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

Latest revision as of 19:12, 6 June 2023

Translation of Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i ṭīkka

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.

List of Tablesv
AcknowledgmentsvI
Technical Notesvii

Part 1: The Prāsaṅgika-Mādhyamika Interpretation of the Buddha-essence Theory

Introduction2
Chapter 1: Historical and Doctrinal Background17
- 1. rGyal-tshab's Life and Works17
- 2. The social-political background26
- 3. The doctrinal background29
- 4. The Structure and Contents of the rGyud bla ṭīkā33
Chapter 2: Doctrinal Classification of the Ratnagotravibhāga37
- 1. Asaṅga and the Five Treatises of Maitreya38
- 2. The subtle emptiness according to the RGV41
  - The truth-habit as the cause of saṃsāra41
  - The truth-habit as the addictive obscuration43
  - Śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas' realization of objective selflessness44
  - Refuting the Vijñānavādin standpoint concerning emptiness47
- 3. The Three Stages of Teaching according to the DIR49
  - Establishing the unique vehicle49
  - As the distinctive presentation of the Prāsaṅgika-Mādhyamika
    viewpoint54
- 4. The Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra and the TGS56
- 5. The TGS as Being Definitive62
Chapter 3: Critiques of Absolutism, Skepticism, and Quietism69
- 1. Critique of Dol-po-pa's "Great Madhyamaka"70
  - Refuting Dol-po-pa's classification of the TGS71
  - Refuting Buddha-essence as a permanent entity72
  - Refuting Buddha-essence as being endowed with twofold purities77
- 2. Critique of the Mainstream Positions81
  - 'Gos-lo's position on Buddha-essence84
  - dGe-lugs-pa scholars' responses89
- 3. A Comparison with Critiques of "Original-enlightenment" theory in
  Modern Chinese Buddhism94
  - A comparison of interpretations between 'Gos-lo and Zongmi96
  - Modern Chinese Critiques of "Original-enlightenment"99
Chapter 4: Analysis of the Title and Textural Structure110
- 1. The Title "Mahāyānottaratantra" and Its Implication110
- 2. The Seven Vajra-Like Bases114
  - Two aspects114
  - rGyal-tshab's revision of rNgog-lo's "two wheels" theory 116
  - The first three bases as ultimate fruition118
  - The last four bases as cause and conditions119
- 3. The Term "Ratnagotra" and the Textual Structure of RGV121
- 4. rGyal-tshab on the Fourfold Ratnagotra as Cause and Conditions124
  - The Element as a cause according to RGV I.16124
  - The last three bases as conditions127
- 5. On RGV 1.3129
- 6. Conclusion132
Chapter 5: Reality, Element, and Natural Luminosity of the Mind134
- 1. The Buddha-essence and Its Various Names134
- 2. Reality136
  - As immutable ultimate reality136
  - The tainted reality138
- 3. Dharmatā140
- 4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind142
  - Origin in Canonical sources142
  - rGyal-tshab's Exegesis on the Passages from the SMS and the DIR144
  - On the Passage from the GGS147
- 5. The Element150
  - According to the AAN150
  - According to the MAS154
- 6. The Buddha-essence and the Madhyamaka Philosophy156
  - The Equation of the Buddha-essence with emptiness156
  - Realizing the Buddha-essence as the Middle Way159
- 7. Conclusion163
Chapter 6: Buddha-essence and Its Ten Aspects164
- 1. The Tripartite Buddha-essence164
  - The diffusion of the truth body166
  - The indivisible reality and generic potentials168
- 2. The Ten Points170
  - Nature171
  - Causes173
  - Fruition178
  - Actions187
  - Possession192
  - Engagement194
  - States196
  - All-pervadingness198
  - Unchangeability200
  - Indivisible excellences205
Chapter 7: The Eighteen Similes in the Tathāgatagarbha-sūtra209
- 1. rGyal-tshab's General Discussion209
- 2. The Nine Smiles for the Obscuring Defilements215
  - The lotus simile for latent state of attachment215
  - The bees simile for latent state of hatred216
  - The husks simile for latent state of misknowledge216
  - The filth simile for intense outburst of attachment, hatred, and
    misknowledge218
  - The floor simile for ground of instincts for misknowledge219
  - The fruit simile for addictions eliminated by the Path of Insight220
  - The tattered rags simile for addictions eliminated by the Path of
    Meditation221
  - The woman simile for addictions related to the Impure Stages222
  - The clay simile for addictions related to the Pure stages223
  - Discussion of the twofold obscuration224
- 3. The Nine Smiles for the Obscured Element226
  - The three similes for the Truth Body228
  - The gold simile for reality230
  - The five similes for the spiritual gene231
Chapter 8: The Twofold Spiritual Gene236
- 1. Tsong-kha-pa's Analysis of the Vijñānavadin Standpoints237
- 2. A Mādhyamika Critique of the Vijñānavadin Standpoint248
- 3. The dGe-Iugs-pa Exegesis of the "Spiritual Gene" Section of the AA250
- 4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind under Debate256
Conclusion264
Abbreviations268
Bibliography271

