A Study on the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra)

Translation of The Treatise on the Ultimate Continuum of the Mahāyāna (84000)

Book

Jikido Takasaki's seminal work on the Ratnagotravibhāga includes a critical introduction, a synopsis of the text, a translation from the original Sanskrit text in comparison with its Tibetan and Chinese versions, critical notes, appendixes, and indexes. The work is split into two parts. The first consists of a critical and detailed study on the structure of the text and the position of the Ratnagotravibhāga in Mahāyāna Buddhism, and the second consists of a translation of the Sanskrit text into English.

Citation	Takasaki, Jikidō. A Study on the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra): Being a Treatise on the Tathāgatagarbha Theory of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Serie Orientale Roma XXXIII. Rome: Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente (IsMEO), 1966. https://archive.org/details/bdrc-W1KG1582/page/n1/mode/2up.

List of Abbreviationsix
Prefacexi
Introduction1
- I. The Ratnagotravibhāga, its Text, Translation, and Traditions concering the Author5
  - 1. Text5
  - 2. Translations & Traditions concerning the Author6
- II. The Structure of the Text10
  - 1. Basic Text and Commentary10
  - 2. Chinese Account of the Basic Verses12
  - 3. Supposed Form of the Original Text18
  - 4. The Commentary and Later Additions19
- III. Keypoint of the Discourse20
  - 1. Ratnagotra, the Germ of the Three Jewels20
  - 2. 4 Aspects of the Germ23
  - 3. The Absolute26
- IV. Genealogy of the Tathāgatagarbha Theory32
  - 1. Sources of the Ratnagotravibhāga32
  - 2. Cittaprakrti and Āganutukakleśa34
  - 3. Buddhajñana in the Avatamsaka35
  - 4. The Tathāgatagarbhasūtra36
  - 5. The Āryaśrīmālāsūtra37
  - 6. The Anūnatvâpūrnatvanirdeśa and the Mahāparinirvānasūtra39
  - 7. The Mahāyānasūtrâlankāra40
- V. Works on the Tathāgatagarbha Theory Contemporary with or Succeeding
  the Ratna.45
  - 1. The Mahāyanadharmadhātvaviśesaśāstra45
  - 2. The Buddhagotraśastra47
  - 3. The Anuttarâśrayasūtra49
  - 4. The Lankāvatāra and the Mahāyānaśraddhôtpādaśāstra53
- VI. The Position of the Ratna. in Mahāyāna Buddhism54
  - 1. The Ratna. as a Criticism on the Prajñāpāramitā54
  - 2. The Ratna. and the Vijñānavāda57
  - 3. Consideration on the Date and Authorship of the Ratna.61
Synopsis of the Text63
Translation and Notes135

Chapter I. — The Matrix of the Tathāgata

I. Introduction141
- 1) The Meaning of the Adamantine Subjects141
- 2) Authorities on the 7 Subjects 143
- 3) The Essential Character of the 7 Subjects146
- 4) The Inherent Connection among the 7 Subjects153

II. The Jewel of the Buddha155
- 1) The eightfold Quality of the Buddhahood156
- 2) Reference to the Jñānâlokâlaṅkārasūtra159

III. The Jewel of the Doctrine163
- 1) The Eightfold Quality of the Doctrine164
- 2) Nirodhasatya & Mārgasatya165
- 3) The Doctrine as the Truth of Extinction165
- 4) The Doctrine as the Truth of Path168

IV. The Jewel of the Community172
- 1) Manner and Extent of Perception173
  - a) Right Manner of Perception174
  - b) Unlimited Extent of Perception175
- 2) Introspective Character of Bodhisattva’s Perception176
- 3) Superiority of Bodhisattva’s Community176

V. The 3 Jewels as Refuges180
- 1) 3 Refuges from the Empirical Standpoint180
- 2) The Doctrine and the Community are not the ultimate refuge181
- 3) Only the Buddha is the Refuge from the ultimate Standpoint184
- 4) The Meaning of the 3 Jewels185

VI. The Germ of the 3 Jewels in 4 Aspects186
- 1) Inconceivability of the 4 Aspects188
- 2) The Germ as Cause and Conditions of the 3 Jewels in its 4 Aspects194

