tathagatagarbha; buddha-womb; buddha-nature potential
Buddhist term for the innate potential within all sentient beings to attain buddhahood. Used in Mahayana texts.
The concept of tathagatagarbha teaches that all living beings have the potential to become a buddha.
From Sanskrit tathāgatagarbha, composed of tathāgata (thus-come one, a buddha) and garbha (womb, embryo, essence). The kanji 如来 (にょらい) translates tathāgata, and 蔵 (ぞう) translates garbha.