It is the primary cause or a seed to attain enlightenment or Buddhhood. Without cause, no matter how much effort one makes, he/she would not progress or improve. For example, if you are looking forward to have a fruit tree in your yard, and you don’t have a seed no matter how much effort you make, one will not have a tree or a fruit forever. If you have a seed then that will be the primary cause. When the seed meets right cause and condition it will grow. Ultimately you will have the tree you are looking for. On the other hand, even if we have a seed, if it doesn’t meet the right cause and condition, it will not grow. Similarly all sentient beings possess Buddha nature, the seed of enlightenment. Still the result or success depends on the individual. If one does not apply or cultivate the necessary cause and condition, there is no way to attain enlightenment. Similar to mustard seeds, mustard seeds posses oil. There is no difference between oil in the seed and the bottle. One is not better than another. But until we produce the oil from the seed, we can’t call it oil. To produce the oil from the seed one needs to give the right cause and condition. For instance, first one should know that there is oil in the mustard seed. Second one should know how to extract the oil, and finally one should apply or cultivate it properly in order to have the oil. Through that one will get the oil. Similarly even though all sentient beings posses Buddha nature we can’t call ourselves Buddha until we realize or attain Buddhahood. So I think to attain Buddhahood or enlightenment. First one should know that we all possess Buddha nature or the seed. Which has the complete potential to become enlighten. Next try to find out the method or the way to discover it. Finally work on it or in other words practice it. These kinds of examples will set our foundation very stable and firm. One needs to have right understanding about the causes of our practice. The Buddha himself taught in the sutra. He said, “don’t believe on what I said, listen and analyze yourself. If it makes sense practice it, if doesn’t make sense forget about it.”
What is the importance of the fact that all sentient beings posses Buddha nature? It means no matter how ruthless one may be, one still has a little loving, kindness and compassion, at lest towards his own family. For instance, we know that some animals like tigers and lions. They are very cruel. They always kill others animals. But still they have loving, kindness and compassion towards their own children, family and same species. It is like our sun in the sky. No matter how thick clouds cover it, still some lights come through it. Similarly no matter how obscure our Buddha natures by the defilements, still we can see some signs of the Buddha nature within us through our actions. These are some analogies for us to understand that we all posses the Buddha nature or seed of enlightenment. Still one should analyze according to one owns intellectual bases. If we ourselves found something through our own analyses then one will be free from questions, doubts and suffering.
