Mahāyāna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations

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**{{i|''On the origins of the Mahāyāna – some more sūtras''|30}}
**{{i|''On the origins of the Mahāyāna – some more sūtras''|30}}
**{{i|''The justification of the Mahāyāna sutras''|38}}
**{{i|''The justification of the Mahāyāna sutras''|38}}
*{{i|2 '''The ''Perfection of Wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā) Sūtras'' '''|'''45'''}}
*{{i|'''2 The ''Perfection of Wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā) Sūtras'' '''|'''45'''}}
On the MahAyAna sEtras 45
**{{i|''On the Mahāyāna sūtras''|45}}
The origins and development of the PrajñApAramitA literature 47
**{{i|''The origins and development of the Prajñāpāramitā literature''|47}}
Wisdom (prajña) and its perfection 49
**{{i|''Wisdom'' (prajña) ''and its perfection''|49}}
Absence of Self – the extensive perspective 51
**{{i|''Absence of Self – the extensive perspective''|51}}
The Bodhisattva 55
**{{i|''The Bodhisattva''|55}}
3 MÄdhyamika 63
*{{i|'''3 Mādhyamika'''|'''63'''}}
NAgArjuna and Fryadeva 63
**{{i|''Nāgārjuna and Āryadeva''|63}}
The development of the MAdhyamika tradition in India 65
**{{i|''The development of the Mādhyamika tradition in India''|65}}
Emptiness and intrinsic existence – the incompatible rivals 68
**{{i|''Emptiness and intrinsic existence – the incompatible rivals''|68}}
A brief note on MAdhyamika method 71
**{{i|''A brief note on Mādhyamika method''|71}}
Three MAdhyamika critiques 72
**{{i|''Three Mādhyamika critiques''|72}}
On causation 73
***{{i|''On causation''|73}}
On the Self 74
***{{i|''On the Self''|74}}
On nirvAUa 75
***{{i|''On nirvāṇa''|75}}
The two truths 76
**{{i|''The two truths''|76}}
 
**{{i|''Meditation and emptiness – an impressionistic outline''|79}}
Meditation and emptiness – an impressionistic outline 79
**{{i|''A final note – Mādhyamika in China and East Asia''|81}}
A final note – MAdhyamika in China and East Asia 81
*{{i|'''4 Yogācāra'''|'''84'''}}
4 YogÄcÄra 84
**{{i|''Background''|84}}
Background 84
**{{i|''The Yogācāra tradition – scholars and texts''|86}}
The YogAcAra tradition – scholars and texts 86
**{{i|''The three natures'' (trisvabhava)|88}}
The three natures (trisvabhava) 88
**{{i|''Mind''|92}}
Mind 92
**{{i|''Substratum consciousness, consciousness and immaculate consciousness''|97}}
Substratum consciousness, consciousness and immaculate consciousness 97
**{{i|''Yet more disputes within the Yogācāra tradition''|100}}
Yet more disputes within the YogAcAra tradition 100
*{{i|'''5 The Tathāgatagarbha'''|'''103'''}}
5 The TathÄgatagarbha 103
**{{i|''Some Tathāgatagarbha Sūtras''|104}}
Some TathAgatagarbha SEtras 104
**{{i|''The'' Tathāgatagarbha ''in the'' Ratnagotravibhāga|109}}
The Tathagatagarbha in the Ratnagotravibhaga 109
**{{i|''Tibet – the'' gzhan stong ''and'' rang stong ''dispute''|112}}
Tibet – the gzhan stong and rang stong dispute 112
**{{i|''The'' Dasheng qixinlun (Ta-sheng ch’i-hsin lun) ''and the''<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Tathagatagarbha ''in East Asia''|115}}
The Dasheng qixinlun (Ta-sheng ch’i-hsin lun) and the
**{{i|''Dōgen on the Buddha-nature''|119}}
Tathagatagarbha in East Asia 115
**{{i|''A note on some contemporary issues: Critical Buddhism and a debate on<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;not-Self in Thai Buddhism''|122}}
DDgen on the Buddha-nature 119
**{{i|''Critical Buddhism''|122}}
A note on some contemporary issues: Critical Buddhism and a debate
**{{i|''Not-Self in contemporary Thai Buddhism''|125}}
on not-Self in Thai Buddhism 122
*{{i|'''6 Huayan – the Flower Garland tradition'''|'''129'''}}
Critical Buddhism 122
**{{i|''Buddhism in China''|129}}
Not-Self in contemporary Thai Buddhism 125
**{{i|''The'' Avataṃsaka Sūtra|132}}
6 Huayan – the Flower Garland tradition 129
**{{i|''The Huayan tradition in China''|138}}
Buddhism in China 129
**{{i|''Huayan thought – Fazang’s 'Treatise on the Golden Lion' ''|141}}
The Avatatsaka Setra 132
**{{i|''A note on some aspects of Huayan practice''|144}}
The Huayan tradition in China 138
**{{i|''The'' Avataṃsaka Sūtra ''and Vairocana in Buddhist art''|146}}
Huayan thought – Fazang’s ‘Treatise on the Golden Lion’ 141
*{{i|'''7 The ''Saddharmapuṇḍarīka (Lotus) Sūtra'' and its influences'''|'''149'''}}
A note on some aspects of Huayan practice 144
**{{i|''A note on Tiantai (Tendai)''|161}}
The Avatatsaka Setra and Vairocana in Buddhist art 146
**{{i|''Nichiren Shōnin and his tradition''|165}}
7 The Saddharmapuéäaráka (Lotus) Sâtra and its influences 149
*{{i|'''8 On the bodies of the Buddha'''|'''172'''}}
A note on Tiantai (Tendai) 161
**{{i|''Prolegomenon to the Mahāyāna''|172}}
Nichiren ShDnin and his tradition 165
**{{i|''The bodies of the Buddha and the philosophy of emptiness''|176}}
8 On the bodies of the Buddha 172
**{{i|''Yogācāra – the system develops''|179}}
Prolegomenon to the MahAyAna 172
**{{i|''A note on the dGe lugs schema of the Buddha's bodies''|182}}
The bodies of the Buddha and the philosophy of emptiness 176
**{{i|''A final note: the 'nonabiding nirvāṇa' and the lifespan of the Buddha''|185}}
YogAcAra – the system develops 179
*{{i|'''9 The path of the Bodhisattva'''|187}}
A note on the dGe lugs schema of the Buddha’s bodies 182
**{{i|''Buddhism reaches Tibet''|187}}
A final note: the ‘nonabiding nirvAUa’ and the lifespan of the Buddha 185
**{{i|''The eighth-century debates''|191}}
 
