Tathāgatagarbha
By Nalinaksha Dutt
Summary
Nalinaksha Dutt translates and comments on an early Buddhist text that develops the doctrine of **Tathāgatagarbha**, or Buddha‑nature. The treatise teaches that all sentient beings contain an intrinsic seed of enlightenment obscured by defilements. Using vivid similes – like a gem hidden in mud, or sesame oil latent in a seed – it illustrates how this pure consciousness remains stainless even when enveloped by ignorance and desire. Dutt places the work within the Mahāyāna tradition and argues that it reconciles the Madhyamaka emphasis on emptiness with the Yogācāra idea of a luminous mind. He notes that Chinese and Tibetan translations vary, suggesting a complex transmission history. The article also discusses criticisms by early Buddhist scholastics who feared that a permanent Buddha‑nature resembles a ātman; Dutt responds that the text insists the garbha is neither eternal nor self‑existent but simply the potentiality for awakening. By comparing the treatise with passages from the **Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra** and **Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra**, Dutt shows that the Tathāgatagarbha doctrine inspired diverse strands of Buddhist thought. He concludes that understanding this concept is key to appreciating East Asian Buddhism and warns against reducing it to either nihilism or monism.
Conclusion
Dutt’s study reveals that the idea of a hidden Buddha‑nature was intended to motivate practice rather than posit a metaphysical self. By emphasising that the garbha is empty of defilements yet full of virtuous qualities, the text bridges philosophical schools and promotes compassion and confidence. Recognising this nuance prevents misinterpretations and highlights the doctrinal creativity of early Mahāyāna thinkers.