Charlotte Joko Beck incorporates the doctrine of Buddha-nature into her work Everyday Zen: love and work (1989), in several dimensions. The union of wisdom and emptiness is the core of Buddhism and what is called Buddha-nature because it contains the very seed or potential of Buddha-hood. It resides in each and every being and because of this essential nature, there is the possibility of reaching Buddha-hood. Even though it is in everyone, it is not obvious nor does it manifest because it is covered up by the various thoughts and delusions, which are blocking the Buddha-nature. Beck incorporates the teaching of Buddha-nature into her book Everyday Zen with what seems to be an assumption that the people reading the book have already discovered that the Buddha-nature exists within them. She does not point out the Buddha-nature with explicit words, but she tells the reader that the capacity for fulfillment and enlightenment is within themselves alone. Beck implies to the reader that they can find within themselves the ability to be a better person, reach enlightenment, and become a bodhisattva or Buddha. .
Full Buddha-nature is in everyone's mind, yet its presence is often hidden. People who are good inside sometimes need to be shown their own goodness to really see it. As Beck indicates, even when someone has learned about the Buddha's teachings, about the nature of desire, the nature of aversion, and so on, it takes a long time for them to understand what is really being taught. Even though we may know about the shortcomings of desire, it still takes a long time to act in a way which corresponds to our knowledge. The perception of the deeper aspects of truth is very hard for us to quickly understand because ignorance is so pervasive. The Buddha taught the dharma to show us how to have access to this precious Buddha-nature.
Those who heed the Buddha's teachings can discover this unparalleled thing, which has been within us all the time, and which we never knew was there until we were told.
