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

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***{{i|Unchangeability|200}}
 
***{{i|Unchangeability|200}}
 
***{{i|Indivisible excellences|205}}
 
***{{i|Indivisible excellences|205}}
*{{i|Chapter 7: The Eighteen Similes in the Tathiigatagarbha-sutra|209}}
 
1. rGyal-tshab's General Discussion 209
 
2. The Nine Smiles for the Obscuring Defilements 215
 
The lotus simile for latent state of attachment 215
 
The bees simile for latent state of hatred 216
 
The husks simile for latent state of misknowledge 216
 
The filth simile for intense outburst of attachment, hatred, and
 
misknowledge 218
 
The floor simile for ground of instincts for misknowledge 219
 
The fruit simile for addictions eliminated by the Path ofInsight 220
 
The tattered rags simile for addictions eliminated by the Path of Meditation
 
221
 
The woman simile for addictions related to the Impure Stages 222
 
The clay simile for addictions related to the Pure stages 223
 
Discussion of the twofold obscuration 224
 
3. The Nine Smiles for thc Obscured Element 226
 
The three similes for the Truth Body 228
 
The gold simile for reality 230
 
The five similes for the spiritual gene 231
 
Chapter 8: The Twofold Spiritual Gene 236
 
1. Tsong-kha-pa's Analysis of the Vijfianavadin Standpoints 237
 
2. A Madhyamika Critique of the Vijfianavadin Standpoint 248
 
3. The dGe-Iugs-pa Exegesis of the "Spiritual Gene" Section of the AA 250
 
4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind under Debate 256
 
Conclusion 264
 
Abbreviations 268
 
Bibliography 271
 
Part II: Appendices
 
1. A Special Edition of Chapter One of the Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i tfkii (1 a-72a
 
and 64a-I70b) 285
 
  
A. Topical Outline 285
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**{{i|A. The Mahiiyanottaratantraryakhya (Chapter One: 1.1-7.5 and 21.1-78.22)|449}}
B. Special Edition 306
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**{{i|B. The ''Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i ṭīkā'' (Chapter One: la-72a and 64a-170b)|525}}
2. Translations 449
 
A. The Mahiiyanottaratantraryakhya (Chapter One: 1.1-7.5 and 21.1-78.22) 449
 
B. The Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i {ika (Chapter One: la-72a and 64a-170b) 525
 
 
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Revision as of 15:40, 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.