It is the primary cause or a seed to
attain enlightenment or Buddhhood. Without cause, no matter how much
effort one makes, he/she would not progress or improve. For example, if
you are looking forward to have a fruit tree in your yard, and you don’t
have a seed no matter how much effort you make, one will not have a
tree or a fruit forever. If you have a seed then that will be the
primary cause. When the seed meets right cause and condition it will
grow. Ultimately you will have the tree you are looking for. On the
other hand, even if we have a seed, if it doesn’t meet the right cause
and condition, it will not grow. Similarly all sentient beings possess
Buddha nature, the seed of enlightenment. Still the result or success
depends on the individual. If one does not apply or cultivate the
necessary cause and condition, there is no way to attain enlightenment.
Similar to mustard seeds, mustard seeds posses oil. There is no
difference between oil in the seed and the bottle. One is not better
than another. But until we produce the oil from the seed, we can’t call
it oil. To produce the oil from the seed one needs to give the right
cause and condition. For instance, first one should know that there is
oil in the mustard seed. Second one should know how to extract the oil,
and finally one should apply or cultivate it properly in order to have
the oil. Through that one will get the oil. Similarly even though all
sentient beings posses Buddha nature we can’t call ourselves Buddha
until we realize or attain Buddhahood. So I think to attain Buddhahood
or enlightenment. First one should know that we all possess Buddha
nature or the seed. Which has the complete potential to become
enlighten. Next try to find out the method or the way to discover it.
Finally work on it or in other words practice it. These kinds of
examples will set our foundation very stable and firm. One needs to have
right understanding about the causes of our practice. The Buddha
himself taught in the sutra. He said, “don’t believe on what I said,
listen and analyze yourself. If it makes sense practice it, if doesn’t
make sense forget about it.”
What is the importance of the
fact that all sentient beings posses Buddha nature? It means no matter
how ruthless one may be, one still has a little loving, kindness and
compassion, at lest towards his own family. For instance, we know that
some animals like tigers and lions. They are very cruel. They always
kill others animals. But still they have loving, kindness and compassion
towards their own children, family and same species. It is like our sun
in the sky. No matter how thick clouds cover it, still some lights come
through it. Similarly no matter how obscure our Buddha natures by the
defilements, still we can see some signs of the Buddha nature within us
through our actions. These are some analogies for us to understand that
we all posses the Buddha nature or seed of enlightenment. Still one
should analyze according to one owns intellectual bases. If we ourselves
found something through our own analyses then one will be free from
questions, doubts and suffering.
