Always good.

Donay zangpo is a word in Tibetan that describes our true nature, or innate potential.

Donay (Tib. gdod nas) means from the very beginning, primordially, original, always.

Zangpo (Tib. bzang po) means goodness, worth, edifying, or beauty.

So donay zangpo means something like innate worth, original value, always good, or even natural beauty. The renowned Tibetan master Chogyam Trungpa referred to this as basic goodness, the nature of every human as being uncontaminated or unpolluted.

Our culture has indoctrinated us with a lot of shame, guilt, self-hatred and self-doubt. I think for many of us, if not most of us, this innate worth and natural beauty evades us. We don't see it in ourselves and we don't recognize it in others. This leaves us feeling empty inside, searching for meaning and purpose outside of ourselves.

The basic function of the Inner Work is to make contact with this basic goodness or innate worth in our own life and practice. To become familiar with our true nature as being always good. We have a good heart, we are a good person, we can be a force for good in the world. When is the last time you heard that from someone? I think we need to hear it more often.

Socrates argued that what was good is that which is virtuous. He also argued that beauty was that which is morally good. If we think about donay zangpo, what we are saying is that our nature is inherently virtuous, naturally beautiful. That is a powerful message. Do you believe that to be true? Do you see that in yourself, especially when you have had a rough day and nothing seems to be going your way?

Learning to access our basic goodness is a skill worth investing in. Familiarize yourself with your innate worth daily. Commit to recognizing it in yourself and seeing it in others. It's not easy because we have all kinds of stories and conditioning layered on top of it, but it is there. It is always there.

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