**{{i|''Compassion and the Bodhicitta''|194}}
9 The path of the Bodhisattva 187
**{{i|''Bodhisattva stages, paths and perfections''|200}}
Buddhism reaches Tibet 187
*{{i|'''10 Trust, self-abandonment and devotion: the cults of Buddhas<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;and Bodhisattvas'''|'''209'''}}
The eighth-century debates 191
**{{i|Buddhānusmṛti – ''recollection of the Buddha''|209}}
Compassion and the Bodhicitta 194
**{{i|''The'' pratyutpanna samādhi ''and Huiyuan''|212}}
Bodhisattva stages, paths and perfections 200
**{{i|''The notion of a Buddha Field'' (buddhakṣetra)|214}}
10 Trust, self-abandonment and devotion: the cults of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas 209
**{{i|''Some Bodhisattvas''|218}}
Buddhanusmvti – recollection of the Buddha 209
***{{i|''Maitreya''|218}}
The pratyutpanna samadhi and Huiyuan 212
***{{i|''Avalokiteśvara''|221}}
The notion of a Buddha Field (buddhakwetra) 214
***{{i|''Tārā''|225}}
Some Bodhisattvas 218
***{{i|''Mañjuśrī''|226}}
Maitreya 218
***{{i|''Kṣitigarbha''|229}}
AvalokiteZvara 221
**{{i|Some Buddhas|231}}
TArA 225
***{{i|''Akṣobhya''|231}}
MañjuZrC 226
***{{i|''Bhaiṣajyaguru''|234}}
KWitigarbha 229
***{{i|''Amitābha/Amitāyus''|238}}
Some Buddhas 231
****{{i|''The Amitābha sūtras''|238}}
AkWobhya 231
****{{i|''Amitābha’s Pure Land in China''|243}}
BhaiWajyaguru 234
****{{i|''Hōnen Shōnin (1133–1212)''|254}}
AmitAbha/AmitAyus 238
****{{i|''Shinran Shōnin (1173–1262)''|259}}
The AmitAbha sEtras 238
**{{i|''Notes''|267}}
AmitAbha’s Pure Land in China 243
**{{i|''References''|389}}
HDnen ShDnin (1133–1212) 254
**{{i|''Index of names''|422}}
Shinran ShDnin (1173–1262) 259
**{{i|''Index of subjects''|430}}
Notes 267
|PublisherLogo=File:Routledge logo.png
References 389
|StopPersonRedirects=No
Index of names 422
Index of subjects 430
|AddRelatedTab=No
|AddRelatedTab=No
}}
}}

Latest revision as of 16:57, 29 June 2023



Mahāyāna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations
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Originating in India, Mahayana Buddhism spread across Asia, becoming the prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet and East Asia. Over the last twenty-five years Western interest in Mahayana has increased considerably, reflected both in the quantity of scholarly material produced and in the attraction of Westerners towards Tibetan Buddhism and Zen.

