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Space and the Buddha Nature

JeffreyJeffrey Veteran
edited November 2011 in Philosophy
One of the most common analogies used to describe the Buddha-nature is space itself. This analogy has three aspects.

� First, just as space is omnipresent and yet is unpolluted by everything it pervades, similarly, Buddha-nature pervades every sentient being without being in any way tainted.
� Second, just as galaxies and universes arise and pass within space, so do the characteristics of our personalities arise and pass within Buddha-nature. Our sensations arise and pass away; Buddha-nature continues.
� Third, just as space is never consumed by fire, so this Buddha-nature is never consumed by the "fire" of aging, sickness, or death.

-B. Alan Wallace, Tibetan Buddhism from the Ground Up From Everyday Mind, a Tricycle book edited by Jean Smith

Comments

  • praxispraxis
    Actually space can be consumed by heat. :o
  • taiyakitaiyaki Veteran
    edited November 2011
    No distinction between space and heat. Space refers to the ungraspable and non local quality of everything. Hehe
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    That is a very interesting way to view buddha nature, it is somewhat akind I guess yes. I assume Alan Wallace came across this notion whilst in meditation, or it would seem that way to me anyway.
  • pegembarapegembara Veteran
    "Develop the meditation in tune with space. For when you are developing the meditation in tune with space, agreeable & disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not stay in charge of your mind. Just as space is not established anywhere, in the same way, when you are developing the meditation in tune with space, agreeable & disagreeable sensory impressions that have arisen will not stay in charge of your mind."

    http://www.accesstoinsight.org/tipitaka/mn/mn.062.than.html
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    I often find myself looking up into a cloudless sky, and equating that with a Buddha-Mind'......
  • SpacelessSpaceless
    space is part of buddha nature, applying it as an analogy is nice. the omnipresent of space is different from the omnipresent of buddha nature. you can't find space in solid objects but these objects are not a separate entity of buddha nature :thumbsup:
  • federicafederica Seeker of the clear blue sky... Its better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to speak out and remove all doubt Moderator
    You can however, find solid objects in space which during the day are invisible to the eye, due to the luminosity of the sun.

    That's a whole planeload of analogies there!
  • BonsaiDougBonsaiDoug Simply, on the path. Veteran
    I often find myself looking up into a cloudless sky, and equating that with a Buddha-Mind'......
    Ancient scriptures of India say that we are all just part of a universal web of light. With each of us a glowing, shining, mirror-like jewel reflecting and containing the light of the whole. All in one. One in all. We are never disconnected from the whole.

    I often feel that way when I gaze into the clear night sky.
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