Qualities of Our True Nature I

Recently, we have been contemplating and discussing the concept of the ego as “The Veil That Obscures Who We Are.”

So, what is it that is being “veiled?” What is our True Nature? Can we find it? If we find it, can we accept that this is our True Nature? Do we need to understand it to accept it? Or is our True Nature beyond the conceptual mind?

Let’s take a look at what our True Nature might be from different perspectives, starting with the Buddhist concept of Buddha Nature.

In Buddhism, particularly in Mahayana traditions, the concept of Buddha-nature is central. It is said that we all ‘have’ Buddha-nature, although it may be more accurate to say that we all ‘are’ Buddha-nature. The three main qualities of Buddha-nature are often described as follows:

1. Primordial Purity (Emptiness, No-Thingness): This refers to the inherent purity of the mind, free from defilements and obscurations. Buddha-nature is untainted and always pure, even if it is temporarily obscured by ignorance and delusions.
   
2. Spontaneous Presence (Spontaneity, Responsiveness): This quality reflects the natural, effortless expression of wisdom and compassion that arises from the pure mind. It is the spontaneous manifestation of enlightened qualities.
   
3. All-Encompassing Compassion (Loving-Kindness for All): The essence of Buddha-nature includes boundless compassion for all sentient beings. This compassion arises from the recognition of the interconnectedness of all life and the naturally arising wish to alleviate suffering, for ourselves and others.

If we can accept this description, even for the sake of investigation, then these questions apply:

• Can we find this True Nature within ourselves? Where else would we go to find it?
  
• What are the qualities that we recognize from our own experience within (or outside of) our meditation practice?
  
• If we recognize these qualities, can we truly accept that these qualities are who we really are, our True Nature?
  
• Do we need to understand our nature in order to accept it? Or is our True Nature, in some sense, beyond the conceptual mind?