VII. The Sermon: All Living Beings are possessed of the Tathāgatagarbha196

VIII. Analysis of the Germ from 10 Points of View199
- (I) Svabhāva & (II) Hetu200
  - 1) The Nature of the Essence of the Tathāgata200
  - 2) Obstructions and Causes for Purification201
- (III) Phala & (IV) Karman207
  - 1) The 4 Supreme Virtues as the Result of Purification208
  - 2) Concordance between the 4 Supreme Virtues and the 4 Causes for Purification210
  - 3) 4 Impediments to the Attainment of the Supreme Virtues214
  - 4) Motives of the 4 Supreme Virtues218
  - 4') The Unstable Nirvāṇa219
  - 5) Functions of the Germ for its Purification221
- (V) Yoga225
  - 1) The Union of the Germ to the Factors of its Purification225
  - 2) The Union of the Germ to the Result of Purification227
- (VI) Vṛtti (Manifestation)229
- (VII) Avasthāprabheda (Different States of Manifestation)230
- (VIII) Sarvatraga (All-pervadingness)233
- (IX) Avikāra234
  - (A) Unchangeability in the Impure State235
    - 1) Unoriginated Character of the Innate Mind238
    - 2) Indestructible Character of the Innate Mind241
  - (B) Unchangeability in the Pure-and-impure State243
    - 1) Pure Character and Impure Character of the Bodhisattva243
    - 2) Defilements endowed with the Virtuous Root245
    - 3) Bodhisattva’s Compassion — The Parable of a Householder246
    - 4) Bodhisattva’s Perception of the Pure Mind248
    - 5) ' Saṃsāra ' in the Case of Bodhisattva250
    - 6) Bodhisattva in his 6th Stage250
    - 7) The Pure and Impure State of the Bodhisattva in comparison
      with the Ordinary Being and the Buddha253
  - (C) Unchangeability in the Perfectly Pure State256
- (X) Asaṃbheda258
  - 1) Synonyms of the Essence of the Tathāgata259
  - 2) The Point: Buddhahood is Nirvāṇa261
  - 3) The Parable of Painters263
  - 4) Similarity of the Buddhahood to the Sun265

IX. The 9 Illustrations on the Germ covered with Defilements268
- 1) The 9 Illustrations according to the Tathāgatagarbhasūtra268
- 2) 9 Kinds of Defilements — the Impurities of the Mind277
- 3) Concordance between the 9 Illustrations and 9 Kinds of Defilements281
- 4) The threefold Nature of the Essence283
  - a) Dharmakāya284
  - b) Tathatā287
  - c) Tathāgatagotra288

X. The Essential Characteristics of the Matrix of the Tathāgata294
- 1) The Saying: ' All Living Beings are possessed of the Matrix of the
  Tathāgata ' is the Highest Logical Truth294
- 2) The 4 Kinds of Individuals to whom the Faith in this Essence is necessary296
- 3) The True Conception of the Matrix of the Tathāgata as representing Non-substantiality300

XI. The Purpose of Instruction305

Chapter II. — The Enlightenment

XII. General Characteristics of the Reality free from Pollutions310
XIII. 8 Points on the Undefiled Reality314
- (I) Svabhāva & (II) Hetu314
- (III) Phala315
- (IV) Karman318
- (V) Yoga322
- (VI) Vṛtti324
  - a) The Body of the Absolute Essence326
  - b) The Body of Enjoyment328
  - c) The Apparitional Body329
- (VII) Nitya331
- (VIII) Acintya334

Chapter III. — The Properties of the Buddha

XIV. General Characteristics of the Buddha’s Properties336
XV. The 64 Properties of the Buddha338
- (I) The 10 Powers338
- (II) The 4 Forms of Intrepidity339
- (III) The 18 Exclusive Properties341
- (IV) The 32 Marks of the Superman343
  - (Commentary)347

Chapter IV. — The Acts of the Buddha

XVI. General Characteristics of the Acts of the Buddha351
XVII. The 9 Illustrations on the Buddha's Acts355
- 1) Buddha's Magnanimity355
- 2) The 9 Illustrations taken from the Jñānâlokâlaṅkārasūtra356
- 3) Summary of the Illustrations given by the Commentator374
- 4) Summary of Examples given in the Kārikās375
- 5) Non-origination and Non-extinction of the Buddhahood377
- 6) The Point of Dissimilarity377

Chapter V. — The Merits of Faith

XVIII. The Merits of Having Faith in the Doctrine of the Essence of Buddhahood380
- 1) The Superiority of Faith to other Virtues in regard to their Merits380
- 2) Authority, Motive, and Characteristics of this Text being the Correct
  Doctrine384
- 3) Means of preserving oneself within the Doctrine386
- 4) Causes and Results of the Loss of the Doctrine387
- 5) Conclusion389

Appendixes
- I. Supposed for of the Original Śloka-grantha393
- II. Corrections & Emendations to the Sanskrit Text396
- III. Description of the Ultimate Reality by Means of the Six Categories400
Indexes
- 1. Index of Sanskrit Terms411
- 2. Index of Works, Authors & Schools437

Maitreya; Asaṅga, (thogs med). theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i bstan bcos (mahāyānottaratantraśāstra-ratnagotra-vibhāga). Chinese: 究竟一乘寶性論 (jiu jing yi ch'eng bao xing lun). Dege 4024, sems tsam, phi 54b1-73a7. Translator(s): Sajjana, Rngog lo tsā ba blo ldan shes rab. Peking, Q 5525. Narthang, N 4293. In bstan 'gyur (sde dge), Vol. 123: 107-146. Delhi: delhi karmapae choedhey, gyalwae sungrab partun khang, 1982-1985. Columbia AIBS. ACIP Text.
1. This book Includes: a critical introduction, a synopsis of the text, a translation from the original Sanskrit text, in comparison with its Tibetan and Chinese versions, critical notes, appendixes and indexes.