Paul Williams’ Mahayana Buddhism is widely regarded as the standard introduction to the field, used internationally for teaching and research and has been translated into several European and Asian languages. This new edition has been fully revised throughout in the light of the wealth of new studies and focuses on the religion’s diversity and richness. It includes much more material on China and Japan, with appropriate reference to Nepal, and for students who wish to carry their study further there is a much-expanded bibliography and extensive footnotes and cross-referencing. Everyone studying this important tradition will find Williams’ book the ideal companion to their studies. (Source: Routledge)

Citation Williams, Paul. Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations. 2nd ed. Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices. New York: Routledge, 2009. https://archive.org/details/mahayanabuddhismthedoctrinalfoundationspaulwilliamsroutledgeseealtruismandreality_202003_445_W/mode/2up.


    • Preface and acknowledgementsx
  • 1 Introduction1
    • Buddhism: doctrinal diversity and (relative) moral unity1
    • The Indian background7
    • Factors that may have contributed to change12
    • Abhidharma15
    • Mahāsāṃghikas and the Lokottaravāda18
    • The origins of the Mahāyāna, and the laity21
    • Mahāyāna before 'Mahāyāna' – the Ajitasenavyākaraṇanirdeśa Sūtra27
    • On the origins of the Mahāyāna – some more sūtras30
    • The justification of the Mahāyāna sutras38
  • 2 The Perfection of Wisdom (Prajñāpāramitā) Sūtras 45
    • On the Mahāyāna sūtras45
    • The origins and development of the Prajñāpāramitā literature47
    • Wisdom (prajña) and its perfection49
    • Absence of Self – the extensive perspective51
    • The Bodhisattva55
  • 3 Mādhyamika63
    • Nāgārjuna and Āryadeva63
    • The development of the Mādhyamika tradition in India65
    • Emptiness and intrinsic existence – the incompatible rivals68
    • A brief note on Mādhyamika method71
    • Three Mādhyamika critiques72
      • On causation73
      • On the Self74
      • On nirvāṇa75
    • The two truths76
    • Meditation and emptiness – an impressionistic outline79
    • A final note – Mādhyamika in China and East Asia81
  • 4 Yogācāra84
    • Background84
    • The Yogācāra tradition – scholars and texts86
    • The three natures (trisvabhava)88
    • Mind92
    • Substratum consciousness, consciousness and immaculate consciousness97
    • Yet more disputes within the Yogācāra tradition100
  • 5 The Tathāgatagarbha103
    • Some Tathāgatagarbha Sūtras104
    • The Tathāgatagarbha in the Ratnagotravibhāga109
    • Tibet – the gzhan stong and rang stong dispute112
    • The Dasheng qixinlun (Ta-sheng ch’i-hsin lun) and the
         Tathagatagarbha in East Asia      115
    • Dōgen on the Buddha-nature119
    • A note on some contemporary issues: Critical Buddhism and a debate on
         not-Self in Thai Buddhism      122
    • Critical Buddhism122
    • Not-Self in contemporary Thai Buddhism125
  • 6 Huayan – the Flower Garland tradition129
    • Buddhism in China129
    • The Avataṃsaka Sūtra132
    • The Huayan tradition in China138
    • Huayan thought – Fazang’s 'Treatise on the Golden Lion' 141
    • A note on some aspects of Huayan practice144
    • The Avataṃsaka Sūtra and Vairocana in Buddhist art146
  • 7 The Saddharmapuṇḍarīka (Lotus) Sūtra and its influences149
    • A note on Tiantai (Tendai)161
    • Nichiren Shōnin and his tradition165
  • 8 On the bodies of the Buddha172
    • Prolegomenon to the Mahāyāna172
    • The bodies of the Buddha and the philosophy of emptiness176
    • Yogācāra – the system develops179
    • A note on the dGe lugs schema of the Buddha's bodies182
    • A final note: the 'nonabiding nirvāṇa' and the lifespan of the Buddha185
  • 9 The path of the Bodhisattva187
    • Buddhism reaches Tibet187
    • The eighth-century debates191
    • Compassion and the Bodhicitta194
    • Bodhisattva stages, paths and perfections200
  • 10 Trust, self-abandonment and devotion: the cults of Buddhas
         and Bodhisattvas    209
    • Buddhānusmṛti – recollection of the Buddha209
    • The pratyutpanna samādhi and Huiyuan212
    • The notion of a Buddha Field (buddhakṣetra)214
    • Some Bodhisattvas218
      • Maitreya218
      • Avalokiteśvara221
      • Tārā225
      • Mañjuśrī226
      • Kṣitigarbha229
    • Some Buddhas231
      • Akṣobhya231
      • Bhaiṣajyaguru234
      • Amitābha/Amitāyus238
        • The Amitābha sūtras238
        • Amitābha’s Pure Land in China243
        • Hōnen Shōnin (1133–1212)254
        • Shinran Shōnin (1173–1262)259
    • Notes267
    • References389
    • Index of names422
    • Index of subjects430

