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A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes

Translation of Sdom gsum rab dbye

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A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes presents the first English translation of the sDom gsum rab dbye, one of the most famous and controversial doctrinal treatises of Tibetan Buddhism. Written by Sakya Pandita Kunga Gyaltshen (1182–1251), a founder of the Sakya school and one of Tibet’s most learned sages, The Three Codes strongly influenced subsequent religious and intellectual traditions in Tibet—and sparked a number of long-lasting doctrinal and philosophical disputes, some of which persist today.

In The Three Codes, Sakya Pandita discusses the Hinayana, Mahayana, and Tantric vows of Buddhist conduct, which often diverge and contradict each other. He criticizes, on at least one point or another, later practitioners of almost every lineage, including the Kadampa, Kagyupa, and Nyingmapa, for contradicting the original teachings of their own traditions. (Source: SUNY Press)

Citation	Rhoton, Jared Douglas, trans. A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes: Essential Distinctions among the Individual Liberation, Great Vehicle, and Tantric Systems. Edited by Victoria R. M. Scott. SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2002.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• Forewordix
• Acknowledgmentsxi
• Note on Transcriptionxii
• List of Abbreviationsxiii

• Part I: Sakya Pandita’s Life and Work
  • Introduction3

• Part II: A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes
  • Prologue39
  • Vows of Individual Liberation41
  • Vows of the Bodhisattva81
  • Vows of the Vajra Vehicle95
  • Epilogue199

• Part III: Six Letters by Sakya Pandita
  • 1. Reply to the Questions of the Translator from Chak205
  • 2. Reply to the Questions of the Translator of Lowo225
  • 3. A Letter to the Noble-Minded229
  • 4. A Letter to the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas of the Ten Directions241
  • 5. Reply to the Questions of Dokorwa the Kadampa259
  • 6. Reply to the Questions of Namkha Bum the Kadampa267

• Appendix A: Gorampa's Outline of A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes273
• Appendix B: Transliteration of the Tibetan Text of A Clear Differentiation of the Three Codes277

• Glossary331
• Bibliography337
• Index349

Sa skya paN+Di ta. sdom gsum rab dbye.

1. In sdom pa gsum gyi rab tu dbye ba'i bstan bcos. No publication info.
2. In sdom gsum rab dbye dang lta ba 'khor 'das dbyer med sogs. No publication info.
3. In sa skya bka' 'bum, Vol. 12: 1-96. Dehra Dun: Sakya Center, 1992-1993.
4. In sa skya bka' 'bum ma phyi gsar rnyed phyogs bsgrigs, Vol. 3: 317-480. Lhasa, 1999.
5. In sdom gsum rab dbye dang sdom gsum gtan 'bebs 'jam dbyangs bla ma'i dgongs rgyan gyi rnam 'grel. Pe cin: mi rigs dpe skrun khang, 2004.
6. In sa sky paN chen kun dga' rgyal mtshan gyi gsung 'bum, Vol. 2: 1-91. Pe cin: krung go'i bod rig pa dpe skrun khang, 2007.

Sakya - The Sakya tradition developed in the eleventh century in the Khön family of Tsang, which maintained an imperial-era lineage of Vajrakīla and which adopted a new teaching from India known as Lamdre. Tib. ས་སྐྱ་

Nyingma - The Nyingma, which is often described as the oldest tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, traces its origin to Padmasambhava, who is said to have visited Tibet in the eighth century. Tib. རྙིང་མ་

SUNY - State University of New York

gotra - Disposition, lineage, or class; an individual's gotra determines the type of enlightenment one is destined to attain. Skt. गोत्र Tib. རིགས་ Ch. 鍾姓,種性