Study of the Tathāgatagarbha as True Self and the True Selves of the Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya and Jaina Traditions

From Buddha-Nature



Study of the Tathāgatagarbha as True Self and the True Selves of the Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya and Jaina Traditions
Dissertation
Dissertation

Abstract:

The tathāgatagarbha is an intrinsically luminous consciousness naturally inscribed with the complete knowledge of the Buddha along with infinite Buddha-virtues and the potential to attain them. Studies in the past have focused on its potential aspect and negated it as an ontological entity. In this dissertation I examine it as a true self of sentient beings arguing that being beginningless, unborn, unconditioned, eternally unchanging, enduring and imperishable, it qualifies as true self. Also, the Mahāyāna-Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra unhesitatingly acknowledges it as true self, and its features conform to the definition of the true self of this sūtra and of Bhāvaviveka. I find ample support for its interpretation as true self in the sūtras on this doctrine. Besides, its features correspond with the features of the Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya and Jaina true selves. The Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine is recognized as a provisional teaching. The centrality of the doctrines of śūnyatā, tathatā, darmadhātu, dharmakāya and nirvāṇa suggest that it is truly Mahāyāna in spirit. According to the Ratnagotravibhāga, without realizing the emptiness of own being, nirvāṇa is not attained. This “Ultimate Doctrine”, it adds, is taught to remove the five defects. The defects, I find, are connected with not knowing emptiness or understanding the dharmakāya of the Tathāgata nihilistically. As a corrective to the nihilistic understanding of the Mahāyāna Doctrine, it qualifies as an ultimate teaching.

I study the Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine from the following perspectives: the tathāgatagarbha as true self; the all-pervading, undifferentiated Essence of Buddhahood as Cosmic Self; and the concept of liberation. I also compare this doctrine to the doctrines of the above-mentioned three traditions and study their concepts of true self, the concepts of Cosmic Self of the Brahmanic and Early Sāṅkhya doctrines; and the concepts of liberation of these three doctrines. I follow the trajectory of thought of the Ratnagotravibhāga and the Tathāgatagarbha group of texts.

Citation Khosla, Usha. "Study of the Tathāgatagarbha as True Self and the True Selves of the Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya and Jaina Traditions." PhD diss., University of Toronto, 2015. https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/77747/3/Khosla_Usha_201506_PhD_thesis.pdf


