Our heart of awakened wisdom is not acquired from an external source - it is basic to us, it is our own basic wealth. This potential for wisdom, our Buddha nature, was described by Maitreya as a treasure buried under a poor man's hovel. Due to confusion, and actions based on such confusion, there is suffering in the universe, but at the core of all life are qualities such as wisdom, compassion, and strength. In order to manifest these inner qualities, we need to recognise and uncover this nature, which is the supreme purpose of the Buddhist path.
This innate awakened nature is the subject of the great Mahayana Buddhist classic Uttaratantra. Written in the 4th century CE by the great Buddhist master Asanga, based on the teachings of Maitreya, the Uttaratantra presents how buddha nature exists within us, how it is approached, and what are the qualities of manifest buddhahood. This teaching is also regarded as an essential bridge to the Vajrayana, or tantric Buddhist teachings.
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