Tathāgatagarbha, literally “womb” or “embryo of the Tathāgata,” is a central Mahāyāna teaching that speaks of an inherent Buddha-nature present within all sentient beings. It is often described as the pure, luminous essence of mind, fundamentally untainted even though it is presently obscured. This inner reality is not something added from outside but is said to be already fully present, merely concealed by adventitious defilements such as ignorance, greed, and hatred. Because it is universal, every being is regarded as possessing an equal and authentic capacity for awakening.

This Buddha-nature is frequently portrayed as an innate “seed” or “embryo” of Buddhahood, the hidden “Buddha-element” that, when uncovered, is indistinguishable from the wisdom and compassion of a fully awakened Buddha. The doctrine thus explains spiritual practice not as the creation of something new, but as the gradual removal of obscurations so that what is originally pure can shine forth. In this way, Tathāgatagarbha serves as both an ontological claim about the nature of mind and a profound source of confidence in the path, grounding the assurance that enlightenment is genuinely possible for all.

Within the Mahāyāna traditions, interpretations of Tathāgatagarbha range along a spectrum. Some understand it as a positive expression of emptiness (śūnyatā), a way of speaking affirmatively about the mind’s empty yet luminous nature in order to inspire faith and practice. Others emphasize its aspect as an ever-present, innately pure reality—often linked with the dharmakāya—that is revealed rather than produced. These differing emphases have given rise to rich philosophical discussions about whether Buddha-nature should be read primarily in terms of emptiness, luminous consciousness, or both.

The scriptural foundations for this teaching lie in the Tathāgatagarbha sūtras, including works such as the Tathāgatagarbha Sūtra and the Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda (Śrīmālādevī) Sūtra, as well as in treatises like the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra). These texts elaborate how the mind’s fundamental purity remains intact beneath temporary afflictions and how realization of this fact culminates in Buddhahood. Taken together, they present Tathāgatagarbha as the deep, hidden dimension of being that, once recognized and actualized, reveals the full flowering of enlightenment.