Part 2: Appendices

1. A Special Edition of Chapter One of the Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i ṭīkā
(1a-72a and 64a-170b)285
- A. Topical Outline285
- B. Special Edition306
2. Translations449
- A. The Mahāyānottaratantrarvyākhyā (Chapter One: 1.1-7.5 and 21.1-78.22)449
- B. The Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i ṭīkā (Chapter One: 1a-72a and
  64a-170b)525

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-Acknowledgments VI
+*{{i|Acknowledgments|vI}}
-Technical Notes vii
+*{{i|Technical Notes|vii}}
-Part I: The Prasailgika-Madhyamika Interpretation ofthe Buddha-essence Theory
-Introduction 2
-Chapter 1: Historical and Doctrinal Background 17
-. rGyal-tshab's Life and Works 17
-. The social-political background 26
-. The doctrinal background 29
-. The Structure and Contents of the rGyud bla !ikii 33
-Chapter 2: Doctrinal Classification of the Ratnagotravibhaga 37
-. Asailga and the Five Treatises of Maitreya 38
-. The subtle emptiness according to the RGV 41
-The truth-habit as the cause of saIp.sara 41
-The truth-habit as the addictive obscuration 43
-Sravakas and pratyekabuddhas' realization of objective selflessness 44
-Refuting the Vijfianavadin standpoint concerning emptiness 47
-. The Three Stages of Teaching according to the DIR 49
-Establishing the unique vehicle 49
-As the distinctive presentation of the Prasailgika-Madhyamika viewpoint
-. The Prajiiiipiiramitii-siitra and the TGS 56
-. The TGS as Being Definitive 62
-Chapter 3: Critiques of Absolutism, Skepticism, and Quietism 69
-. Critique of Dol-po-pa's "Great Madhyamaka" 70
-Refuting Dol-po-pa's classification of the TGS 71
-Refuting Buddha-essence as a permanent entity 72
-Refuting Buddha-essence as being endowed with twofold purities 77
-. Critique of the Mainstream Positions 81
-'Gos-lo's position on Buddha-essence 84
-dGe-lugs-pa scholars' responses 89
-. A Comparison with Critiques of "Original-enlightenment" theory in Modern Chinese
-Buddhism 94
-A comparison of interpretations between 'Gos-lo and Zongmi 96
-Modern Chinese Critiques of "Original-enlightenment" 99
-Chapter 4: Analysis of the Title and Textural Structure 110
-. The Title "Mahiiyiinottaratantra"and Its Implication 110
-. The Seven Vajra-Like Bases 114
-Two aspects 114
-rGyal-tshab's revision of rNgog-lo's "two wheels" theory 116
-The first three bases as ultimate fruition 118
-The last four bases as cause and conditions 119
-. The Term "Ratnagotra" and the Textual Structure ofRGV 121
-. rGyal-tshab on the Fourfold Ratnagotra as Cause and Conditions 124
-The Element as a cause according to RGV I.16 124
-The last three bases as conditions 127
-. On RGV 1.3 129
-. Conclusion 132
-Chapter 5: Reality, Element, and Natural Luminosity of the Mind 134
-. The Buddha-essence and Its Various Names 134
-. Reality 136
-As immutable ultimate reality 136
-The tainted reality 138
-. Dhannatii 140
-. Natural Luminosity of the Mind 142
-Origin in Canonical sources 142
-rGyal-tshab's Exegesis on the Passages from the SMS and the DIR 144
-On the Passage from the GGS 147
-. The Element 150
-According to the AAN 150
-According to the MAS 154
-. The Buddha-essence and the Madhyamaka Philosophy 156
-The Equation of the Buddha-essence with emptiness 156
-Realizing the Buddha-essence as the Middle Way 159
-. Conclusion 163
-Chapter 6: Buddha-essence and Its Ten Aspects 164
-. The Tripartite Buddha-essence 164
-The diffusion of the truth body 166
-The indivisible reality and generic potentials 168
-. The Ten Points 170
-Nature 171
-Causes 173
-Fruition 178
-Actions 187
+Part 1: The Prāsaṅgika-Mādhyamika Interpretation of the Buddha-essence Theory
-Possession 192
+*{{i|Introduction|2}}
-Engagement 194
+*{{i|Chapter 1: Historical and Doctrinal Background|17}}
-States 196
