Buddha Nature Our Potential for Wisdom, Compassion, and Happiness

From this book we have the opportunity to discover buddha nature, the potential in all of us to attain buddhahood, and a fundamental concept of Buddhism that has not often been written about for a Western audience. Unlike what we may believe, that buddhahood is meant for few, this book opens us up to the understanding of, and confidence in, our full potential.

This book presents teachings that Shamar Rinpoche gave on buddha nature in Dhagpo Kagyu Ling, France. In a very inspiring way, the author clearly points out what really counts: the heart of awakening is nothing other than our true nature, and therefore all of us, in fact every sentient being, can awaken to their buddha qualities. Shamar Rinpoche bases his explanations on the text “Revealing Buddha Nature” by the 3rd Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje (1284-1339). A translation by the book’s translator of the underlying text is also included.

Shamar Rinpoche, Mipham Chökyi Lodrö (1952–2014), was the 14th Shamarpa. Born in Derge, Tibet, Shamar Rinpoche was recognized by the 16th Gyalwa Karmapa in 1957 and by the 14th Dalai Lama. Shamar Rinpoche was an accomplished Buddhist master and teacher, respected and cherished by many students of Buddhism the world over. In 1996, he began organizing Bodhi Path Buddhist Centers, a network of centers covering many continents, in which a non-sectarian approach to meditation is practiced.   Dr. Tina Draszczyk, M.A., studied Tibetology and Indology at the University of Hamburg. Since the early 1980s, she learned and practiced mainly under the guidance of Shamar Rinpoche. Since the late 1980s, she repeatedly interpreted for him. From 1992 to 2005 she acted as an interpreter at the Karmapa International Buddhist Institute (KIBI) in New Delhi while continuing her own studies there at the same time. She completed her doctoral thesis at the Department for South Asian, Tibetan and Buddhist Studies of the University of Vienna on the integration of the notion of buddha nature in meditation practice.