Books/A Study on the Ratnagotravibhaga

A Study on the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra)

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

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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.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• 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) ‘ Samsära ’ 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

• 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

1. 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.

Uttaratantra - The Ultimate Continuum, or Gyü Lama, is often used as a short title in the Tibetan tradition for the key source text of buddha-nature teachings called the Ratnagotravibhāga of Maitreya/Asaṅga, also known as the Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra. Skt. उत्तरतन्त्र Tib. རྒྱུད་བླ་མ་ Ch. 寶性論

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

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

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

IsMEO - Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente