Books/A Study on the Ratnagotravibhaga

A Study on the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra)

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

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Jikido Takasaki's seminal work on the Ratnagotravibhāga includes a critical introduction, a synopsis of the text, a translation from the original Sanskrit text in comparison with its Tibetan and Chinese versions, critical notes, appendixes, and indexes. The work is split into two parts. The first consists of a critical and detailed study on the structure of the text and the position of the Ratnagotravibhāga in Mahāyāna Buddhism, and the second consists of a translation of the Sanskrit text into English.

Citation	Takasaki, Jikidō. A Study on the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra): Being a Treatise on the Tathāgatagarbha Theory of Mahāyāna Buddhism. Serie Orientale Roma XXXIII. Rome: Istituto Italiano per il Medio ed Estremo Oriente (IsMEO), 1966. https://archive.org/details/bdrc-W1KG1582/page/n1/mode/2up.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• List of Abbreviationsix
• Prefacexi
• Introduction1
  • I. The Ratnagotravibhāga, its Text, Translation, and Traditions concering the Author5
    • 1. Text5
    • 2. Translations & Traditions concerning the Author6
  • II. The Structure of the Text10
    • 1. Basic Text and Commentary10
    • 2. Chinese Account of the Basic Verses12
    • 3. Supposed Form of the Original Text18
    • 4. The Commentary and Later Additions19
  • III. Keypoint of the Discourse20
    • 1. Ratnagotra, the Germ of the Three Jewels20
    • 2. 4 Aspects of the Germ23
    • 3. The Absolute26
  • IV. Genealogy of the Tathāgatagarbha Theory32
    • 1. Sources of the Ratnagotravibhāga32
    • 2. Cittaprakrti and Āganutukakleśa34
    • 3. Buddhajñana in the Avatamsaka35
    • 4. The Tathāgatagarbhasūtra36
    • 5. The Āryaśrīmālāsūtra37
    • 6. The Anūnatvâpūrnatvanirdeśa and the Mahāparinirvānasūtra39
    • 7. The Mahāyānasūtrâlankāra40
  • V. Works on the Tathāgatagarbha Theory Contemporary with or Succeeding
    the Ratna.45
    • 1. The Mahāyanadharmadhātvaviśesaśāstra45
    • 2. The Buddhagotraśastra47
    • 3. The Anuttarâśrayasūtra49
    • 4. The Lankāvatāra and the Mahāyānaśraddhôtpādaśāstra53
  • VI. The Position of the Ratna. in Mahāyāna Buddhism54
    • 1. The Ratna. as a Criticism on the Prajñāpāramitā54
    • 2. The Ratna. and the Vijñānavāda57
    • 3. Consideration on the Date and Authorship of the Ratna.61
• Synopsis of the Text63
• Translation and Notes135

Chapter I. — The Matrix of the Tathāgata

• I. Introduction141
  • 1) The Meaning of the Adamantine Subjects141
  • 2) Authorities on the 7 Subjects 143
  • 3) The Essential Character of the 7 Subjects146
  • 4) The Inherent Connection among the 7 Subjects153

• II. The Jewel of the Buddha155
  • 1) The eightfold Quality of the Buddhahood156
  • 2) Reference to the Jñānâlokâlaṅkārasūtra159

• III. The Jewel of the Doctrine163
  • 1) The Eightfold Quality of the Doctrine164
  • 2) Nirodhasatya & Mārgasatya165
  • 3) The Doctrine as the Truth of Extinction165
  • 4) The Doctrine as the Truth of Path168

• IV. The Jewel of the Community172
  • 1) Manner and Extent of Perception173
    • a) Right Manner of Perception174
    • b) Unlimited Extent of Perception175
  • 2) Introspective Character of Bodhisattva’s Perception176
  • 3) Superiority of Bodhisattva’s Community176

• V. The 3 Jewels as Refuges180
  • 1) 3 Refuges from the Empirical Standpoint180
  • 2) The Doctrine and the Community are not the ultimate refuge181
  • 3) Only the Buddha is the Refuge from the ultimate Standpoint184
  • 4) The Meaning of the 3 Jewels185

• VI. The Germ of the 3 Jewels in 4 Aspects186
  • 1) Inconceivability of the 4 Aspects188
  • 2) The Germ as Cause and Conditions of the 3 Jewels in its 4 Aspects194

