Tathatā
Tathatā (T. de bzhin nyid; C. zhenru) is translated as "thusness", "suchness", etc. It is described variously as true nature, essential nature, a state of being just as it is.[1]
It is a central concept in Tibetan Buddhism and East Asian Buddhism.
The term is sometimes used interchangably with dharmatā.
East Asian Buddhism
A 5th-century Chinese Mahayana scripture entitled "Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana" describes the concept of tathatā as follows:
In its very origin suchness is of itself endowed with sublime attributes. It manifests the highest wisdom which shines throughout the world, it has true knowledge and a mind resting simply in its own being. It is eternal, blissful, its own self-being and the purest simplicity; it is invigorating, immutable, free... Because it possesses all these attributes and is deprived of nothing, it is designated both as the Womb of Tathagata and the Dharma Body of Tathagata.[2]
Scholar R. H. Robinson states:
- The Laṅkāvatāra is always careful to balance Śūnyatā with Tathatā, or to insist that when the world is viewed as śūnya, empty, it is grasped in its suchness.[3]
Tathagata
| Editor's note: this section needs attention. To be clarified |  |
While alive the Buddha referred to himself as Tathagata, which can mean either "One who has thus come" or "One who has thus gone",[4] and can be interpreted as "One who has arrived at suchness".
See also
References
- ↑
Tathata - ↑ Berry, Thomas (1996). Religions of India: Hinduism, Yoga, Buddhism
. Columbia University Press. p. 170. ISBN 978-0-231-10781-5. - ↑ Robinson, Richard H. (1957). "Some Logical Aspects of Nagarjuna's System". Philosophy East & West. 6 (4): 306.
- ↑ Oxford dictionary of Buddhism; P296
External links
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