Derived from "buddhadatu or buddhadhatu" (Sanskrit), which means "essence of the Buddha," (from धातु dhatu, "element, primary element, cause, mineral"). The term buddhadhatu appeared in Mahayana scripture as a reference to tathagatagarbha, the "embryo of the Buddha," also called Buddha Nature. In general use, this describes that element in us that has the potential to become a Buddha, an "awakened one."

