A Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path

(This is from a text I found by Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen)

All sentient beings in the six realms are ruled by the emotions, by karma and result, yet the innate nature of each and every one of us is pervaded by the perfect buddha nature.

The stains of bad deeds and obscurations refers to our negative thoughts, obscurations, and all the types of karma, especially the deeply rooted inveterate propensities. These stains are like mud covering the precious jewel of buddha nature. When a diamond is covered with mud, is its quality lessened? No; a diamond is a diamond. But when it is encrusted with mud, we don’t use it as an ornament. When we realise that a diamond is underneath the mud, we take it out and polish it. Similarly, the essence of our our own mind is no different from the Buddha‘s mind. When we realise this, we can “uncover” the mind by purifying negative thoughts. When we experience this directly, that is the Buddha‘s omniscient mind.

Before we can do anything, we have to recognise that a naturally pure jewel is present in the mud. Once discovered, we first clean the jewel with a rough cloth or salty water. After that, we clean it more carefully. Finally, we wash it gently with medicinal water and polish it with a silk cloth. Through these efforts, the pure jewel is revealed.

We reveal our buddha nature in the same manner. First, we practise the four foundations to remove the gross layer of mud. Then we do the practice of ngondro – the preliminary practices – to remove more subtle obscurations. After that, relative and ultimate bodhicitta will uncover the most subtle layer of mind, and out of comes the pure jewel of enlightened mind!

from A Complete Guide to the Buddhist Path

by Khenchen Konchog Gyaltshen