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The Awakening of Faith (2005)

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Taishō 1666
Volume 32

This treatise, The Awakening of Faith, sometimes known by the longer title of The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana, presents a concise synopsis of both the theoretical and practical aspects of the central ideas of Mahāyāna Buddhism, and has therefore been widely read as an introduction to this branch. A short work, it remains extremely important in the history of Buddhism, having exerted influence in China and Japan on the schools of Hua-yen (Jp. Kegon), T'ien-t'ai (Jp. Tendai), Chan/Zen, Pure Land (Ch. Jìngtǔzōng; Jp. Jōdo Bukkyō), Chên-yen (Jp. Shingon), and more.

However, many questions remain concerning the author and place of composition, including whether it was composed in India or China, and whether the attributive author Aśvaghoṣa lived before or after Nāgārjuna.

Source Skt. *Mahāyānaśraddhotpāda-śāstra, attributed to Aśvaghoṣa. Brought into the Chinese by Paramārtha as Dasheng qixin lun (大乘起信論). 1 fascicle.

Editor’s Note: This is a reprint of the sutra as translated by the late Dr. Yoshito S. Hakeda and originally published by Columbia University Press. This reprint edition retains Dr. Hakeda's chapter and subdivision headings and his commentaries, which are set in italicized paragraphs within the text itself. (Source: BDK America)

Citation	Hakeda, Yoshito S., trans. The Awakening of Faith. Attributed to Aśvaghoṣa. Translated from the Chinese of Paramārtha (Taishō vol. 32, no. 1666). BDK English Tripiṭaka 63, no. 4. Berkeley, CA: Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research, 2005. Reprint of the first edition, 1967.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• Contents

• A Message on the Publication of the English Tripiṭaka by NUMATA Yehanv
• Editorial Foreword by MAYEDA Sengakuvii
• Publisher’s Foreword by Francis H. Cookix
• Note on the BDK English Tripiṭaka Series Reprint Editionxi
• Foreword to the Original Edition by Wm. Theodore de Baryxvi
• Preface to the Original Edition by Yoshito S. Hakedaxix
• Translator’s Introduction by Yoshito S. Hakedaxxi

• The Awakening of Faith

• Invocation3
• The Contents of the Discourse3
• Part One. The Reasons for Writing5
• Part Two. Outline7
• Part Three. Interpretation11
• Chapter I. Revelation of True Meaning11
  • I. One Mind and Its Two Aspects11
    • A. The Mind in Terms of the Absolute12
      • 1. Truly Empty14
      • 2. Truly Nonempty15
    • B. The Mind in Terms of Phenomena16
      • 1. The Storehouse Consciousness16
        • a. The Aspect of Enlightenment17
          • (1) Original Enlightenment17
          • (2) The Process of Actualization of Enlightenment17
            • (a) Purity of Wisdom20
            • (b) Suprational Functions21
          • (3) The Characteristics of the Essence of Enlightenment21
        • b. The Aspect of Nonenlightenment23
        • c. The Relationships between Enlightenment and

Nonenlightenment25

• • • • • • (1) Identity25
          • (2) Nonidentity26

2. The Cause and Conditions of Humankind’s Being
in Samsara 26
a. Mind 27
b. Consciousness 29
c. Defiled States of Mind 31
d. Comments on the Terms Used in the Foregoing
Discussion 32
3. The Characteristics of Beings in Samsara 34
a. Permeation of Ignorance 36
b. Permeation of Suchness 37
(1) Permeation through Manifestation of the
Essence of Suchness 39
(2) Permeation through Influences 41
(a) The Specific Coordinating Causes 41
(b) The General Coordinating Causes 42
II. The Essence Itself and the Attributes of Suchness,
or the Meaning of Mahå 44
A. The Greatness of the Essense of Suchness 44
B. The Greatness of the Attributes of Suchness 44
C. The Greatness of the Influences of Suchness 46

III. From Samsara to Nirvana 51

Chapter II. The Correction of Evil Attachments 53
I. The Biased Views Held by Ordinary People 53
II. The Biased Views Held by the Hinayanists 57
Chapter III. Analysis of the Types of Aspiration for
Enlightenment, or the Meanings of Yåna 59

Contents xv

I. The Aspiration for Enlightenment through the
Perfection of Faith 60
II. The Aspiration for Enlightenment through
Understanding and Deeds 65
III. The Aspiration for Enlightenment through Insight 66

Part Four. On Faith and Practice 71 On Four Faiths 71 On Five Practices 72 The Practice of Cessation 74 The Practice of Clear Observation 78 Part Five. Encouragement of Practice and the Benefits

Thereof 81

Notes 83 Glossary 91 Bibliography 95 Index 99

A List of the Volumes of the BDK English Tripi†aka (First Series)

1. Aśvaghoṣa. Mahāyānaśraddhotpādaśāstra. (Dasheng qixin lun). 63 (4), Taisho Volume 32, No. 1666