Cataphatic Emptiness: rGyal-tshab on the Buddha-essence Theory of Asaṅga's Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā

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***{{i|Śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas' realization of objective selflessness|44}}
 
***{{i|Śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas' realization of objective selflessness|44}}
 
***{{i|Refuting the Vijñānavādin standpoint concerning emptiness|47}}
 
***{{i|Refuting the Vijñānavādin standpoint concerning emptiness|47}}
3. The Three Stages of Teaching according to the DIR 49
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**{{i|3. The Three Stages of Teaching according to the DIR|49}}
Establishing the unique vehicle 49
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***{{i|Establishing the unique vehicle|49}}
As the distinctive presentation of the Prasailgika-Madhyamika viewpoint
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***{{i|As the distinctive presentation of the Prāsaṅgika-Mādhyamika viewpoint|54}}
54
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**{{i|4. The ''Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra'' and the TGS|56}}
4. The Prajiiiipiiramitii-siitra and the TGS 56
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**{{i|5. The TGS as Being Definitive|62}}
5. The TGS as Being Definitive 62
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*{{i|Chapter 3: Critiques of Absolutism, Skepticism, and Quietism|69}}
Chapter 3: Critiques of Absolutism, Skepticism, and Quietism 69
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**{{i|1. Critique of Dol-po-pa's "Great Madhyamaka"|70}}
1. Critique of Dol-po-pa's "Great Madhyamaka" 70
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***{{i|Refuting Dol-po-pa's classification of the TGS|71}}
Refuting Dol-po-pa's classification of the TGS 71
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***{{i|Refuting Buddha-essence as a permanent entity|72}}
Refuting Buddha-essence as a permanent entity 72
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***{{i|Refuting Buddha-essence as being endowed with twofold purities|77}}
Refuting Buddha-essence as being endowed with twofold purities 77
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*{{i|2. Critique of the Mainstream Positions|81}}
2. Critique of the Mainstream Positions 81
 
 
'Gos-lo's position on Buddha-essence 84
 
'Gos-lo's position on Buddha-essence 84
 
dGe-lugs-pa scholars' responses 89  
 
dGe-lugs-pa scholars' responses 89  

Revision as of 15:00, 30 April 2020

Cataphatic Emptiness: rGyal-tshab on the Buddha-essence Theory of Asaṅga's Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā
Dissertation
Dissertation

Abstract

This doctoral dissertation studies the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra), the only surviving Indian Buddhist treatise on the Buddha-essence doctrine, by way of one of its major Tibetan commentaries, rGyal-tshab Dar-ma-rin-chen (1364-1432)'s Theg pa chen po rGyud bla ma'i ṭīkā. This project consists of three parts: a special edition of the first chapter of the Theg pa chen po rGyud bia ma'i ṭīkā, an English translation of the selected sections of that commentary, and a comparative analysis which follows six distinct lines of inquiry.
      The six lines are: rGyal-tshab's doctrinal classification of the text; his critiques of absolutism, skepticism, and quietism in connection with diverse interpretations of the Buddha-essence doctrine in Tibetan traditions as well as a tentative comparison with critiques of the theory of "Original-enlightenment" in modern Chinese Buddhism; his analysis of the title of Tibetan version and the structure of the text; rGyal-tshab's philosophical positions on reality, Element, and natural luminosity of the mind; his expositions of the tripartite Buddha-essence, its ten aspects, and the eighteen similes; and the notion "spiritual gene" understood by dGe-lugs-pas.
      This comparative approach will provide a broader synthetic understanding of the role that Buddha-essence played as a doctrinal genre in Tibetan intellectual history.

Citation Jiang, Bo. "Cataphatic Emptiness: rGyal-tshab on the Buddha-Essence Theory of Asaṅga's Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā." PhD diss., Columbia University, 2008.