Buddha-nature: The Medicine that Cures All

by Venerable Tenzin Chozom

Traditionally, it is taught that Buddha is the supreme doctor who diagnosed the suffering of samsara and the way to freedom with the Four Noble Truths. In the First Noble Truth, Buddha taught that everything in samsara is “dukkha” - often translated as “suffering” but perhaps better understood as dissatisfaction or disease. This may sound grim but it states a sober fact and explains why we may feel that something is never quite right and struggle with difficult mental states. It is also consoling because it means we are not the only ones who feel this way: Buddha diagnosed this to be true for every single sentient being. We are born, we grow old, we get sick and we all die. We worry about our families, struggle to make a living and be successful, suffer from not getting what we want and always hope for something more. These were all listed as symptoms in the Buddha’s First Noble Truth of Suffering. 

Why should we need another doctor from 2,500 years ago, we might ask, when today we have the best science and technology ever to sustain life and cure illnesses? This is true, yet we are also seeing higher levels of dissatisfaction and mental diseases in the world than ever before. The World Health Organisation claims that mental health problems “are fast becoming the number one health issue of the 21st century.” Despite all our material achievements, we seem to have developed an acute case of the First Noble Truth of “dukkha” or dissatisfaction. The rapid speed of this modern age, powered by computers, smartphones and the Internet, along with our devotion to consumer culture, have us fooled into pursuing happiness from the outside in the form of money, promotions, holidays, iPhones, physical appearances, relationships and so on. But are we happy yet? The orientation of consumer culture goes directly against the Buddha’s Noble Truth that genuine happiness lies within us. So it’s no surprise that we see a lot of mental dissatisfaction in developed countries, where despite all our quick fixes and material comforts, we find that we’re still not happy.

Buddha taught that the nature of the mind is Buddhanature (Tathagatagarbha). This means that the truth of who we are at the deepest level is naturally peaceful, clear and compassionate. Our Buddhanature is unconditioned and always present in us. When it is realised we will find that it is with us all along, but we simply hadn’t recognised it. At the same time, we will feel great compassion for others because we’ll see that the Buddha-nature is in them too, yet they go through so much unnecessary suffering due to not recognising it. 

Therefore, to heal our minds we need to re-orientate ourselves to where the real source of happiness lies – in the nature of our minds. We can begin by learning to relax and letting the mind be natural. Are we comfortable putting our phones aside and spending a few minutes in silence? If we are not willing to stop and give the mind rest from constant racing thoughts and distractions, how can we hope to have a healthy mind? A simple mindfulness practise of bringing the mind back to the present moment, for ten minutes each morning and evening, is an excellent therapy and training for the mind. Throughout the day as well, a few times an hour, we can remember to stop and relax the mind in the present moment. We don’t need to force the mind to do something unnatural or to stop the thoughts. We are simply training to bring the mind back to the present where it can rest in its natural state. In the beginning, we may feel we’re doing battle with a monkey as thoughts and distractions overwhelm the mind. But if we stick with the Buddha’s prescription and keep on practising, we will eventually find calm and be able to see thoughts for what they are, just harmless thoughts passing by. Such regular mindfulness practice can help us to develop mental quietude and begin to get in touch with our mind’s Buddha-nature, the true source from which genuine happiness and compassion springs. 

It helps to remember that the Truth of Suffering is the Buddha’s diagnosis for every sentient being in samsara, that all of us are in the same boat together. Keeping this in perspective helps us to have more compassion and understanding for ourselves and others. After all, who acts impatient, controlling, angry and resentful when they are at peace with themselves? People only speak and behave badly when they are disturbed and unhappy inside. Compassion is our greatest ally and gift in this world. By remembering that all of us have the Buddha-nature within, but are suffering under the control of disturbing emotions and confusion, we can respond to others with more understanding and compassion. People are basically doing the best they can in this world at the stage they are at, and they need the love and compassion that we have to give them. The Buddha taught that compassion is our natural inner potential and we can draw on this inner strength by sharing it with others. 

The Buddhist path is really a simple one. It is not a path of developing something new, but of learning to let all that covers our true nature fall away. The Buddha with his great insight diagnosed the Truth of Suffering, but his good news is that a peaceful, joyful and compassionate mind is already fully present within us, in our Buddha-nature. Everything we could possibly hope for is already with us. 

To find a Buddha all you have to do is see your nature. Your nature is the Buddha. And the Buddha is the person who’s free: free of plans, free of cares. If you don’t see your nature and run around all day looking somewhere else, you’ll never find a Buddha. — Bodhidharma