Tendai Buddhism wraps up original enlightenment (hongaku) and universal Buddhahood into a single, sweeping vision: every sentient being is already Buddha, hiding that brilliance behind layers of ignorance and emotion. Imagine a clouded mirror—Tendai teaching says the mirror itself is flawless; what mars its shine is simply dust. That “dust” is klesha—greed, anger, delusion—yet beneath it all, the pristine light of awakening never wavers.

Hongaku insists there’s no waiting around for some cosmic gift or distant savior. Enlightenment isn’t a goal at the end of a long road but the ground everyone stands on right now. It’s like realizing a song stuck in one’s head has always been playing in the background—even when barely noticed. So, every gesture, thought or mundane act holds Buddha-nature. Tenshin (Tendai’s founder Saichō) and later thinkers such as Genshin took it further, suggesting that even the tiniest blade of grass participates in the great awakening.

Universal Buddhahood rides on that same engine. Since everyone shares this original enlightenment, the path each person takes simply polishes the mirror rather than creating a new one. Tendai’s famous “three thousand realms in a single thought moment” shows how intimately personal practice and cosmic reality intertwine. It’s a bit like the way a viral TikTok dance can suddenly reveal hidden connections—ordinary folks tapping into something far bigger than themselves.

Today’s mindfulness boom, whether through apps or breathing exercises in office break rooms, echoes hongaku’s central claim: the seed of awakening is never elsewhere. In an era of division—political, social, environmental—Tendai’s confidence that no one is left outside Buddha’s embrace feels refreshing. It’s the ultimate underdog story: every being, without exception, already owns the trophy.