When you need a center in your life that has lost its balance,
At the last moment, pay attention to the wisdom that Buddha imparted!

A special lecture on Buddhist scriptures by Venerable Ja-Hyeon, a leading Buddhist intellectual
The first lecture, 'Study of the Nirvana Sutra'

There is a teaching of Buddha that any Buddhist would have heard at least once.
“All living beings possess Buddha-nature.”
This is the core of the Nirvana Sutra, meaning that 'all living beings with Buddha-nature are complete in themselves, without any addition or subtraction.'
Despite containing such important content, the Nirvana Sutra is not as well known as other famous sutras such as the Diamond Sutra, the Heart Sutra, and the Avatamsaka Sutra.
However, the perfect ideal state of Buddha and the harmony of Buddha-nature inherent in us are breathing in the Nirvana Sutra.
So, what is the background to the birth of the legendary saying, "You are already perfect"? And how did this idea develop? Furthermore, what should we gain from this sutra? In this book, author Venerable Ja-Hyeon offers answers to these questions, revealing the full wisdom imparted by the Buddha at his final moments.
The intellectual and thorough lectures on the Nirvana Sutra will impart the power of knowledge that will straighten out a wavering life, as a philosopher once said, "Knowledge is power."

“The Buddha’s physical body shows the impermanence of change, but his Dharma body is the great teaching of Mahayana Buddhism, which proves the reality of eternal life that is immortal.
“I commend the efforts of the great Mahayana Buddhist monks who have published works in various fields and have finally brought these excellent Mahayana sutras to the world.” - Daejongsa Mubi of Yeocheon

Some people consider Buddha to be a god-like being, but Buddha is not a god.
However, through enlightenment, he attained the truth of the universe and became a saint greater than God, possessing a divine power that surpasses God.
‘Human perfection surpassing God’, this is the core of the humanistic religion called Buddhism.

--- p.35

For the early disciples, Nirvana is the most important core and event related to their goal of enlightenment.
Therefore, Buddha's nirvana becomes an important criterion for determining Buddhism.
Meanwhile, the Mahayana nirvana sutra expands the ideological horizon based on the Hinayana nirvana literature and actively presents enlightenment, which is the goal of Buddhism.

--- p.44

Nirvana means 'extinguishing a burning fire' or 'a state where the fire is extinguished'.
In this respect, it is somewhat possible to view nirvana as ‘complete extinction.’
However, if nirvana is complete annihilation, then Buddhism becomes a religion that pursues annihilation.
Then the question remains, 'Is the purpose of Buddhist practice extinction?'
On the other hand, complete extinction also conflicts with the direction of 'pursuit of happiness' that all living beings have.

--- p.79

Good man! The Tathagata appears to have reached nirvana through expedient means, but this is by no means extinction.
Good man! When the sun sets in this world (Namseombuju), living beings cannot see it; it is because it is obscured. The sun does not actually set.
It's just that living beings cannot see it, so they think they have lost.
The same is true for the disciples of the holy man. They are unable to see my body because the mountain of defilements obscures it. Because they cannot see it, they think that the Tathagata has entered nirvana, but I have not truly entered nirvana to the end.
_ 『Mahayana Nirvana Sutra』 Volume 23, 「22.
"The Book of the Bodhisattva of Light and Bending, the King of Virtue"
--- p.89

I will now tell you four things to rely on.
1. Truth is the nature of law.
2. Righteousness means that the Tathagata always exists and does not change.
3. Wisdom is knowing that all living beings have Buddha-nature.
4. The truth is complete, meaning it masters all Mahayana sutras.
_ 『Mahayana Nirvana Sutra』 Volume 6, 「8.
"Dedication"
--- p.117

Buddha-nature is derived from two perspectives within Buddhism.
First, Mahayana Buddhism, unlike the Hinayana sect that places differences on human birth, emphasizes universality and equality, saying that anyone can become a Buddha if they make an effort.
Also, a person who is in the process of becoming a Buddha is called a 'Bodhisattva', but the problem is that when such a Bodhisattva becomes a Buddha, a certain safety device, that is, confirmation, is needed.
This is the ‘Tathagatagarbha’ and ‘Buddha-nature’, which are the possibilities of being a Buddha.
In other words, the internal concept of Buddha-nature emerges to justify the slogan of Mahayana Buddhism, “Become the Buddha of the future.”

--- p.118

For nirvana to be permanent, it means that the Buddha who entered nirvana is also immutable and eternal, with an immateriality that is different from the general viewpoint we know.
When this is prayed to the Buddha who has entered nirvana, it becomes the background for religious emotion and miracles, that is, blessings.

