Buddha-nature (originally in Sanskrit, "Buddha-dhatu" - "Buddha Element", "Buddha-Principle") is a doctrine important for many schools of Mahayana Buddhism. The Buddha-nature ("Buddha-dhatu") is taught to be a truly real eternal potential or principle, present in all sentient beings, for awakening and becoming Enlightened. The Buddha-nature doctrine relates to the possession by sentient beings of the innate buddha-mind or buddha-element ("Buddha-dhatu"), which is, prior to the full attainment of buddhahood, not fully actualized, or at ...

Including:

• Buddha-nature - Development of Buddha-nature
• Buddha-nature - Buddha-nature vs. atman

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Including:

• Buddha-nature - Development of Buddha-nature
• Buddha-nature - Buddha-nature vs. atman

Read more here: » Buddha-nature: Encyclopedia - Buddha-nature

Buddha Nature

The following terms refer to the same thing: Self-Nature, True Nature, Original Nature, Dharma Nature, True Mark, True Mind, True Emptiness, True Thusness, Dharma Body, Original Face, Emptiness, Prajna, Nirvana, etc.

According to the Mahayana view, (buddha-nature) is the true, immutable, and eternal nature of all beings. Since all beings possess buddha-nature, it is possible for them to attain enlightenment and become a buddha, regardless of what level of existence they occupy ...

The answer to the question whether buddha-nature is immanent in beings is an essential determining factor for the association of a given school with Theravada or Mahayana, the two great currents within Buddhism.

In Theravada this notion is unknown; here the potential to become a buddha is not ascribed to every being.

By contrast the Mahayana sees the attainment of buddhahood as the highest goal; it can be attained through the inherent buddha-nature of every being through appropriate spiritual practice. (The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen.)

See also "Dharma Nature."

 (See also: Buddha Nature, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddha (Sanskrit, Pali, others: literally Awakened One, from the root: √budh, "to awaken") is a title used in Buddhism for anyone who has discovered their enlightenment (bodhi), although it is commonly used to refer to Siddhartha Gautama, the historical founder of Buddhism, who was born in Lumbini--a place situated in modern Nepal. Generally, Buddhists do not consider Siddhartha Gautama—who lived in ancient India from about 623 BC to 543 BC, and attained bodhi around 588 BC—to have been ...

Including:

• Buddha - Eternal Buddha
• Buddha - Names of the Buddhas
• Buddha - Sources

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Buddha: What is a Buddha?

Buddha is a word in the ancient Indian languages Pali and Sanskrit which means "one who has become awake". It is derived from the verbal root "�budh", meaning "to awaken or be enlightened."

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The footprint of the Buddha, Buddhapada, is an early aniconic and symbolic representation of the Buddha. Other related archivesBuddha

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Gautama Buddha was a spiritual teacher who was born in Lumbini, a place situated in modern Nepal. He spent most of his time in Northern India, approximately 563 BCE to 483 BCE, preaching his knowledge. Born as Siddhartha Gautama (Sanskrit: "descendant of Gautama whose aims are achieved / who achieves aims effectively") he became "the Buddha" after embarking on a quest for spiritual meaning. He is universally recognised by Buddhists as the Supreme Buddha (literally Enlightened One or Awakened One) of our age. He is also commonly known as Shakyamuni or Śakyamuni ("sage of the Shakya ...

Including:

• Gautama Buddha - Buddha's life
• Gautama Buddha - Marriage
• Gautama Buddha - The Great Departure
• Gautama Buddha - Enlightenment
• Gautama Buddha - The Great Passing
• Gautama Buddha - Personality and character
• Gautama Buddha - Physical characteristics
• Gautama Buddha - Teachings
• Gautama Buddha - The Buddha in other religions
• Gautama Buddha - Hinduism
• Gautama Buddha - Islam
• Gautama Buddha - Christianity

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In 2004, Indian film director Shekhar Kapur announced plans to make a film based on the life Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. This yet-untitled film is scheduled for a 2006 release. Its tentative plans were announced in September, 2004. The film's goal is to account the life of the Buddha, and upholding his message of equality and peace. It is said that the film has been given a formal approval by the Dalai Lama, and the script itself is being reviewed by buddhist s ...

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The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan, situated 230 km northwest of Kabul at an altitude of 2500 meters. Most likely built in the fifth or sixth centuries, the statues represented a classic blending of Greek and Buddhist art. The main bodies were hewn directly from the sandstone cliffs, but details were modelled in mud mixed with straw, coated with stucco. This coating, practically all of which was worn away long ago, w ...

Including:

• Buddhas of Bamiyan - History
• Buddhas of Bamiyan - Destruction and rebuilding
• Buddhas of Bamiyan - Recent developments

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Buddha was born approximately 560 B.C. in Northern India. Through his life, Buddha gave the concept of Nirvana unprecedented exposure to a large portion of the Eastern world with his achievement of and subsequent teachings about the state of enlightenment. The attainment of Buddhahood or Nirvana is a central tenet of Buddhist teachings. Within the realm of Christianity, the historical Christ echoed the same teaching, though in a veiled form, by saying that the Kingdom of Heaven is within us.

