Maitreya on Buddha Nature: A New Translation of Asaṅga's Mahāyāna Uttara Tantra Śāstra

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LibraryBooksMaitreya on Buddha Nature: A New Translation of Asaṅga's Mahāyāna Uttara Tantra Śāstra

 
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|BookEssay=Ken and Katia Holmes offer a new English translation of the root verses of the Ratnagotravibhaga with their own commentary focused on advice to those interested in engaging in a path of practice.
 
|BookEssay=Ken and Katia Holmes offer a new English translation of the root verses of the Ratnagotravibhaga with their own commentary focused on advice to those interested in engaging in a path of practice.
|BookToc=* {{i|TRANSLATORS' INTRODUCTION|13}}
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|BookToc=* {{i|'''TRANSLATORS' INTRODUCTION'''|13}}
* {{i|CLASSICAL INTRODUCTION|21}}  
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* {{i|'''CLASSICAL INTRODUCTION'''|21}}  
 
**{{i|The three major phases of the Buddha's teaching|21}}  
 
**{{i|The three major phases of the Buddha's teaching|21}}  
 
***{{i|First phase|22}}   
 
***{{i|First phase|22}}   
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**{{i|Styles of explanation|37}}   
 
**{{i|Styles of explanation|37}}   
 
**{{i| A bridge between sūtra and tantra|39}}   
 
**{{i| A bridge between sūtra and tantra|39}}   
*{{i|PART ONE: The Goal to be Achieved: The Three Rare and Precious Refuges|43}}  
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*{{i|'''PART ONE: The Goal to be Achieved: The Three Rare and Precious Refuges'''|43}}  
*{{i|Introduction to the Seven Vajra Abodes|45}}  
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*{{i|'''Introduction to the Seven Vajra Abodes'''|45}}  
*{{i|The Refuges|48}}   
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*{{i|'''The Refuges'''|48}}   
*{{i|First Vajra Abode: buddha|50}}  
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*{{i|'''First Vajra Abode: buddha'''|50}}  
 
**{{i|Homage|50}}   
 
**{{i|Homage|50}}   
 
**{{i|Three qualities of self-fulfillment|51}}  
 
**{{i|Three qualities of self-fulfillment|51}}  
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***{{i|Apperceptive nature|62}}   
 
***{{i|Apperceptive nature|62}}   
 
**{{i|Three qualities which benefit others, reflections|62}}   
 
**{{i|Three qualities which benefit others, reflections|62}}   
*{{i|Second Vajra Abode: dharma|65}}  
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*{{i|'''Second Vajra Abode: dharma'''|65}}  
 
**{{i|Homage| 66}}
 
**{{i|Homage| 66}}
 
**{{i|Context| 67}}  
 
**{{i|Context| 67}}  
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***{{i|Brilliance | 74}}
 
***{{i|Brilliance | 74}}
 
***{{i|Power to remedy | 75}}  
 
***{{i|Power to remedy | 75}}  
*{{i|Third Vajra Abode: saṃgha|77}}   
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*{{i|'''Third Vajra Abode: saṃgha'''|77}}   
 
**{{i|Homage| 77}}  
 
**{{i|Homage| 77}}  
 
**{{i|Context| 79}}   
 
**{{i|Context| 79}}   
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***{{i|Its special purity | 84}}   
 
***{{i|Its special purity | 84}}   
 
***{{i|They are a supreme refuge | 85}}   
 
***{{i|They are a supreme refuge | 85}}   
*{{i|General Points about the Refuges|86}}  
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*{{i|'''General Points about the Refuges'''|86}}  
 
**{{i|Why it is threefold| 86}}  
 
**{{i|Why it is threefold| 86}}  
 
**{{i|What is the ultimate refuge?| 87}}   
 
**{{i|What is the ultimate refuge?| 87}}   
 
**{{i|Why are they called ratna? | 88}}  
 
**{{i|Why are they called ratna? | 88}}  
*{{i|PART TWO: The Basis for Attaining the Three Rare and Precious Refuges|91}}  
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*{{i|'''PART TWO: The Basis for Attaining the Three Rare and Precious Refuges'''|91}}  
*{{i|General Comment on the Final Four Vajra Abodes| 93}}  
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*{{i|'''General Comment on the Final Four Vajra Abodes'''| 93}}  
 
**{{i|The final four vajra abodes only understood by Buddhas | 93}}  
 
**{{i|The final four vajra abodes only understood by Buddhas | 93}}  
 
**{{i|They are inconceivable | 94}}  
 
**{{i|They are inconceivable | 94}}  
 
**{{i|Reasons for inconceivability | 95}}  
 
**{{i|Reasons for inconceivability | 95}}  
 
**{{i|Causes and conditions for realisation | 97}}  
 
**{{i|Causes and conditions for realisation | 97}}  
*{{i|Fourth Vajra Abode: buddha nature| 99}}  
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*{{i|'''Fourth Vajra Abode: buddha nature'''| 99}}  
 
