Roots of Goodness

Good roots (Sanskrit: Kuśala-mūla) is a Buddhist term that means good nature or good character, referring to the root that can produce good dharma. Various thoughts and behaviors that can increase good (Kuśala) are likened to tree roots (mūla), hence the name good roots. [1] Sometimes it can also be referred to as good roots or virtuous roots. According to the Abhidharmakośa, good roots refer to the root that can produce undefiled wisdom when a practitioner enters the path of seeing.

In Chinese Buddhism, the concepts of “root nature,” “root capacity,” and “root potential” all refer to the “roots of goodness,” meaning the good roots and habits of sentient beings, just as the roots of a tree can generate good intentions. Those with superior roots can understand the profound teachings of the Buddha, or firmly uphold precepts and smoothly perform virtuous deeds; these are called sharp roots. Those with inferior roots cannot understand the Buddha’s teachings, repeatedly break precepts, or lack good intentions; these are called dull roots or inferior roots. The two are collectively referred to as “two roots.”