Intrinsic purity (prakṛtipariśuddhi) in the Lankavatara Sutra shines through as a reminder that beneath every mental haze lies an untainted core. The text portrays consciousness not as a tangled web of flaws, but as a clear mirror temporarily obscured by adventitious stains. Just as storm clouds drift across a bright sky, karmic ripples and emotional upheavals may cloud perception—yet the Buddha-nature at the heart of mind remains inherently luminous.

Within the Yogācāra framework of the Lankavatara Sutra, the eight consciousnesses are discussed, with the alaya-vijñāna (storehouse consciousness) often holding defiled “seeds.” Despite these, the alaya’s essence retains an intrinsic purity. This purity isn’t manufactured; it’s the ever-present quality of mind, waiting to be rediscovered. When Mahāmati questions how enlightenment arises amid defilements, the Sutra responds that purification isn’t an external grafting of goodness but the unveiling of what was there all along.

Modern parallels spill into everyday experience. Consider digital detox retreats or the surge in mindfulness apps—trends signalling a collective pull toward recognizing mental clarity as a birthright, not a distant goal. Even in turbulent times—economic uncertainty, global health concerns—this Buddhist insight offers a lifeline: defilements are circumstantial; they don’t rewrite the blueprint of one’s true nature.

The Sutra’s poetic imagery—like a jewel cloaked in mud—underscores that self-awareness acts as a gentle broom, sweeping away obscurations without creating something new. Intrinsic purity isn’t about moral perfection or emotional numbness; it’s an invitation to see reality free from distortion. By embracing this, practitioners today find resonance with ancient wisdom: each mind carries its own buddha-spark, waiting patiently for the moment it shines through.