**{{i|Brief Introduction: three reasons why beings possess dhātu | 100}}
 
**{{i|Brief Introduction: three reasons why beings possess dhātu | 100}}
 
**{{i|More detailed presentation through ten aspects of buddha potential | 103}}
 
**{{i|More detailed presentation through ten aspects of buddha potential | 103}}
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****{{i|in the completely pure phase| 142}}
 
****{{i|in the completely pure phase| 142}}
 
***{{i|inseparability from its qualities| 145}}
 
***{{i|inseparability from its qualities| 145}}
**{{i|Nine examples showing how buddha nature remains changeless while concealed | 153}}
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**{{i|Nine examples showing how buddha nature remains changeless while<br>concealed|153}}
 
***{{i|first example: buddha in decaying lotus | 155}}
 
***{{i|first example: buddha in decaying lotus | 155}}
 
***{{i|second example: honey amid bees |  156}}
 
***{{i|second example: honey amid bees |  156}}
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***{{i|the meaning of these examples|  164}}
 
***{{i|the meaning of these examples|  164}}
 
**{{i|The purpose of the buddha nature teachings | 179}}
 
**{{i|The purpose of the buddha nature teachings | 179}}
*{{i|Fifth Vajra Abode: enlightenment | 187}}
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*{{i|'''Fifth Vajra Abode: enlightenment''' | 187}}
 
**{{i|The nature and cause of enlightenment | 188}}
 
**{{i|The nature and cause of enlightenment | 188}}
 
***{{i|treated together, in brief  | 188}}
 
***{{i|treated together, in brief  | 188}}
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***{{i|in brief  |  237}}
 
***{{i|in brief  |  237}}
 
***{{i|in more detail |  237}}
 
***{{i|in more detail |  237}}
*{{i|The Sixth Vajra Abode: the qualities of buddhahood |  242}}
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*{{i|'''The Sixth Vajra Abode: the qualities of buddhahood''' |  242}}
 
*{{i|Synopsis: number of principal qualities and their relation to the kāya |  242}}
 
*{{i|Synopsis: number of principal qualities and their relation to the kāya |  242}}
 
*{{i|More detailed explanation |  245}}
 
*{{i|More detailed explanation |  245}}
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**{{i|The qualities of freedom |  265}}
 
**{{i|The qualities of freedom |  265}}
 
**{{i|The qualities of maturity |  269}}
 
**{{i|The qualities of maturity |  269}}
*{{i|The Seventh Yajra Abode: enlightened activity|  271}}
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*{{i|'''The Seventh Yajra Abode: enlightened activity'''|  271}}
 
*{{i|Summary | 271}}
 
*{{i|Summary | 271}}
 
**{{i|Its spontaneity | 271}}
 
**{{i|Its spontaneity | 271}}
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**{{i|Review of the purpose and significance of examples |  302}}
 
**{{i|Review of the purpose and significance of examples |  302}}
 
**{{i|Review of examples to show their sublime nature |  306}}
 
**{{i|Review of examples to show their sublime nature |  306}}
*{{i|PART THREE: Conclusion |  311}}
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*{{i|'''PART THREE: Conclusion''' |  311}}
 
*{{i|The benefits of this text |  312}}
 
*{{i|The benefits of this text |  312}}
 
*{{i|How this śastra was composed | 320}}
 
*{{i|How this śastra was composed | 320}}
 
*{{i|Dedication| 327}}
 
*{{i|Dedication| 327}}
*{{i|INDEX| 331}}
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*{{i|'''INDEX'''| 331}}
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Latest revision as of 16:18, 22 July 2020

Maitreya on Buddha Nature: A New Translation of Asaṅga's Mahāyāna Uttara Tantra Śāstra
Book
Book

During the last years of his life, Buddha Sakyamuni revealed the deepest of his teachings, in what we now call the Third Turning of the Wheel of Dharma. These show the heart nature of every one and every thing to be the sublime perfection of enlightenment. This unrecognized inner essence is known as buddha nature. To discover it completely is to become a Buddha, with all a Buddha's qualities and power to help others. But what, really and truly, is a Buddha? What lies at the heart of the Buddha's teachings, the dharma? What is it that illuminates the Buddhist saints of the sangha? These and many other questions are answered in precise and beautiful poetry by Asanga, in his great classic, the Mahayana Uttara Tantra, which has become one of the most important doctrinal texts of Tibetan Buddhism.

This new and refreshingly accessible translation is accompanied by a commentary based on the explanations of the most learned contemporary masters of the Kagy Tradition. It provides an introduction for those new to buddha nature as well as a major and essential reference work, to which one can return again and again for inspiration and guidance.

(Source: back cover)

Citation Holmes, Ken, and Katia Holmes, trans. Maitreya on Buddha Nature: A New Translation of Asaṅga’s Mahāyāna Uttara Tantra Śāstra. Forres, Scotland: Altea, 1999.