+**{{i|1. rGyal-tshab's Life and Works|17}}
-All-pervadingness 198
+**{{i|2. The social-political background|26}}
-Unchangeability 200
+**{{i|3. The doctrinal background|29}}
-Indivisible excellences 205
+**{{i|4. The Structure and Contents of the ''rGyud bla ṭīkā''|33}}
-Chapter 7: The Eighteen Similes in the Tathiigatagarbha-sutra 209
+*{{i|Chapter 2: Doctrinal Classification of the ''Ratnagotravibhāga''|37}}
-. rGyal-tshab's General Discussion 209
+**{{i|1. Asaṅga and the Five Treatises of Maitreya|38}}
-. The Nine Smiles for the Obscuring Defilements 215
+**{{i|2. The subtle emptiness according to the RGV|41}}
-The lotus simile for latent state of attachment 215
+***{{i|The truth-habit as the cause of saṃsāra|41}}
-The bees simile for latent state of hatred 216
+***{{i|The truth-habit as the addictive obscuration|43}}
-The husks simile for latent state of misknowledge 216
+***{{i|Śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas' realization of objective selflessness|44}}
-The filth simile for intense outburst of attachment, hatred, and
+***{{i|Refuting the Vijñānavādin standpoint concerning emptiness|47}}
-misknowledge 218
+**{{i|3. The Three Stages of Teaching according to the DIR|49}}
-The floor simile for ground of instincts for misknowledge 219
+***{{i|Establishing the unique vehicle|49}}
-The fruit simile for addictions eliminated by the Path ofInsight 220
+***{{i|As the distinctive presentation of the Prāsaṅgika-Mādhyamika <br>viewpoint|54}}
-The tattered rags simile for addictions eliminated by the Path of Meditation
+**{{i|4. The ''Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra'' and the TGS|56}}
+**{{i|5. The TGS as Being Definitive|62}}
-The woman simile for addictions related to the Impure Stages 222
+*{{i|Chapter 3: Critiques of Absolutism, Skepticism, and Quietism|69}}
-The clay simile for addictions related to the Pure stages 223
+**{{i|1. Critique of Dol-po-pa's "Great Madhyamaka"|70}}
-Discussion of the twofold obscuration 224
+***{{i|Refuting Dol-po-pa's classification of the TGS|71}}
-. The Nine Smiles for thc Obscured Element 226
+***{{i|Refuting Buddha-essence as a permanent entity|72}}
-The three similes for the Truth Body 228
+***{{i|Refuting Buddha-essence as being endowed with twofold purities|77}}
-The gold simile for reality 230
+**{{i|2. Critique of the Mainstream Positions|81}}
-The five similes for the spiritual gene 231
+***{{i|'Gos-lo's position on Buddha-essence|84}}
-Chapter 8: The Twofold Spiritual Gene 236
+***{{i|dGe-lugs-pa scholars' responses|89}}
-. Tsong-kha-pa's Analysis of the Vijfianavadin Standpoints 237
+**{{i|3. A Comparison with Critiques of "Original-enlightenment" theory in<br>Modern Chinese Buddhism|94}}
-. A Madhyamika Critique of the Vijfianavadin Standpoint 248
+***{{i|A comparison of interpretations between 'Gos-lo and Zongmi|96}}
-. The dGe-Iugs-pa Exegesis of the "Spiritual Gene" Section of the AA 250
+***{{i|Modern Chinese Critiques of "Original-enlightenment"|99}}
-. Natural Luminosity of the Mind under Debate 256
+*{{i|Chapter 4: Analysis of the Title and Textural Structure|110}}
-Conclusion 264
+**{{i|1. The Title "''Mahāyānottaratantra''" and Its Implication|110}}
-Abbreviations 268
+**{{i|2. The Seven Vajra-Like Bases|114}}
-Bibliography 271
+***{{i|Two aspects|114}}
-Part II: Appendices
+***{{i|rGyal-tshab's revision of rNgog-lo's "two wheels" theory |116}}
-. A Special Edition of Chapter One of the Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i tfkii (1 a-72a
+***{{i|The first three bases as ultimate fruition|118}}
-and 64a-I70b) 285
+***{{i|The last four bases as cause and conditions|119}}
+**{{i|3. The Term "Ratnagotra" and the Textual Structure of RGV|121}}
+**{{i|4. rGyal-tshab on the Fourfold ''Ratnagotra'' as Cause and Conditions|124}}
