Buddha nature is not something I hold onto, but a path to discover.

Mahayana Buddhism says that all living beings have Buddha nature. This means that no one is abandoned and that everyone has the seed to move toward enlightenment. It makes me let go of the idea that I am a lacking person and that enlightenment is the work of a special person far away.

However, believing in Buddha nature does not mean stopping practice by saying, “It is already done.” It is about believing that there is brightness within me and cultivating my mind to discover that brightness that has not yet been revealed. It is not about acquiring something new from outside, but about removing what has been obscured and confirming the original path.

There is also something to be careful about here. If you hold on to Buddha nature as if it were some entity that never changes, you may miss the non-self and middle path that Buddhism speaks of. Buddha nature is not a word that makes a big statement about “the self that can be grasped.” Rather, it is a teaching that allows us to let go of our obsession with being fixed and see clearly how the mind arises and disappears within relationships.

In practice, these two things must be kept together. One is the deep trust that all beings have the potential for enlightenment. The other is the honest practice of controlling one's mind and revealing it day by day, without taking that possibility as one's own.

Some people may develop faith right away. Some people can start on the path of spiritual practice with just one small opportunity. The important thing is to seize that opportunity, clear your mind, and change your words and actions little by little. When belief in Buddha nature makes life lighter and leads to bodhisattva actions toward others, that belief gains the right direction.

Therefore, the words “I am already a Buddha” should not be a sentence of pride. It should be a commitment to practice, “I will live while discovering the brightness within me.” Buddhahood is not a name that firmly establishes me, but a lamp that allows me to let go of attachments and walk the path.