The Tathāgatagarbha Theory in the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra

{{Article
|ArticleLayout=Academic Layout
|ArticleTitle=The Tathāgatagarbha Theory in the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra
|AuthorPage=People/Takasaki, J.
|PubDate=1971
|ArticleContent=. . . We may conclude the characteristics of the TG [tathāgatagarbha] theory in this sūtra in the following way.
1) The biggest contribution of the MPS [''Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra''] to the history of the TG theory is the establishment of the concept of ''buddhadhātu'' as explaining the nature of ''tathāgatagarbha''. This ''dhātu'' concept as showing the essence or nature common to ''sattvas'' and the Tathāgata seems to be introduced by the AAN [''Anūnatvāpūrṇatvanirdeśa''], but the MPS, succeeding the AAN, utilized it in its full scope, in which are involved various other meanings of the term ''dhātu'' developed in Buddhism, such as relic of the Buddha, the 18 component elements, the 4 gross elements, sphere of the dharma, the essence of dharmas (e.g. the ''tathāgatakāya'' is not (consisting) of elements of collected materials (''bsags paḥi khams''), but of the essence of the dharma (''chos kyi khams'') (L. 110a1–2). It suggests that '' 'dharmakāya' '' is '' 'dharmadhātu-kāya' ''), the word root, etc.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2) The most unique expression of this sūtra with respect to the TG is the ''ātman'', which is regarded as a sort of taboo in Buddhism*. Connotation of this term in the text is completely identical with ''dhātu''.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3) Inspite of the use of such an abstract concept, the MPS is far from systematization of the theory, in comparison with the AAN and the ŚMS [''Śrītmalasūtra'']. Especially the relationship between ''tathāgatagarbha'' and ''dharmakāya'', problem of the pure mind and the defilements, etc. are not discussed explicitly as in the SMS. In this respect, I hesitate a bit to suppose the date of the MPS as coming after the ŚMS.<br>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
4) Inspite of frequent references to the ''icchantika'', the term ''agotra'' is
not used. In general, the ''gotra'' concept is lacking in the MPS. This point
is common to the AAN, and the ŚMS.  (Takasaki, section 6,  9–10)<br><br>
[https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/ibk1952/19/2/19_2_1024/_pdf/-char/en Read more here . . .]
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