• VII. The Sermon: All Living Beings are possessed of the Tathāgatagarbha196

• VIII. Analysis of the Germ from 10 Points of View199
  • (I) Svabhāva & (II) Hetu200
    • 1) The Nature of the Essence of the Tathāgata200
    • 2) Obstructions and Causes for Purification201
  • (III) Phala & (IV) Karman207
    • 1) The 4 Supreme Virtues as the Result of Purification208
    • 2) Concordance between the 4 Supreme Virtues and the 4 Causes for Purification210
    • 3) 4 Impediments to the Attainment of the Supreme Virtues214
    • 4) Motives of the 4 Supreme Virtues218
    • 4') The Unstable Nirvāṇa219
    • 5) Functions of the Germ for its Purification221
  • (V) Yoga225
    • 1) The Union of the Germ to the Factors of its Purification225
    • 2) The Union of the Germ to the Result of Purification227
  • (VI) Vṛtti (Manifestation)229
  • (VII) Avasthāprabheda (Different States of Manifestation)230
  • (VIII) Sarvatraga (All-pervadingness)233
  • (IX) Avikāra234
    • (A) Unchangeability in the Impure State235
      • 1) Unoriginated Character of the Innate Mind238
      • 2) Indestructible Character of the Innate Mind241
    • (B) Unchangeability in the Pure-and-impure State243
      • 1) Pure Character and Impure Character of the Bodhisattva243
      • 2) Defilements endowed with the Virtuous Root245
      • 3) Bodhisattva’s Compassion — The Parable of a Householder246
      • 4) Bodhisattva’s Perception of the Pure Mind248
      • 5) ‘ Samsära ’ in the Case of Bodhisattva250
      • 6) Bodhisattva in his 6th Stage250
      • 7) The Pure and Impure State of the Bodhisattva in comparison with the Ordinary Being and the Buddha253
    • (C) Unchangeability in the Perfectly Pure State256
  • (X) Asaṃbheda258
    • 1) Synonyms of the Essence of the Tathāgata259
    • 2) The Point: Buddhahood is Nirvāṇa261
    • 3) The Parable of Painters263
    • 4) Similarity of the Buddhahood to the Sun265

• IX. The 9 Illustrations on the Germ covered with Defilements268
  • 1) The 9 Illustrations according to the Tathāgatagarbhasūtra268
  • 2) 9 Kinds of Defilements — the Impurities of the Mind277
  • 3) Concordance between the 9 Illustrations and 9 Kinds of Defilements281
  • 4) The threefold Nature of the Essence283
    • a) Dharmakāya284
    • b) Tathatā287
    • c) Tathāgatagotra288

• X. The Essential Characteristics of the Matrix of the Tathāgata294
  • 1) The Saying: ' All Living Beings are possessed of the Matrix of the Tathāgata ’ is the Highest Logical Truth294
  • 2) The 4 Kinds of Individuals to whom the Faith in this Essence is necessary296
  • 3) The True Conception of the Matrix of the Tathāgata as representing Non-substantiality300

• XI. The Purpose of Instruction305

Chapter II. — The Enlightenment

• XII. General Characteristics of the Reality free from Pollutions310
• XIII. 8 Points on the Undefiled Reality314
  • (I) Svabhāva & (II) Hetu314
  • (III) Phala315
  • (IV) Karman318
  • (V) Yoga322
  • (VI) Vṛtti324
    • a) The Body of the Absolute Essence326
    • b) The Body of Enjoyment328
    • c) The Apparitional Body329
  • (VII) Nitya331
  • (VIII) Acintya334

Chapter III. — The Properties of the Buddha

• XIV. General Characteristics of the Buddha’s Properties336
• XV. The 64 Properties of the Buddha338
  • (I) The 10 Powers338
  • (II) The 4 Forms of Intrepidity339
  • (III) The 18 Exclusive Properties341
  • (IV) The 32 Marks of the Superman343
    • (Commentary)347

Chapter IV. — The Acts of the Buddha

• XVI. General Characteristics of the Acts of the Buddha351
• XVII. The 9 Illustrations on the Buddha's Acts355
  • 1) Buddha's Magnanimity355
  • 2) The 9 Illustrations taken from the Jñānâlokâlaṅkārasūtra356
  • 3) Summary of the Illustrations given by the Commentator374
  • 4) Summary of Examples given in the Kārikās375
  • 5) Non-origination and Non-extinction of the Buddhahood377
  • 6) The Point of Dissimilarity377

Chapter V. — The Merits of Faith

• XVIII. The Merits of Having Faith in the Doctrine of the Essence of Buddhahood380
  • 1) The Superiority of Faith to other Virtues in regard to their Merits380
  • 2) Authority, Motive, and Characteristics of this Text being the Correct Doctrine384
  • 3) Means of preserving oneself within the Doctrine386
  • 4) Causes and Results of the Loss of the Doctrine387
  • 5) Conclusion389

• Appendixes
  • I. Supposed for of the Original Śloka-grantha393
  • II. Corrections & Emendations to the Sanskrit Text396
  • III. Description of the Ultimate Reality by Means of the Six Categories400
• Indexes
  • 1. Index of Sanskrit Terms411
  • 2. Index of Works, Authors & Schools437

1. Maitreya; Asaṅga, (thogs med). theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i bstan bcos (mahāyānottaratantraśāstra-ratnagotra-vibhāga). Chinese: 究竟一乘寶性論 (jiu jing yi ch'eng bao xing lun). Dege 4024, sems tsam, phi 54b1-73a7. Translator(s): Sajjana, Rngog lo tsā ba blo ldan shes rab. Peking, Q 5525. Narthang, N 4293. In bstan 'gyur (sde dge), Vol. 123: 107-146. Delhi: delhi karmapae choedhey, gyalwae sungrab partun khang, 1982-1985. Columbia AIBS. ACIP Text.
   1. This book Includes: a critical introduction, a synopsis of the text, a translation from the original Sanskrit text, in comparison with its Tibetan and Chinese versions, critical notes, appendixes and indexes.