Mahāyāna - Mahāyāna, or the Great Vehicle, refers to the system of Buddhist thought and practice which developed around the beginning of Common Era, focusing on the pursuit of the state of full enlightenment of the Buddha through the realization of the wisdom of emptiness and the cultivation of compassion. Skt. महायान Tib. ཐེག་པ་ཆེན་པོ། Ch. 大乘

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abhidharma - Abhidharma generally refers to the corpus of Buddhist texts which deals with the typological, phenomenological, metaphysical, and epistemological presentation of Buddhist concepts and teachings. The abhidharma teachings present a meta-knowledge of Buddhist sūtras through analytical and systemic schemas and are said to focus on developing wisdom among the three principles of training. The Abhidharma is presented alongside Sūtra and Vinaya as one of the three baskets of the teachings of the Buddha. Skt. अभिधर्म Tib. ཆོས་མངོན་པ། Ch. 阿毗达磨

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sūtra - Sūtras mainly refer to the discourses delivered by the Buddha and his disciples, and the Sūtra corpus is one of the three main sets of teachings which form the Buddhist canon. Skt. सूत्र Tib. མདོ། Ch. 佛经

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Prajñāpāramitā - A class of Mahāyāna sūtras which represents some of the earliest known literature of this genre of Buddhism. There are around forty texts associated with this category, though the most widespread is the exceedingly brief Prajñāpāramitāhṛdayasūtra, popularly known as the Heart Sūtra. This class of literature is typically associated with the second turning of the dharma wheel and especially with the teachings on emptiness (śūnyatā). As such, these texts were the primary scriptural source for the philosophy of the Madhyamaka school. Skt. प्रज्ञापारमिता Tib. ཤེས་རབ་ཀྱི་ཕ་རོལ་ཏུ་ཕྱིན་པ་,ཤེར་ཕྱིན་ Ch. 般若波羅蜜多

Go to the page with the definition of 'Perfection of Wisdom'

Prajñāpāramitā - A class of Mahāyāna sūtras which represents some of the earliest known literature of this genre of Buddhism. There are around forty texts associated with this category, though the most widespread is the exceedingly brief Prajñāpāramitāhṛdayasūtra, popularly known as the Heart Sūtra. This class of literature is typically associated with the second turning of the dharma wheel and especially with the teachings on emptiness (śūnyatā). As such, these texts were the primary scriptural source for the philosophy of the Madhyamaka school. Skt. प्रज्ञापारमिता Tib. ཤེས་རབ་ཀྱི་ཕ་རོལ་ཏུ་ཕྱིན་པ་,ཤེར་ཕྱིན་ Ch. 般若波羅蜜多

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Bodhisattva - A person who seeks enlightenment for the sake of others. In Mahāyāna Buddhism, a Bodhisattva is a compassionate being who is training on the path to Buddhahood and aspires to eliminate the suffering of all beings and take all sentient beings to the state of enlightenment. The Mahāyāna sūtras including those on buddha-nature generally have Bodhisattvas as the main audience or interlocutors for the Buddha's discourses. Skt. बोधिसत्त्व Tib. བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས་དཔའ། Ch. 菩薩

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śūnyatā - The state of being empty of an innate nature due to a lack of independently existing characteristics. Skt. शून्यता Tib. སྟོང་པ་ཉིད་ Ch. 空,空門

Go to the page with the definition of 'emptiness'

Yogācāra - Along with Madhyamaka, it was one of the two major philosophical schools of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Founded by Asaṅga and Vasubandhu around the fourth century CE, many of its central tenets have roots in the Saṃdhinirmocanasūtra and the so-called third turning of the dharma wheel (see tridharmacakrapravartana). Skt. योगाचार Tib. རྣལ་འབྱོར་སྤྱོད་པ་ Ch. 瑜伽行派

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tathāgatagarbha - Buddha-nature, literally the "womb/essence of those who have gone (to suchness)." Skt. तथागतगर्भ Tib. དེ་བཞིན་གཤེགས་པའི་སྙིང་པོ་ Ch. 如来藏

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These are the root verses of the Uttaratantra attributed to Maitreya by the Tibetan tradition.

Go to the page with the definition of 'Ratnagotravibhāga'

bodhicitta - The altruistic thought to seek enlightenment for the sake of all sentient beings. It is said to have two aspects: compassion aimed at sentient beings and their problems and the wisdom of enlightenment as the solution. Skt. बोधिचित्त Tib. བྱང་ཆུབ་སེམས། Ch. 菩提心

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