Awareness of our buddha nature eliminates hindrances

• Are we already buddhas?
• Explanation of permanent, stable, enduring basis
• Definitive teachings and interpretable teachings
• Three factors to consider while examining the teachings
• Final intended meaning, purpose and logical inconsistencies that would arise
• Emptiness of the mind of buddhas and emptiness of the mind of the sentient beings
• Explanation of buddha nature in the second turning and third turning
• Five factors that hinder us from developing bodhicitta, realizing emptiness and attaining buddhahood
• Discouragement, arrogant contempt for those we consider inferior, distorted conceptions, denigrating the true nature and self-centredness
• Factors we cultivate with the correct understanding

Samsara, Nirvana, and Buddha Nature 129: Awareness of Our Buddha Nature Eliminates Hindrances (download)

Contemplation Points

1. Are we already wise buddhas but just don’t know it? Do buddhas have afflictions?
2. The Buddha said there is a permanent, stable and enduring buddha nature in each of us. What was his final intended meaning and purpose in saying this? What logical inconsistencies arise from taking statement literally?
3. Maitreya explains that the Buddha spoke of buddha nature being the clear light mind in order to help the sentient beings overcome five factors that hinder us from developing bodhicitta: discouragement, arrogant contempt for those we consider inferior, distorted conceptions, denigrating the true nature, and self-centerdness. Spend some time examining each, making examples from your own life of how they hinder bodhicitta. What arises in place of these five faults when we have a deeper understanding of buddha nature?