Ornament of the Great Vehicle Sūtras
The Buddhist masterpiece Ornament of the Great Vehicle Sūtras, often referred to by its Sanskrit title, Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra, is part of a collection known as the Five Maitreya Teachings, a set of philosophical works that have become classics of the Indian Buddhist tradition. Maitreya, the Buddha’s regent, is held to have entrusted these profound and vast instructions to the master Asaṅga in the heavenly realm of Tuṣita.
The Ornament provides a comprehensive description of the bodhisattva’s view, meditation, and enlightened activities. Bodhisattvas are beings who, out of vast love for all sentient beings, have dedicated themselves to the task of becoming fully awakened buddhas, capable of helping all beings in innumerable and vast ways to become enlightened themselves. To fully awaken requires practicing great generosity, patience, energy, discipline, concentration, and wisdom, and Maitreya’s text explains what these enlightened qualities are and how to develop them.
This volume includes commentaries by Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham, whose discussions illuminate the subtleties of the root text and provide valuable insight into how to practice the way of the bodhisattva. Drawing on the Indian masters Vasubandhu and, in particular, Sthiramati, Mipham explains the Ornament with eloquence and brilliant clarity. This commentary is among his most treasured works. (Source: Shambhala Publications)
| Citation | Dharmachakra Translation Committee, trans. Ornament of the Great Vehicle Sūtras: Maitreya’s Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkāra with Commentaries by Khenpo Shenga (mkhan po gzhan dga') and Ju Mipham ('ju mi pham). Boston: Snow Lion Publications, 2014. |
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- Maitreya, Asaṅga. Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārakārikā (theg pa chen po mdo sde'i rgyan zhes bya ba'i tshig le'ur byas pa). D 4020, sems tsam, phi 1b1-39a4. In bstan 'gyur (sde dge), Vol. 123: 1-79. Delhi: delhi karmapae choedhey, gyalwae sungrab partun khang, 1982-1985.
(AIBS Columbia Database) – Thesaurus Literaturae Buddhicae Link - Mi pham rgya mtsho. Theg pa chen po mdo sde'i rgyan gyi dgongs don rnam par bshad pa theg mchog bdud rtsi'i dga' ston. In Sde-dge dgon-chen Prints of the Writings of ’Jam-mgon ’Ju Mi-pham-rgyam tsho. Edited by Dilgo Khyentse. Vol. 2. Kathmandu: Shechen Monastery, n.d.?
- Gzhan phan chos kyi snang ba. Theg pa chen po mdo sde'i rgyan ces bya ba'i mchan 'grel. In Gzhung chen bcu gsum, Vol. 3: 395-646. Delhi: Konchhog Lhadrepa, 1983, 1993.
