Are Dogs Natural Buddhists?

[sun rise]

Thanks to @Sunstone 's sage list of topics that must appear on RF or nowhere in the universe, this question needs to be explored.

It's usually asked in the form "Do dogs have Buddha-nature?" From a Tricycle piece. and in the highest tradition of selective quoting to reinforce my biases:
https://tricycle.org/magazine/does-dog-have-buddha-nature/

[A student] asked: “Does a dog also have buddha-nature or not?” The master said: “The [road] in front of every house leads to Ch’ang-an [the capital].”

Here Chao-chou affirms that all sentient beings do in fact have Buddha-nature, dogs included, but again he implies that they need to wake up to that fact if it is to do them any good. The “road that leads to Ch’ang-an” may run in front of every house, but unless one actually travels it, the sights and smells of the capital can only be imagined.
...
My Mu is a beloved pet, but he surely has not glimpsed his own Buddha-nature. Nor does he recognize that of squirrels: The mere sight of one, and all of his bad karma, born of beginningless greed, hatred, and delusion, comes rushing out in an eye-popping, hackle-raising snarl. And when it comes to oak trees, lamp posts, and other insentient things, not even their Buddha-nature can save them from the indignity of being his territorial markers.

 

[sun rise]

And I just found and utterly love this:

Has a dog Buddha-nature?
This is the most serious question of all.
If you say yes or no,
You lose your own Buddha-nature.
The Gateless Gate: 1. Joshu's Dog

 

[crossfire]

Some dogs have a difficult time meditating. Cats are naturals at it.

 

[Nakosis]

Thanks to @Sunstone 's sage list of topics that must appear on RF or nowhere in the universe, this question needs to be explored.

It's usually asked in the form "Do dogs have Buddha-nature?" From a Tricycle piece. and in the highest tradition of selective quoting to reinforce my biases:
https://tricycle.org/magazine/does-dog-have-buddha-nature/

[A student] asked: “Does a dog also have buddha-nature or not?” The master said: “The [road] in front of every house leads to Ch’ang-an [the capital].”

Here Chao-chou affirms that all sentient beings do in fact have Buddha-nature, dogs included, but again he implies that they need to wake up to that fact if it is to do them any good. The “road that leads to Ch’ang-an” may run in front of every house, but unless one actually travels it, the sights and smells of the capital can only be imagined.
...
My Mu is a beloved pet, but he surely has not glimpsed his own Buddha-nature. Nor does he recognize that of squirrels: The mere sight of one, and all of his bad karma, born of beginningless greed, hatred, and delusion, comes rushing out in an eye-popping, hackle-raising snarl. And when it comes to oak trees, lamp posts, and other insentient things, not even their Buddha-nature can save them from the indignity of being his territorial markers.

My Buddha nature I see as having no nature. Buddhism is maybe the absence of a nature or that is what is strived for. To let go of your "nature" because that is not you.

Your dog would have to let go of his nature but I suspect such a concept is beyond Mu's ability to understand. Maybe beyond the ability of humans to understand but little by little we discover what we are not. Even Mu. So every sentient creature through experience comes closer to realizing what they are not even though the concept itself is not understood.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

If you meet the Buddha-dog on the road, are you supposed to kill her?

 

[Unveiled Artist]

Thanks to @Sunstone 's sage list of topics that must appear on RF or nowhere in the universe, this question needs to be explored.

It's usually asked in the form "Do dogs have Buddha-nature?" From a Tricycle piece. and in the highest tradition of selective quoting to reinforce my biases:
https://tricycle.org/magazine/does-dog-have-buddha-nature/

[A student] asked: “Does a dog also have buddha-nature or not?” The master said: “The [road] in front of every house leads to Ch’ang-an [the capital].”

Here Chao-chou affirms that all sentient beings do in fact have Buddha-nature, dogs included, but again he implies that they need to wake up to that fact if it is to do them any good. The “road that leads to Ch’ang-an” may run in front of every house, but unless one actually travels it, the sights and smells of the capital can only be imagined.
...
My Mu is a beloved pet, but he surely has not glimpsed his own Buddha-nature. Nor does he recognize that of squirrels: The mere sight of one, and all of his bad karma, born of beginningless greed, hatred, and delusion, comes rushing out in an eye-popping, hackle-raising snarl. And when it comes to oak trees, lamp posts, and other insentient things, not even their Buddha-nature can save them from the indignity of being his territorial markers.

But that makes Buddha Nature as if it were a soul or spirit of a person. In The Lotus Sutra and other Mahayana sutras everyone has the potential to be a Buddha aka everyone has the nature to be a Buddha. It's no more just for the arahants etc but for lay men and women too.

As for dogs etc I think that's a Chinese thang. I know Ten Tai Buddhism believes all sentient non humans have the ability to become Buddhas. I don't know how cause becoming a Buddha has to do with actions not a spirit, soul, or dormant identity. Least that's whats in the suttas. But since its not sola-sutrura each lineage and school have their own views.

 

[Vee]

Maybe...
[GALLERY=media, 8724]BD by Vee posted Nov 13, 2018 at 9:00 PM[/GALLERY]

 

[Jumi]

Also look at what's in the name:

The name Chang’an translates as 'Forever Peace', and although not quite living up to its name, the city did remain important for well over a millennium.

Sounds like the "master" was hinting at at least two levels of symbolic interpretation there.

 

[wizanda]

These were made as a parody of an internet meme, with our dog Benson DaWoogie or Woo for short... Wu defines Wisdom.

In my opinion.

 

[wizanda]

If you meet the Buddha-dog on the road, are you supposed to kill her?

No that is just dogma.

In my opinion.

 

[Twilight Hue]

So what does a dog without Buddha nature look like? I just want to know, so I can be able to recognize one with Buddha nature.

 

[beenherebeforeagain]

No that is just dogma.

In my opinion.

can it be run over by someone's karma?

 

[wizanda]

can it be run over by someone's karma?

Would that be done by the Wheels of Dharma.

In my opinion.

 

[crossfire]

Would that be done by the Wheels of Dharma.

In my opinion.

So if you meet buddha-dog on the road, no need to kill it, because the Wheels of Dhamma can do it?