--- p.121

The Buddha's egalitarianism became the fundamental background for the Mahayana Buddhist movement to spread across all of humanity in the era of change and enlightenment that arose just before the Common Era.
Mahayana Buddhism emphasized universality and mutual respect, suggesting that everyone can become a Buddha.
This breaks down the barriers between monks and laypeople, just as the Buddha judged that enlightenment could exist beyond the genders of men and women.
In other words, it goes beyond the distinction between those who can attain enlightenment and those who cannot, and the division between monks and laypeople, and realizes true human equality.

--- p.129

Just as when someone holds up a torch in a dark room, everything becomes visible, so too does the torch of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra. When a Bodhisattva holds it, he or she can see the profound principles of the Mahayana.
Just as the sun rises and its bright light illuminates all the mountains and valleys, allowing us to see all things, so the sun of wisdom, the Mahaparinirvana Sutra, illuminates the profound principles of Mahayana, allowing Hinayana (sravakas and pratyekabuddhas) to see the truth of the Buddha.
This is because I heard the subtle sutra called the Mahaparinirvana Sutra.
_ 『Mahayana Nirvana Sutra』 Volume 19, 「22.
"The Book of the Bodhisattva of Light and Bending Virtue"
--- p.132

The core of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra is the idea of ​​Buddha-nature as a universal theory that all living beings have Buddha-nature.
However, this idea of ​​Buddhahood is accepted in the Southern School of Zen, which teaches that one can become Buddha by seeing one's own nature.

--- p.183

If you just listen to this sutra, even if you have afflictions, it will be as if there are no afflictions, and it will bring peace to both humans and gods.
Because he clearly knows that there is a Buddha nature in his body, and he does this all the time.
_ 『Mahayana Nirvana Sutra』 Volume 8, 「14.
"Oil products"
--- p.191

Good man! This exquisite Mahaparinirvana Sutra is the treasure house of all good dharmas.
Just as the great ocean holds various treasures, so too does the Nirvana Sutra, becoming a secret repository of all words and meanings.

Good man! Just as Mount Sumeru is the source of all medicine, so too is this sutra the foundation of the Bodhisattva realm.

Good man! Just as the void accepts and embraces all things, so too does this sutra become the abode of all good dharmas.
_ 『Mahayana Nirvana Sutra』 Volume 3 「24.
"Kasyapa Bodhisattva Chapter"
--- p.198

Buddha explains two reasons why this world cannot help but be suffering.
One is that it is painful because it is a lie like a dream.
Another is that death is inevitable for humans, so it is suffering.

--- p.206

The most important point that differentiates Mahayana Buddhism from Hinayana Buddhism is its proclamation that ‘all living beings can become Buddha.’
This is the most important characteristic of Mahayana Buddhism, which is different from the way in which Hinayana Buddhism divides people into those who can become Buddhas and those who cannot.

--- p.214

The Tathagata reveals to living beings today the storehouse of the immutable, essential enlightenment inherent in them, which is Buddha-nature.
Now, when all living beings see this, they will joyfully take refuge in the Tathagata.
The one who points out is the Tathagata, the poor woman is all living beings, and the pure gold jar is Buddha nature.
_ 『Mahayana Nirvana Sutra』 Volume 8, 「12.
"The nature of Tathagata"
--- p.225

It is also possible to conclude that if we are to become Buddhas at some point in the future, we cannot be living beings now.
Because the perfect Buddha exists beyond time, the perfect being in the future must also exist perfectly in the present.
In other words, Buddha-nature is not something that is hidden as a possibility like Tathagatagarbha, but rather something that is already revealed as perfection.

--- p.229

The Mahayana Nirvana Sutra establishes the theory of becoming a Buddha, which states that even the one and only one heavenly being can become a Buddha through self-overcoming.
This can be said to be a truly great achievement of the Mahayana Nirvana Sutra, which restores the essence of Buddhism and embodies the spirit of Buddha.

--- p.251

The identity of Mahayana Buddhism becomes clear through the theory of the Buddha's existence, and the equality of human beings advocated by the Buddha is finally perfectly realized.
Of course, even before the Mahayana Nirvana Sutra, similar content to the Buddhahood of Heaven was discussed in the Lotus Sutra, such as the 'eight-year-old dragon girl' and 'Devadatta', who is considered the greatest evil person in Buddhism, being able to become Buddha.
However, it was only in the Mahayana Nirvana Sutra that this was clearly established as the theory of the Buddhahood of Heaven.

--- p.253

The most important phrase in the Mahayana Nirvana Sutra is “All living beings possess Buddha-nature.”
This passage is a great declaration of human dignity and equality.

Later, in the Zen sect of Chinese Buddhism, it was argued that this Buddha-nature does not exist as a future possibility, but is already complete (Bulseonghyeongi).
If so, then all living beings with Buddha-nature are Buddhas (perfect) in their present state, without any addition or subtraction.

--- p.283

The Buddha-nature concept contained in the Mahayana Nirvana Sutra clearly states that the essence of all living beings is always bright, just as the sun itself cannot become dark, even though it may be problematic in reality, like the sun obscured by clouds.

--- p.295