The Nonduality of Nonconceptual Wisdom and Conceptual Cognition: A Study of the Tathāgatagarbha Teaching in the Anūnatvāpūrṇatvanirdeśa-parivarta

Translation of The Discourse on Neither Increase nor Decrease

Dissertation

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Abstract

Although the doctrine of tathāgatagarbha can be traced to the teaching of an innately pure luminous mind (prakṛtiś cittasya prabhāsvarā) in early Buddhist teachings, the Anūnatvāpūrṇatvanirdeśa-parivarta (AAN) is often considered one of the earliest Buddhist scriptures that explicitly expound the teachings of the tathāgatagarbha.
The central message of the AAN focuses upon the non-increase and non-decrease nature of the dharmadhātu. This brings out the idea of the dharmadhātu as a totality which transcends all dualistic notions. Translated into Chinese by Bodhiruci in 525 CE, the AAN is now extant only in Chinese translation (Taishō no. 668). Unfortunately, no serious studies have ever been conducted on this sūtra in Western scholarship. The precise relationship between the tathāgatagarbha and the two Mahāyāna traditions, Madhyamaka and Yogācāra, is also worth investigating in detail. The thesis will argue that the tathāgatagarbha is not a separate school in Indian Buddhism. It will then study the historical issues relating to the AAN, followed by a philosophical investigation of its teachings. The thesis will also undertake an "external" consideration of the doctrinal relationship between the AAN and a number of sūtras and śāstras. It will also incorporate a study of Bodhiruci (菩提流支), of the Northern Wei (北魏) dynasty, who translated the AAN into Chinese, as well as the first complete English translation of the AAN from its extant Chinese version.
This study may provide an alternative view on the tathāgatagarbha theory. The thesis will argue that the tathāgatagarbha is referring to be an aspect of all experiences. This means that all beings are by nature having a dimension of the mind not fully realized, and it is yogic meditative practices that enable the practitioners to develop an awareness of the enlightenment which is always implicit in our consciousness.

Citation	Shiu, Henry. "The Nonduality of Nonconceptual Wisdom and Conceptual Cognition: A Study of the Tathāgatagarbha Teaching in the Anūnatvāpūrṇatvanirdeśa-parivarta." PhD diss., University of Toronto, 2005.

Acknowledgementsi
Abbreviationsvi

Introduction1

PART ONE: The Tathāgatagarbha in Relation to Other Mahāyāna Teachings

Chapter One: The Nature of the Tathagatagarbha..................................................14 Chapter Two: Tathagatagarbha and the Two Mahayana Traditions..................... 47 PART TWO: An Analysis of the Anunatvapurnatvanirdesa-parivarta (AAN) Chapter Three: The Anunatvapurnatvanirdesa-parivarta....................................... 70 Chapter Four: The Main Themes and a Structural Analysis of the A A N ................ 88 Chapter Five: The Notion of “No Increase and No Decrease” in Mahayana Scriptures.................................................................... 122 PART THREE: The AAN and Other Tathagatagarbha Sutras Chapter Six: The AAN and the Tathagatagarbhasu.tr a ......................................... 142 Chapter Seven: The AAN and the Srlmdldsimhanddasu.tra ..................................... 153 Chapter Eight: The AAN and the Ahgulimdlyasutra............................................... 161 Chapter Nine: The AAN and the Mahaparinirvdnasiitra....................................... 168 Chapter Ten: Other Sutras on the Tathagatagarbha Teaching............................ 176 Chapter Eleven: The Problems of Dating the Sutras.............................................. 180

PART FOUR: The/147V and Other Tathagatagarbha Treatises Chapter Twelve: The AAN and the Ratnagotravibhaga........................................ 185 Chapter Thirteen: The AAN and the Dasheng fajie wuchabie lu n ......................... 202 Chapter Fourteen: The AAN and the Dasheng qixin lu n ......................................... 209 Chapter Fifteen: The AAN and the Foxing lu n ......................................................... 239 Conclusion................................................................................................................... 255 APPENDICES: Appendix I: English translation of the Foshuo buzeng bujian jin g ........................ 264 Appendix II: Bodhiruci, the Translator of the A A N ................................................. 282 Bibliography................................................................................................................ 306

佛說不增不減經 (Fó shuō bù zēng bù jiǎn jīng), T668, 16: https://21dzk.l.u-tokyo.ac.jp/SAT2012/T0668.html, translated by Bodhiruci