The Brahmā's Net Sutra

Translation of The Seal of the Dharma (84000)

Book

The Brahmā’s Net Sutra is the primary extant vinaya text that articulates a set of precepts from a Mahayana perspective, mainly intended for "bodhisattva practitioners" primarily householders, rather than renunciant monks or nuns. Before the appearance of this text the monastic rules and regulations in East Asian Buddhism were defined fully by the "Hinayana" vinaya, most importantly the Four-part Vinaya associated with the Dharmaguptaka school in India. With the appearance of the Brahmā’s Net Sutra many East Asian schools diversified their precept practices, with some groups of practitioners taking up either set of precepts, often utilizing both.

Composed in China around 420, the Brahmā’s Net Sutra is based on various contemporary Mahayana and Hinayana vinaya writings and includes extensive discussion of indigenous Chinese moral concepts such as filial piety, etc. The text is based in the same mainstream Mahayana thought of the Flower Ornament Sutra (Huayan jing), the Nirvana Sutra (Niepan jing), and the Sutra for Humane Kings (Renwang jing). In fact, the extent of the Brahmā's Net Sutra's agreement with the Flower Ornament Sutra is so pronounced that it is regarded as the "concluding sutra" of the latter.

Long thought to be the Skt. Brahmajāla-sūtra translated by Kumārajīva into the Chinese as Fanwang jing (梵網經), the work is now seen within modern scholarship as composed in China around 420, based on various Mahayana and Hinayana vinaya writings available at that time. 2 fascicles. (Source: BDK America)

Citation	Muller, A. Charles, and Kenneth K. Tanaka, trans. The Brahmā's Net Sutra: (Taishō Volume 24, Number 1484). Moraga, CA: BDK America, 2017.

A Message on the Publication of the English Tripiṭaka, NUMATA Yehanv
Editorial Foreword, Kenneth K. Tanakavii
Publisher's Foreword, A. Charles Mullerix
Translators' Introduction, A. Charles Muller and Kenneth K. Tanakaxvii

The Brahmā's Net Sutra
Fascicle 1. Exposition of the Brahmā's Net Sutra
- (Preface)3
- Preface to the Brahmā's Net Sutra by Śramaṇa Sengzhao3
- The Forty Stages4
  - (Convocation)4
  - Ten Departures for the Destination6
  - Ten Nourishing Mental States6
  - Ten Adamantine Mental States6
  - Ten Grounds7
- The Ten Departures toward the Destination8
  - 1. The Mental State of Detachment8
  - 2. The Mental State of Morality8
  - 3. The Mental State of Patience9
  - 4. The Mental State of Zeal9
  - 5. The Mental State of Concentration10
  - 6. The Mental State of Insight10
  - 7. The Mental State of Making Vows11
  - 8. The Mental State of Guarding11
  - 9. The Mental State of Joy12
  - 10. The Summit Mental State12

Fanwang jing - *Brahmajālasūtra - (Chos kyi rgya mo sangs rgyas rnam par snang mdzad kyis byang chub sems dpa'i sems kyi gnas bshad pa le'u bcu pa). (D 256) mdo sde, za 74a4-91a7 (vol. 66). rKTs, Columbia AIBS, ACIP, .