  • Contents i-vi
  • Abbreviations vii-ix
  • Introduction 1
    • Methodology 9
    • Sources 20
    • Formulation of the Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine and composition of the Ratnagotravibhāga and its Commentary 28
    • Significance of this study 35
  • Part 1
    • Chapter 1. Salient Features of the Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine41
    • 1.1. Meaning of the compound ʻtathāgatagarbhaʼ 41
    • 1.2. Nature of the tathāgatagarbha 46
    • 1.3. tathāgatagarbha as ontic element 51
    • 1.4. ʻtathatāʼ a synonym of ʻtathāgatagarbhaʼ 65
    • 1.5. tathāgatagarbha as consciousness 68
    • 1.6. gotra as Three Jewels 72
    • 1.7. Impediments to the perception of the Tathāgataʼs Essence 74
    • 1.8. dharmakāya of the Tathāgata 87
    • 1.9. Recapitulation 99
    • 1.10. Conclusion 103
  • Chapter 2. Self and Not-Self in the Śrāvakayāna 107
    • 2.1. (i) Not-self in the Pāli-suttas 108
      • 2.1. (ii) Rejection of all theories of self 111
      • 2.1. (iii) Buddhaʼs silence on ontological questions 115
      • 2.1. (iv) parinibbāna of the 22
      • 2.1. (v) Recapitulation 125
    • 2.2. (i) Inderminate self of the Pudgalavāda 127
      • 2.2. (ii) Three designations of the pudgala 130
      • 2.2. (iii) Nature of the conditional pudgala 134
      • 2.2. (iv) Real or conceptual pudgala 140
      • 2.2. (v) pudgala and parinirvāṇa 145
      • 2.2. (vi) Recapitulation 149
    • 2.3. Comparison of the pudgala and the tathāgatagarbha 150
    • 2.4. Conclusion 155
  • Chapter 3. Self in the Mahāyāna 160
    • 3.1 a. (i) Emptiness of everything 161
      • 3.1a. (ii) Uncreated nature of empty things 166
      • 3.1a. (iii) Synonyms of emptiness 168
      • 3.1a. (v) Recapitulation 170
    • 3.1b. (i) Madhyamaka interpretation of emptiness 170
    • 3.1b. (ii) Meaning of emptiness 173
    • 3.1b. (iii) Indeterminate nature of empty things 175
    • 3.1b. (iv) Emptiness is not nihilism 179
    • 3.1b. (v) Recapitulation 181
    • 3.2a. (i) tathatā according to the Mahāyāna-sūtras 182
    • 3.2a. (ii) tathatā and the designation ʻTathāgataʼ 188
    • 3.2a. (iii) Recapitulation 189
    • 3.2b. (i) Madhyamaka interpretation of tathatā 190
    • 3.3a. (ii) nirvāṇa according to the Mahāyāna-sūtras 192
    • 3.3a. (iii) Inexpressible nirvāṇa 196
    • 3.3a. (v) dharmakāya of the Tathāgata 198
    • 3.3a. (vi) Recapitulation 201
    • 3.3b. (i) nirvāṇa as Absolute in the Madhyamaka discourse 203
    • 3.3b. (ii) nirvāṇa as knowledge of existence 208
    • 3.3b. (ii) parinirvāṇa of the Tathāgata 210
    • 3.3b. (iii) Recapitulation 212
    • 3.4. Conclusion 214
  • Part 2
  • Chapter 4. tathāgatagarbha as true self and comparison of its nature with the true selves of the Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya and Jaina Traditions222
    • 4.1a. tathāgatagarbha as inherent, complete Buddhahood223
    • 4.1b. Obscuration and inalterability of the tathāgatagarbha229
    • 4.1c. tathāgatagarbha is tathatā 232
    • 4.1d. tathāgatagarbha as innately luminous consciousness 236
    • 4.1e. Is the tathāgatagarbha the true self? 242
    • 4.1f. Is the Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine a provisional teaching? 267
    • 4.1g. Recapitulation 274
    • 4.2a. Nature of the Brahmanic true self 278
    • 4.2b. Embodiment and obscuration of the true self 286
    • 4.2c. Two co-existing aspects of the self 297
    • 4.2d. Recapitulation 299
    • 4.3a. Nature of the Sāṅkhya true self 301
    • 4.3b. Embodiment of the self 306
    • 4.3c. Ignorance, bondage and transmigration 312
    • 4.3d. Recapitulation 315
    • 4.4a. Jaina ontological conceptions 317
    • 4.4b. Nature of the Jaina true self 324
    • 4.4c. Karmic bondage and obscuration of the intrinsic nature of the self 334
    • 4.4d. Recapitulation 344
    • 4.5. Conclusion 346
  • Chapter 5. Cosmic Self in the Tathāgatagarbha, Brahmanic, Early Sāṅkhya and
    Jaina Traditions
    361
    • 5.1a. One Essence of all sentient beings and dharmas 361
    • 5.1b. Scholarly debate on the nature of the dharmadhātu 368
    • 5.1c. Tathāgata as Supreme Self 374
    • 5.1d. Tathāgata as īśvara 378
    • 5.1e. Recapitulation 381
    • 5.2a. Cosmic Self in the Brahmanic Tradition 385
    • 5.2b. Indwelling-controller and His relations with individual beings 392
    • 5.2c. Non-duality and non-conceptuality of Brahman 396
    • 5.2d. Brahman as īśvara 398
    • 5.2e. Recapitulation 400
    • 5.3a. Cosmic Self in the Early Sāṅkhya discourses 401
    • 5.3b. Scholarly debate on Brahman in the Early Sāṅkhya discourses 409
    • 5.3c. Recapitulation 414
    • 5.4. Conclusion 416
  • Chapter 6. Concept of Liberation in the Tathāgatagarbha, Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya
    and Jaina Traditions
    421
    • 6.1a. Knowledge as means to liberation in the Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine 422
    • 6.1b. Manifestation of compassion and mode of existence of the
              Tathāgata
      429
    • 6.1c. Transformation of consciousness 436
    • 6.1d. Manifestation of basis and transformation of basis 443
    • 6.1e. Recapitulation 448
    • 6.2a. Knowledge as means to liberation in the Brahmanic Tradition 453
    • 6.2b. Liberation through Divine Grace 460
    • 6.2c. Transformation of consciousnes 464
    • 6.2d. Recapitulation 471
    • 6.3a Knowledge as means to liberation in the Sāṅkhya tradition 474
    • 6.3b. Transformation of consciousness 479
    • 6.3c. Recapitulation 485
    • 6.4a. Knowledge and rigorous austerities as means to liberation in
              Jainism
      487
    • 6.4b. Omniscience of Mahāvīra 498
    • 6.4c. Transformation of consciousness 503
    • 6.4d. Recapitulation 506
    • 6.5. Conclusion 509
  • Chapter 7. Conclusion 520
    • Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine and the Śrāvakayāna teachings 524
    • tathāgatagarbha and the pudgala 530
    • Tathāgatagarbha Doctrine and Early Mahāyāna teachings 537
    • Conceptual correspondences and differences in the nature of the
      tathāgatagarbha and the natures of true self in the Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya and
      Jaina traditions
      567
    • Conceptual correspondences and differences in the nature of the Cosmic
      Self in the Tathāgatagarbha, Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya and Jaina traditions
      575
    • Correspondences and differences in the concept of liberation in the Tathāgatagarbha Brahmanic, Sāṅkhya and Jaina traditions 580
  • Bibliography 592