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

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***{{i|The first three bases as ultimate fruition|118}}
 
***{{i|The first three bases as ultimate fruition|118}}
 
***{{i|The last four bases as cause and conditions|119}}
 
***{{i|The last four bases as cause and conditions|119}}
3. The Term "Ratnagotra" and the Textual Structure of RGV 121
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**{{i|3. The Term "Ratnagotra" and the Textual Structure of RGV|121}}
4. rGyal-tshab on the Fourfold Ratnagotra as Cause and Conditions 124
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**{{i|4. rGyal-tshab on the Fourfold ''Ratnagotra'' as Cause and Conditions|124}}
The Element as a cause according to RGV I.16 124
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***{{iThe Element as a cause according to RGV I.16|124}}
The last three bases as conditions 127
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***{{iThe last three bases as conditions|127}}
5. On RGV 1.3 129
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**{{i|5. On RGV 1.3|129}}
6. Conclusion 132
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**{{i|6. Conclusion|132}}
Chapter 5: Reality, Element, and Natural Luminosity of the Mind 134
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*{{i|Chapter 5: Reality, Element, and Natural Luminosity of the Mind|134}}
1. The Buddha-essence and Its Various Names 134
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**{{i|1. The Buddha-essence and Its Various Names|134}}
2. Reality 136
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**{{i|2. Reality|136}}
As immutable ultimate reality 136
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***{{i|As immutable ultimate reality|136}}
The tainted reality 138
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***{{i|The tainted reality|138}}
3. Dhannatii 140
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**{{i|3. ''Dharmatā''|140}}
4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind 142
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**{{i|4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind|142}}
 
Origin in Canonical sources 142
 
Origin in Canonical sources 142
 
rGyal-tshab's Exegesis on the Passages from the SMS and the DIR 144
 
rGyal-tshab's Exegesis on the Passages from the SMS and the DIR 144

Revision as of 16:15, 30 April 2020

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