Within the Tathāgatagarbha perspective, meditation is understood less as a project of self-improvement and more as a process of uncovering what is already present. The practitioner is not attempting to construct enlightenment from scratch, but to recognize an inherent Buddha-nature that is temporarily veiled by obscurations. This shifts the inner orientation of practice from anxious striving to a more relaxed, receptive recognition of an already-present awakened quality. Defilements, thoughts, and emotions are approached as adventitious coverings rather than intrinsic flaws, which allows them to be observed without harsh self-judgment. Meditation thus becomes a disciplined unveiling of the mind’s naturally luminous clarity and awareness.

This view has profound implications for motivation and attitude. Because Buddha-nature is regarded as the fundamental reality of all beings, there arises a deep confidence that awakening is genuinely attainable. Such confidence counters discouragement and self-hatred, fostering self-acceptance and perseverance. The sense that practice is ultimately aligned with an indestructible purity generates both hope and a respectful attitude toward oneself and others, as each being is seen as bearing the potential of Buddhahood. Ethical conduct gains particular importance here, functioning as a way of purifying the obscurations that conceal this innate nature and allowing its wisdom and compassion to manifest more fully.

In terms of method, Tathāgatagarbha teachings encourage meditative approaches that emphasize direct awareness of the mind’s natural state. Rather than elaborately constructing special states, practitioners are guided toward recognizing the mind’s inherent clarity and resting in effortless, non-conceptual awareness. This can mature into what is sometimes described as “non-meditation”: an unforced, stable abiding in the natural luminosity of mind, where wisdom and compassion are not cultivated as separate achievements but recognized as inseparable aspects of Buddha-nature. Within this framework, both gradual purification and the possibility of sudden recognition are meaningful, as each moment of genuine recognition loosens the hold of obscurations and allows the already-present Buddha-nature to shine through.