Buddha nature

The concept of Buddha-nature in Buddhism and related traditions represents the pure, natural essence or 'spirit' of the individual and, co-substantially, of existence itself. All persons are said to have Buddha-nature, and enlightenment in a certain sense consists of nothing more than rediscovering this fact and consciously realizing one's own authentic identity, which is traditionally conceived of as Sunyata (emptiness), the ultimate reality of Buddha-nature.