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The Uttaratantra of Maitreya

Translation of The Treatise on the Ultimate Continuum of the Mahāyāna (84000)

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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.

ContentsSources

• 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

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.