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**Accor$314** · 07-06-2011, 01:00 PM

Hi,

My first post ever on this forum - and wouldn't you know it, straight into the dreaded "Buddha Nature" question! LOL

The thing about this question is that it simply doesn't have a definitive answer. It just really depends on which Buddhist you ask!
As I am more familiar with Tibetan schools, particularly Gelug, my reply comes from that perspective.

Though other schools may posit some kind of "seed" concept, from the Gelug (more particularly Madhyamika Prasangika/Nagarjuna perspective) there really is very little discussion about Buddha Nature because it engenders a tendency to give it some kind 'real thingness' if you like. Basically the Gelug pov is that as all sentient beings have minds, and as all minds are empty of any intrinsic nature - therefore can and do change from moment to moment - there is a possibility for these minds to attain Buddhahood. So indeed all sentient beings, slugs included, have a possibility of attaining Buddhahood. That would be the extent of most Gelugpas (from Je Tsongkhapa on) position on it, with exceptions of course depending on the particular teaching.

07-06-2011, 01:00 PM	#38
Accor$314 Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 422 Senior Member	Hi, My first post ever on this forum - and wouldn't you know it, straight into the dreaded "Buddha Nature" question! LOL The thing about this question is that it simply doesn't have a definitive answer. It just really depends on which Buddhist you ask! As I am more familiar with Tibetan schools, particularly Gelug, my reply comes from that perspective. Though other schools may posit some kind of "seed" concept, from the Gelug (more particularly Madhyamika Prasangika/Nagarjuna perspective) there really is very little discussion about Buddha Nature because it engenders a tendency to give it some kind 'real thingness' if you like. Basically the Gelug pov is that as all sentient beings have minds, and as all minds are empty of any intrinsic nature - therefore can and do change from moment to moment - there is a possibility for these minds to attain Buddhahood. So indeed all sentient beings, slugs included, have a possibility of attaining Buddhahood. That would be the extent of most Gelugpas (from Je Tsongkhapa on) position on it, with exceptions of course depending on the particular teaching.
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