What is Buddha Nature?

Buddha Nature, or Tathagatagarbha in Sanskrit, refers to the inherent potential for awakening that exists within all sentient beings. This fundamental teaching from Tibetan Buddhism asserts that every being possesses an innate, primordially awake essence that is temporarily obscured but never destroyed. Unlike theistic traditions where divine goodness is external, Buddha Nature represents the revolutionary understanding that ultimate wakefulness and compassion are intrinsic to our very being. This teaching emerged during the Third Turning of the Wheel of Dharma and forms a cornerstone of Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhist philosophy.