(fl. 3rd century). Indian master, Madhyamaka philosopher. Author of Root Verses of the Middle Way. Nagarjuna and Asanga are called the Twin Chariots of Mahayana. +
(8th century). Indian adept who received the Great Perfection transmission from Shri Singha and Jnanasutra. Spread these teachings in Tibet at the invitation of King Trisong Detsen. Source of Vima Nyingtik tradition. Upon leaving Tibet, he promised to send an emanation once every hundred years to revitalize the Buddhist doctrine. +
(1) The degeneration of views due to the decline in the virtue of renunciates implies wrong or mistaken views; (2) the degeneration of negative emotions due to the decline in the virtue of householders implies coarse-natured minds influenced by strong and obdurate negative emotions; (3) the degeneration of time due to the diminution of resources implies a declining Aeon of Strife; (4) the degeneration of life span due to the decline of the sustaining life force implies a reduction of the life span to only ten years; and (5) the degeneration of beings implies the decline of body due to its inferior shape and lesser size, the decline of merit due to a diminution of power and splendor, the decline of mind due to a diminution of intellectual sharpness, power of recollection, and diligence. +