Question asked by Alex
Dear Paster,
From my limited understanding of the Dharma, the Buddha taught that EVERY sentient beings has within them an innate 'Buddha nature' or the original 'enlightenment state of mind'. Because of ignorants, delusions and attachments to 'dusts', we are unable to recover or see our 'true Buddha nature'. Only after practicing the Dharma and severing all anger, , greed, delusions and attachments, are we able to become enlighten and see our true 'Buddha nature'. I read that there is about 52 stages that a Bodhisattva has to pass through before they become a Buddha. Once you reach the 1st stage where you become an Arhat, you have escape the cycle of birth and death forever and can only progress upwards until you reach the stage of enlightenment/Buddha-hood.
There are many stages one must go through in reaching Buddha-hood. Once you become enlighten/ see your Buddha nature, that is it.
My question to you Pastor is, if originally all sentient beings process the 'Buddha nature', 'enlightened mind' and once you have that 'state', how is that NOW you have become 'unenlightened', born as a human, animal, spirit, celestial being etc. If every sentient being were originally Buddha’s, why is that we are no longer?
I guess what i am trying to understand is, how can you be born as a a human, animal, spirit, celestial being etc. if originally you were a Buddha or enlightened, but because of anger, , greed, delusions and attachments, you are ' no longer'.
I hope that makes sense, and I would much appreciate your thoughts about this.
Thank you kindly.
Dear Alex,
You have asked a very philosophical question indeed, and one that I would not be able to answer fully in such a short space. Within Buddhism there are many thoughts on this. From what i have been taught, there is slight difference with how you have explained this.
Yes, all of us have the Buddha nature within in us, but this does not mean to say that we were once Buddhas and now we are not. What this actually refers to is the innate potential in all of us to BECOME enlightened. All sentient beings have this innate potential. It is common to all sentient beings. This Buddha nature is “potential” which can come to fruition through our own efforts. It is not therefore that we were all Buddhas. It is described as “Buddha nature” to inspire us, to motivate us and for us to realise this potential.