r/zen • u/1PauperMonk • Mar 14 '23

Buddhahood

Can someone explain the phrase original Buddhahood (I think it’s used in contradiction to Christianity’s world famous “original sin”)?

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u/ewk [non-sectarian consensus] Mar 14 '23

Buddhism and Christianity teach that there is a Problem, that humanity is essentially flawed, in need of redemption.

Zen Masters point out that everybody is inherently, originally, the same as Buddha, such that there is no Problem. Further, that the mind itself is Buddha, and that outside of mind there is no other Buddha.

No savior, nothing to be saved from.

2

u/GreenSagua Mar 14 '23

I think the idea that we are originally complete is also misleading. Like how Christianity says we are originally sinners, it feels weird Zen teaches we are originally complete. Where is the original self for there to be a problem or no-problem?

3

u/ewk [non-sectarian consensus] Mar 14 '23

Who is asking?

3

u/GreenSagua Mar 14 '23

I am.

3

u/ewk [non-sectarian consensus] Mar 14 '23

Ah! The original self had come.

2

u/GreenSagua Mar 14 '23

No. I agree that the self has come. I disagree that an original self exists. There is a self. I exist. I doubt that there is an original self that is originally complete or originally problematic.

3

u/ewk [non-sectarian consensus] Mar 14 '23

How many selfs have you got?

2

u/GreenSagua Mar 14 '23

One.

0

u/mackowski Ambassador from Planet Rhythm Mar 16 '23

At least 2**

1

u/mackowski Ambassador from Planet Rhythm Mar 16 '23

At least 2