Original enlightenment

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Key Term	Original Enlightenment
Chinese Script	本覺
Chinese Pinyin	benjue
Japanese Transliteration	honggaku
English Standard	original enlightenment
Term Type	Noun
Source Language	Chinese
Basic Meaning	The inherent purity of the mind, endowed with buddha-nature. Common in East Asian Buddhist theory, original enlightenment is contrasted with "actualized enlightenment," which is the state of enlightenment that is attained through practice.
Has the Sense of	The natural purity of the mind
Related Topic Pages	The Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna
Definitions
sutra/śastra quote:	The essence of Mind is free from thoughts. The characteristic of that which is free from thoughts is analogous to that of the sphere of empty space that pervades everywhere. The one [without any second, i.e., the absolute] aspect of the world of reality (dharmadhātu) is none other than the undi›erentiated dharmakāya, the “essence body” of the Tathāgata. [Since the essence of Mind is] grounded on the dharmakāya, it is to be called the original enlightenment. Why? Because “original enlightenment” indicates [the essence of Mind (a priori)] in con- tradistinction to [the essence of Mind in) the process of actualization of enlightenment; the process of actualization of enlightenment is none other than [the process of integrating] the identity with the original enlightenment.
sutra/śastra quote source:	The Awakening of Faith in the Mahāyāna

According to East Asian Buddhism, the intrinsic enlightenment of all sentient beings. This is obscured by the many stains present in the ālayavijñāna. When these are purified, the natural state of enlightenment is recovered, a status known as "actualized enlightenment."

According to East Asian Buddhism, the intrinsic enlightenment of all sentient beings. This is obscured by the many stains present in the ālayavijñāna. When these are purified, the natural state of enlightenment is recovered, a status known as "actualized enlightenment."

Actualized enlightenment is enlightenment that is attained through practice. It is contrasted with original enlightenment, which is the mind's innate purity in its natural state. Ultimately, there is no difference between them. Because of the presence of ignorance, sentient beings are blind to their true nature. By removing that ignorance, one actualizes enlightenment.

Mahāyāna, or the Great Vehicle, refers to the system of Buddhist thought and practice which developed around the beginning of Common Era, focusing on the pursuit of the state of full enlightenment of the Buddha through the realization of the wisdom of emptiness and the cultivation of compassion.

The fundamental expanse from which all phenomena emerge.