Is Human Nature Inherently Good or Evil?

The fundamental nature of humanity refers to the innate mind-nature inherent in individuals, comprising two aspects: the mind-nature of the manas and the nature of the tathāgatagarbha. The acquired nature shaped through conditioning is the mind-nature of consciousness. To understand the fundamental aspect of human nature from the perspective of the five aggregates, one must examine the manas; to grasp it holistically, one must look to the tathāgatagarbha. When observing the manifestations of a person's mind-nature, focus should be on the manas, for it is the root, while consciousness is like the branches. Although the flourishing foliage of consciousness may obscure the fundamental root of the manas, the branches of consciousness will inevitably wither and fall, at which point the fundamental root of the manas will be laid completely bare.

In terms of the five aggregates, examine the mind-nature of the manas; essentially, examine the mind-nature of the tathāgatagarbha—though generally, it is the mind-nature of the five aggregates that is observed. Whatever nature the manas has possessed since beginningless kalpas defines human nature; whatever mind-nature the manas possesses, so too does human nature. So too are the mind-natures of animals, ghosts and spirits, asuras, and celestial beings defined by this; so too are the mind-natures of arhats, pratyekabuddhas, bodhisattvas, and Buddhas. More fundamental than the manas is the mind-nature of the true mind, the tathāgatagarbha. Thus, the original nature of humanity is the nature of the tathāgatagarbha.