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The Uttaratantra of Maitreya

Translation of Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra

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This book is in four parts. The first part consists of Introduction by H.S. Prasad. He argues for sempiternal, dynamic and substantive reality underlying all appearances. He shows that as one rises to a higher level of consciousness, the various yānas, like śrāvakayāna, pratyekabuddhayāna, bodhisattvayāna and mahāyāna, all merge into ekayāna; for each contributes to the gradual realisation of the oneness of ultimate reality, thus paving the way for the emergence of universal culture. On Prasad's view the much talked-about negativism of the Mādhyamika—sarvadṛṣṭiśūnyatā—is not an end in itself, rather it is a basis for the realisation of the essential unity of all beings, sentient as well as insentient, leading to the cultivation and promotion of universal good, compassion and friendliness.
      In the second part is reprinted the Sanskrit text of Maitreya's Uttaratantra (Ratnagotravibhāga). The third part includes corrections and emendations suggested by Jikido Takasaki in the Sanskrit text in the light of Tibetan and Chinese versions. The fourth part is an English translation of the text from its Tibetan version by E. Obermiller.
      This book is a radical departure from the traditional interpretations of Buddhism and the Mādhyamika philosophy in particular. It aims at reviving philosophy as cultural activity, a path to enlightenment and spiritual discipline. (Source: Exotic India)

Citation	Prasad, H. S., ed. The Uttaratantra of Maitreya: Containing Introduction, E. H. Johnston's Sanskrit Text and E. Obermiller's English Translation. Bibliotheca Indo-Buddhica 79. Delhi: Sri Satguru Publications, 1991.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• Acknowledgementsxiii

Part • I
Introduction

•                                                           (by H.S. Prasad)1
• 1 . The Development of the Gotra Theory2
• 2. The Mahāyāna Spiritual Discipline5
• 3. Gotra : The Foundation of Mahāyāna, and its Types9
• 4. The Characteristics of the Gotra12
• 5. The Gotra-based Classification of the Sentient Beings16
• 6. Notes19
• 7. Bibliography46
  
  

Part • II
Sanskrit Text The Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra (edited by E.H. Johnston)

• 1. Introductory Note (by T. Chowdhury)53
• 2. Foreword (by E.H. Johnston)57
• 3. Abbreviations67
• 4. Corrections68
• 5. Chapter I : Tathāgatagarbhādhikāra69
• 6. Chapter II : Bodhyādhikāra147
• 7. Chapter III : Guṇādhikāra159
• 8. Chapter IV : Tathāgatakṛtyakriyādhikāra166
• 9. Chapter V : Anuśaṃsādhikāra183
• 10. Index of Metres188
• 11. Index of Authorities189
• 12. Index of Technical Terms190
• 13. Index of Rare Words and Uses197
  
  

Part • III
Corrections and Emendations to the Sanskrit Text of the Ratnagotravibhāga

•                                                              (by J. Takasaki)203
  
  

Part • IV
English Translation The Sublime Science of the Great Vehicle to Salvation Being a Manual of Buddhist Monism The Work of Arya Maitreya with a Commentary by Aryãsańga (by E. Obermiller)
Introduction

• I. The 5 Treatises of Maitreya and their Subject-matter21
• II. The Authorship of the Treatises of Maitreya222
• III. The Different Theories regarding the Fundamental Element or Germ of Enlightenment226
  • a) The Term Gotra and its Interpretation in Hīnayāna227
  • b) The Yogācāra Theories Concerning Dhātu or Gotra229
• IV. The Standpoint of the Mādhyamikas. The Teaching of the Element of
  Buddhahood according to the Uttaratantra234
  
  

