大般涅槃経
In contrast to the madhyamika-tradition, the "Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra" uses "positive language" to denote "absolute reality". According to Paul Williams, the "Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra" teaches an underlying essence, "Self", or "atman". This "true Self" is the Buddha-nature ("Tathagatagarbha"), which is present in all sentient beings, and realized by the awakened ones. Most scholars consider the "Tathagatagarbha" doctrine in "Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra" asserting an 'essential nature' in every living being is equivalent to 'Self', and it contradicts the Anatta doctrines in a vast majority of Buddhist texts, leading scholars to posit that the "Tathagatagarbha Sutras" were written to promote Buddhism to non-Buddhists.