+***{{i|The Element as a cause according to RGV I.16|124}}
+***{{i|The last three bases as conditions|127}}
+**{{i|5. On RGV 1.3|129}}
+**{{i|6. Conclusion|132}}
+*{{i|Chapter 5: Reality, Element, and Natural Luminosity of the Mind|134}}
+**{{i|1. The Buddha-essence and Its Various Names|134}}
+**{{i|2. Reality|136}}
+***{{i|As immutable ultimate reality|136}}
+***{{i|The tainted reality|138}}
+**{{i|3. ''Dharmatā''|140}}
+**{{i|4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind|142}}
+***{{i|Origin in Canonical sources|142}}
+***{{i|rGyal-tshab's Exegesis on the Passages from the SMS and the DIR|144}}
+***{{i|On the Passage from the GGS|147}}
+**{{i|5. The Element|150}}
+***{{i|According to the AAN|150}}
+***{{i|According to the MAS|154}}
+**{{i|6. The Buddha-essence and the Madhyamaka Philosophy|156}}
+***{{i|The Equation of the Buddha-essence with emptiness|156}}
+***{{i|Realizing the Buddha-essence as the Middle Way|159}}
+**{{i|7. Conclusion|163}}
+*{{i|Chapter 6: Buddha-essence and Its Ten Aspects|164}}
+**{{i|1. The Tripartite Buddha-essence|164}}
+***{{i|The diffusion of the truth body|166}}
+***{{i|The indivisible reality and generic potentials|168}}
+**{{i|2. The Ten Points|170}}
+***{{i|Nature|171}}
+***{{i|Causes|173}}
+***{{i|Fruition|178}}
+***{{i|Actions|187}}
+***{{i|Possession|192}}
+***{{i|Engagement|194}}
+***{{i|States|196}}
+***{{i|All-pervadingness|198}}
+***{{i|Unchangeability|200}}
+***{{i|Indivisible excellences|205}}
+*{{i|Chapter 7: The Eighteen Similes in the ''Tathāgatagarbha-sūtra''|209}}
+**{{i|1. rGyal-tshab's General Discussion|209}}
+**{{i|2. The Nine Smiles for the Obscuring Defilements|215}}
+***{{i|The lotus simile for latent state of attachment|215}}
+***{{i|The bees simile for latent state of hatred|216}}
+***{{i|The husks simile for latent state of misknowledge|216}}
+***{{i|The filth simile for intense outburst of attachment, hatred, and<br>misknowledge|218}}
+***{{i|The floor simile for ground of instincts for misknowledge|219}}
+***{{i|The fruit simile for addictions eliminated by the Path of Insight|220}}
+***{{i|The tattered rags simile for addictions eliminated by the Path of<br>Meditation|221}}
+***{{i|The woman simile for addictions related to the Impure Stages|222}}
+***{{i|The clay simile for addictions related to the Pure stages|223}}
+***{{i|Discussion of the twofold obscuration|224}}
+**{{i|3. The Nine Smiles for the Obscured Element|226}}
+***{{i|The three similes for the Truth Body|228}}
+***{{i|The gold simile for reality|230}}
+***{{i|The five similes for the spiritual gene|231}}
+*{{i|Chapter 8: The Twofold Spiritual Gene|236}}
+**{{i|1. Tsong-kha-pa's Analysis of the Vijñānavadin Standpoints|237}}
+**{{i|2. A Mādhyamika Critique of the Vijñānavadin Standpoint|248}}
+**{{i|3. The dGe-Iugs-pa Exegesis of the "Spiritual Gene" Section of the AA|250}}
+**{{i|4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind under Debate|256}}
+*{{i|Conclusion|264}}
+*{{i|Abbreviations|268}}
+*{{i|Bibliography|271}}
-A. Topical Outline 285
+Part 2: Appendices
-B. Special Edition 306
+*{{i|1. A Special Edition of Chapter One of the ''Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i ṭīkā''<br>(1a-72a and 64a-170b)|285}}
-. Translations 449
+**{{i|A. Topical Outline|285}}
-A. The Mahiiyanottaratantraryakhya (Chapter One: 1.1-7.5 and 21.1-78.22) 449
+**{{i|B. Special Edition|306}}
-B. The Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i {ika (Chapter One: la-72a and 64a-170b) 525
+*{{i|2. Translations|449}}
+**{{i|A. The ''Mahāyānottaratantrarvyākhyā'' (Chapter One: 1.1-7.5 and 21.1-78.22)|449}}
+**{{i|B. The ''Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i ṭīkā'' (Chapter One: 1a-72a and<br>64a-170b)|525}}
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