The Sublime Science of the Great Vehicle to Salvation

•    I. The Contents of the Work241
  • The Explanation of the Verse by Āryāsaṅga242
  • The 7 Subjects according to the Dhāraṇīśvara-rāja-paripṛcchā245
  • The Germ of Buddhahood and the Other 3 Subjects according to the Dhāraṇīśvara-rāja-paripṛcchā249
  • The Connexion between the 7 Subjects252
  • The Jewel of the Buddha253
  • Āryāsaṅga on the Jewel of the Buddha255
  • Reference to the Jñāna-āloka-alaṃkãra-sūtra257
  • The Jewel of the Doctrine261
  • Reference to Scripture Concerning Extinction263
  • The Path as the Cause of Extinction265
  • The Jewel of the Congregation267
  • The Saint’s Knowledge of the Absolute Truth268
  • The Empirical Knowledge of the Saints270
  • The Perception of the Saints is Introspective Knowledge271
  • The Hīnayānistic Congregation is not Worthy of Being Worshipped 272
  • The 3 Jewels in their Character of a Refuge273
  • The Motives for the Establishment of the 3 Refuges from the Empirical
    Standpoint as Explained by Āryāsaṅga273
  • The Doctrine and the Congregation are not Refuges in the Ultimate
    Sense274
  • The Buddha is the Unique Absolute Refuge276
  • The Meaning of "The 3 Jewels"277
  • The Germ, Enlightenment, the Attributes and the Acts of the Buddha in
    their Inconceivable Nature278
  • The Parable of the Cloth of Silk281
  • The Acts of the Buddha in their Inconceivable Character283
  • The Germ and the 3 other Subjects as a Causes and Conditions of Buddhahood285
  • The Germ of the Absolute286
  • Analysis of the Germ from 10 Points of View287
  • The Essence of the Germ (1) and the Causes of its Purification (2)288
  • The Impediments and the Causes of Purification289
  • The Result of Purification (3) and the Functions of the Germ (4)294
  • Concordance between the 4 Absolute Properties and the 4 Causes of Purification297
  • The Impediments to the Attainment of the 4 Absolute Properties299
  • Reference to Scripture302
  • The Motives of the 4 Absolute Properties302
  • The Functions of the Germ of the Buddha (4)305
  • The Annihilation of the Germ is to be Understood in a Conventional
    Sense307
  • The Relations of Germ to the Factors and the Result of Purification (5)308
  • Reference to Scripture311
  • The Manifestations of the Germ (6)311
  • The Different States of the Germ (7)313
  • Reference to Scripture Concerning the 3 Different States of the Germ314
  • The All-Pervading Character of the Germs (8)314
  • Reference to Scripture Concerning the All-pervading Character315
  • The Germ in its Unalterable Character (9)315
  • The Germ of the Buddha with the Saints (Partly Pure and Partly Impure)322
  • The Parable of the Householder325
  • The Partly Pure and Partly Impure State of the Bodhisattva as Compared
    with the Ordinary Being and the Buddha330
  • The Absolute in the State of Perfect Purification333
  • The Essence of Buddhahood in its Indivisible Character335
  • The Parable of the Painters338
  • The 9 Examples Illustrating the Essence of Buddhahood in the Living
    Beings342
  • The Varieties of the Defiling Elements Illustrated by the 9 Examples351
  • The Concordance between the Examples Illustrating the Obscurations and
    the Points Expressed by them354
  • Reference to the Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra363
  • The True Conception of Relativity and Non-substantiality364
  • Controversy367

•    II. Enlightenment and the Absolute free from Defilement370
  • Summary372
  • The Functions of Enlightenment376
  • The Body of Absolute Existence381
  • The Body Obliss383
  • The 12 Acts of the Buddha as a mere Manifestation of His Apparitional
    Body384
  • The Eternal Character of the 3 Bodies385
  • The Inconceivable Character of Buddhahood386

•    III. The Properties of the Buddha388
  • Summary389
  • The 10 powers389
  • The 4 Forms of Intrepidity390
  • The 18 Exclusive Properties391
  • The Body of Bliss393
  • The 32 Characterstics of the Super-man393

•    IV. The Acts of the Buddha397
  • The 9 Examples Illustrating the Acts of the Buddha399
  • The Points of Dissimilarity between the Examples and the Manifestations
    of the Buddha417

•    V. The Merits of Founding one’s Belief in the Doctrine of the Essence of
         Buddhahood419
  • Conclusion425
  • Technical Terms427
  • Works, Authors, and Schools434

1. Maitreya/Asaṅga (mgon po byams pa)/thogs med. Ratna-gotra-vibhaga, also known as Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra or Uttaratantrashastra (theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i bstan bcos). (D 4024), sems tsam, phi 54b1-73a7. In bstan 'gyur (sde dge), Vol. 123: 107-146. Delhi: delhi karmapae choedhey, gyalwae sungrab partun khang, 1982-1985. Columbia AIBS
   1. Johnson, E. H., ed. The Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyãnottaratantraśāstra. Patna, 1950.

Uttaratantra - The Ultimate Continuum, or Gyü Lama, is often used as a short title in the Tibetan tradition for the key source text of buddha-nature teachings called the Ratnagotravibhāga of Maitreya/Asaṅga, also known as the Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra. Skt. उत्तरतन्त्र Tib. རྒྱུད་བླ་མ་ Ch. 寶性論

These are the root verses of the Uttaratantra attributed to Maitreya by the Tibetan tradition.

Mahāyāna - Mahāyāna, or the Great Vehicle, refers to the system of Buddhist thought and practice which developed around the beginning of Common Era, focusing on the pursuit of the state of full enlightenment of the Buddha through the realization of the wisdom of emptiness and the cultivation of compassion. Skt. महायान Tib. ཐེག་པ་ཆེན་པོ། Ch. 大乘

ekayāna - The notion that ultimately there is only one vehicle, or means, of achieving enlightenment. Skt. एकयान Tib. ཐེག་པ་གཅིག་པ་ Ch. 一乘

paramārthasatya - "Ultimate truth" or "absolute truth"; the reality of things as they truly are. Skt. परमार्थसत्य Tib. དོན་དམ་བདེན་པ་ Ch. 第一義諦,眞諦

These are the root verses of the Uttaratantra attributed to Maitreya by the Tibetan tradition.