Characteristics of Our True Nature 何期自性

The Buddha teaches that everyone has a buddha nature within them. But how well do we truly understand it? Here is an explanation that may help.

In the Platform Sutra, there is a powerful moment when the Fifth and Sixth Patriarchs meet in secret one night. During their meeting, the Sixth Patriarch says:

何期自性本自清淨！

何期自性本不生滅！

何期自性本自具足！

何期自性本無動搖！

何期自性能生萬法！

Who would have thought our true nature is already pure?

Who would have thought our true nature is already eternal?

Who would have thought our true nature is already whole?

Who would have thought our true nature is already still?

Who would have thought our true nature could create all things?

Our true nature is inherently pure, eternal, complete, and still. All wisdom comes from it. Photo by Amanda Flavell on Unsplash

Here’s my humble take on the characteristics of our true nature:

Our true nature is naturally pure. We don’t have to make it pure—it already is! It’s just that our thoughts and feelings sometimes get in the way. If we pause and notice what’s blocking it, and then let it go, our true nature can shine through.

Our true nature is eternal. There is a part of us that has always been here and never changes. It stays the same, even as everything else goes through the four stages of life: being created, existing, changing, and disappearing.

Our true nature is whole. Being whole means our true nature is already full of goodness and wisdom. We don’t need to search outside—everything we need is already within us.

Our true nature is still. It is calm and steady, even when our thoughts feel like a storm. It doesn’t get shaken by what’s happening around us.

All things come from our true nature. It naturally knows how to respond with wisdom in every situation—whether hard or joyful. No matter what happens in life, it stays pure, eternal, whole, and peaceful.

Knowing these qualities of our true nature helps us see our buddha nature more clearly.

Here is the video of the translation.