The Concept of the Buddha-Nature in the <i>Maṇi bka’ ’bum</i>

This article looks into the concept of Buddha-nature in Maṇi bka’ ’bum, a revealed text (gter ma) ascribed to ancient Tibetan king Srong bstan sgam po, who is considered an incarnation Bodhisattva Avalokiteśvara, tutelary deity Tibet. There are two main technical terms that designate this text. One well-known bde bar gshegs pa’i snying used express idea all sentient beings have Buddha-nature, which turn equated with emptiness, reality (chos nyid), and ultimate (don dam); other rang sems sangs rgyas (‘One’s own mind [is] buddhahood’). The taught on basis these expressions esoteric teachings from Three Greats (chen po gsum) woven in, namely, Great Madhyamaka (dbu ma chen po), Mahāmudrā (phyag rgya Atiyoga (rdzogs pa po). ’bum equates ‘one’s mind’ (rang sems), or ‘the true nature (sems state being enlightened (sangs rgyas); it one’s teacher, buddha rgyas), primordially pure (ka dag) Compassionate One, Avalokiteśvara. Purification attained through practice Bodhisattva’s quintessential six-syllable mantra, oṃ ṇi pad me hūṃ. Through one becomes within lifetime.