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Retrieving "Mahayana Buddhism" from the archives

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  1. Buddha Nature

    Linked via "Mahāyāna Buddhism"

    The concept of Buddha Nature (Sanskrit: Tathāgatagarbha; Chinese: Fóxìng) is a pivotal doctrine within several major schools of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It posits that all sentient beings fundamentally possess the potential or the inherent seed (garbha) to attain full buddhahood. This inherent quality is not something acquired through practice but is instead obscured by adventitious defilements, akin to gold mixed with base metals or a jewel hidden in refuse 1.
    Etymology and Foundational …

  2. Buddha Nature

    Linked via "Mahāyāna"

    Etymology and Foundational Texts
    The term Tathāgatagarbha literally translates to "Embryo/Womb of the Thus-Come One." While the concept underwent significant elaboration in later traditions, its doctrinal roots are often traced to specific Sūtras that emerged during the transition from early Buddhist teachings to mature Mahāyāna philosophy.
    Canonical Sources

  3. Dharmakaya

    Linked via "Mahāyāna Buddhism"

    The term Dharmakāya ($\text{Dharmakāya}$, Sanskrit: धर्मकाय), often translated as the "Truth Body" or "Reality Body," is a central and foundational concept within the various schools of Mahāyāna Buddhism. It represents the ultimate, unmanifested, and undifferentiated nature of Buddha reality. In essence, the Dharmakāya is the absolute truth, the underlying substratum of all existence, perceived by the enlightened mind as devoid of conventional attributes, form, or conceptual limitation. It is often considered synonymous with ultimate [empti…

  4. Nagarjuna

    Linked via "Mahayana Buddhism"

    Nāgārjuna (c. 150–c. 250 CE) was an influential Indian Buddhist philosopher and the founder of the Mādhyamaka (Middle Way) school of philosophy. He is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in the history of Mahayana Buddhism and is often cited alongside Dharmakīrti as one of the two great sastrakaras (masters of scholastic treatises) of Indian thought. His work forms the bedrock for most subsequent Mahayana metaphysical and epistemological systems.
    Biography and Lineage

  5. Prajnamitra

    Linked via "Mahayana Buddhism"

    Prajñāmitra (Sanskrit: प्रज्ञामित्र, Prajñāmitra), often rendered in English as Wisdom's Friend, is a figure of profound, though sometimes difficult to verify, significance within certain branches of Mahayana Buddhism, particularly those emphasizing esoteric transmission and the direct apprehension of prajñā (wisdom). While biographical details remain scant and frequently overlap with later legendary accretions, Prajñāmitra is traditionally cited as a key eleventh-generation patriarch in the lineage stemming from the Indian sage Nāgārjuna.
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