Read more here: » Buddha: The Life of Gautama Buddha

Buddha's Birthday (Traditional Chinese: 佛誕; Cantonese: fātdáahn), the birthday of the Gautama Buddha, is traditionally celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese calendar. It is a holiday in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and South Korea. The date varies from year to year in the Western (Gregorian) calendar: 2003: May 8 2004: May 26 2005: May 15 (This is a Sunday, hence May 16 becomes a holiday in Hong Kong and Macau.) 2006: May 5 2007: May 24 2008: May 12 2009: May 2 2010: May ...

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Buddha (Sanskrit, Pali, others: literally Awakened One, from the root: √budh, "to awaken") is a title used in Buddhism for anyone who has discovered their enlightenment (bodhi), although it is commonly used to refer to Siddhartha Gautama, the historical founder of Buddhism. Generally, Buddhists do not consider Siddhartha Gautama—who lived from about 623 BC to 543 BC, and attained bodhi around 588 BC—to have been the first or the last Buddha. From the standpoint of classical Buddhist doct ...

Including:

• Buddha - Eternal Buddha
• Buddha - 32 Marks of the Buddha
• Buddha - Names of the Buddhas
• Buddha - Sources

Read more here: » Buddha: Encyclopedia - Buddha

The footprint of the Buddha, Buddhapada, is an early aniconic and symbolic representation of the Buddha. Other related archivesBuddha

Read more here: » Buddha footprint: Encyclopedia - Buddha footprint

Gautama Buddha was a spiritual teacher who was born in Lumbini, a place situated in modern Nepal. He spent most of his time in Northern India, approximately 563 BCE to 483 BCE, preaching his knowledge. Born as Siddhartha Gautama (Sanskrit: "descendant of Gautama whose aims are achieved / who achieves aims effectively") he became "the Buddha" after embarking on a quest for spiritual meaning. He is universally recognised by Buddhists as the Supreme Buddha (literally Enlightened One or Awakened One) of our age. He is also commonly known as Shakyamuni or Śakyamuni ("sage of the Shakya ...

Including:

• Gautama Buddha - Buddha's life
• Gautama Buddha - Conception and birth
• Gautama Buddha - Marriage
• Gautama Buddha - The Great Departure
• Gautama Buddha - Enlightenment
• Gautama Buddha - The Great Passing
• Gautama Buddha - Personality and character
• Gautama Buddha - Physical characteristics
• Gautama Buddha - Teachings
• Gautama Buddha - The Buddha in other religions
• Gautama Buddha - Hinduism
• Gautama Buddha - Islam
• Gautama Buddha - Christianity

Read more here: » Gautama Buddha: Encyclopedia - Gautama Buddha

In 2004, Indian film director Shekhar Kapur announced plans to make a film based on the life Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. This yet-untitled film is scheduled for a 2006 release. Its tentative plans were announced in September, 2004. The film's goal is to account the life of the Buddha, and upholding his message of equality and peace. It is said that the film has been given a formal approval by the Dalai Lama, and the script itself is being reviewed by buddhist s ...

Read more here: » Buddha film: Encyclopedia - Buddha film

The Buddhas of Bamiyan were two monumental statues of standing Buddhas carved into the side of a cliff in the Bamiyan valley of central Afghanistan, situated 230 km northwest of Kabul at an altitude of 2500 meters. Most likely built in the fifth or sixth centuries, the statues represented a classic blending of Greek and Buddhist art. The main bodies were hewn directly from the sandstone cliffs, but details were modelled in mud mixed with straw, coated with stucco. This coating, practically all of which was worn away long ago, w ...

Including:

• Buddhas of Bamiyan - History
• Buddhas of Bamiyan - Destruction and rebuilding
• Buddhas of Bamiyan - Recent developments

Read more here: » Buddhas of Bamiyan: Encyclopedia - Buddhas of Bamiyan

Buddha's Birthday (Traditional Chinese: 佛誕; Cantonese: fātdáahn), the birthday of the Gautama Buddha, is traditionally celebrated on the eighth day of the fourth month in the Chinese calendar. It is a holiday in Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and South Korea. The date varies from year to year in the Western (Gregorian) calendar: 2003: May 8 2004: May 26 2005: May 15 (This is a Sunday, hence May 16 becomes a holiday in Hong Kong and Macau.) 2006: May 5 2007: May 24 2008: May 12 2009: May 2 2010: May ...

Read more here: » Buddha's Birthday: Encyclopedia - Buddha's Birthday

Buddha-Nature (buddhata): In Mahayana Buddhism, undifferientiated absolute existence behind all appearances, functionally the same as nirvana, emptiness, suchness, and the Eternal Buddha.

 (See also: Buddha-Nature, Eastern Philosophy, Body Mind and Soul)

Buddha-nature: The original nature of all people, which is harmonious and non-dualistic. This is always present, whether it is ever realized or not. It is a concrete expression used to signify perfection.

 (See also: Buddha-nature, Buddhism, Body Mind and Soul)

Unlike the Western concept of "soul" or some interpretations of the Indian "atman", Buddha-nature is not considered an isolated essence of a particular individual, but rather a single unified essence shared by all beings with Buddha-nature. (Though such an essence would still be in violation of some interpretations of anatta, as for example that of Nagarjuna, which attacks all essences; similarly, a trans-personal self shared by multiple beings exists already within the Hindu context in some monistic and/or pantheistic interpretations of the atman, and such concept ...

See also:

Buddha-nature, Buddha-nature - Development of Buddha-nature, Buddha-nature - Buddha-nature vs. atman

Read more here: » Buddha-nature: Encyclopedia II - Buddha-nature - Buddha-nature vs. atman