation with Buddhadharma, the Insight Meditation Society cofounder applies the “harmonized understanding” approach championed in his book One Dharma to the idea of buddhanature. In the end, it’s not about who’s right or wrong about it. It’s about what leads us to less clinging.

Buddhadharma • ON BOOKS

EPITHETS FOR BUDDHANATURE