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

Translation of Commentary on the Ultimate Continuum of the Mahāyāna

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.

List of Tablesv
AcknowledgmentsvI
Technical Notesvii

Part I: The Prāsaṅgika-Mādhyamika Interpretation of the Buddha-essence Theory

Introduction2
Chapter 1: Historical and Doctrinal Background17
- 1. rGyal-tshab's Life and Works17
- 2. The social-political background26
- 3. The doctrinal background29
- 4. The Structure and Contents of the rGyud bla ṭīkā33
Chapter 2: Doctrinal Classification of the Ratnagotravibhāga37
- 1. Asaṅga and the Five Treatises of Maitreya38
- 2. The subtle emptiness according to the RGV41
  - The truth-habit as the cause of saṃsāra41
  - The truth-habit as the addictive obscuration43
  - Śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas' realization of objective selflessness44
  - Refuting the Vijñānavādin standpoint concerning emptiness47

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

3. A Comparison with Critiques of "Original-enlightenment" theory in Modern Chinese Buddhism 94 A comparison of interpretations between 'Gos-lo and Zongmi 96 Modern Chinese Critiques of "Original-enlightenment" 99 Chapter 4: Analysis of the Title and Textural Structure 110 1. The Title "Mahiiyiinottaratantra"and Its Implication 110 2. The Seven Vajra-Like Bases 114 Two aspects 114 rGyal-tshab's revision of rNgog-lo's "two wheels" theory 116 The first three bases as ultimate fruition 118 The last four bases as cause and conditions 119 3. The Term "Ratnagotra" and the Textual Structure ofRGV 121 4. rGyal-tshab on the Fourfold Ratnagotra as Cause and Conditions 124 The Element as a cause according to RGV I.16 124 The last three bases as conditions 127 5. On RGV 1.3 129 6. Conclusion 132 Chapter 5: Reality, Element, and Natural Luminosity of the Mind 134 1. The Buddha-essence and Its Various Names 134 2. Reality 136 As immutable ultimate reality 136 The tainted reality 138 3. Dhannatii 140 4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind 142 Origin in Canonical sources 142 rGyal-tshab's Exegesis on the Passages from the SMS and the DIR 144 On the Passage from the GGS 147 5. The Element 150 According to the AAN 150 According to the MAS 154 6. The Buddha-essence and the Madhyamaka Philosophy 156 The Equation of the Buddha-essence with emptiness 156 Realizing the Buddha-essence as the Middle Way 159 7. Conclusion 163 Chapter 6: Buddha-essence and Its Ten Aspects 164 1. The Tripartite Buddha-essence 164 The diffusion of the truth body 166 The indivisible reality and generic potentials 168 2. The Ten Points 170 Nature 171 Causes 173 Fruition 178

Actions 187 Possession 192 Engagement 194 States 196 All-pervadingness 198 Unchangeability 200 Indivisible excellences 205 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 B. Special Edition 306 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