Cataphatic Emptiness: rGyal-tshab on the Buddha-essence Theory of Asaṅga's Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā

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Revision as of 14:25, 29 May 2020



Cataphatic Emptiness: rGyal-tshab on the Buddha-essence Theory of Asaṅga's Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā
Translation of Commentary on the Ultimate Continuum of the Mahāyāna
Dissertation
Dissertation
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Abstract

This doctoral dissertation studies the Ratnagotravibhāga (Uttaratantra), the only surviving Indian Buddhist treatise on the Buddha-essence doctrine, by way of one of its major Tibetan commentaries, rGyal-tshab Dar-ma-rin-chen (1364-1432)'s Theg pa chen po rGyud bla ma'i ṭīkā. This project consists of three parts: a special edition of the first chapter of the Theg pa chen po rGyud bia ma'i ṭīkā, an English translation of the selected sections of that commentary, and a comparative analysis which follows six distinct lines of inquiry.
      The six lines are: rGyal-tshab's doctrinal classification of the text; his critiques of absolutism, skepticism, and quietism in connection with diverse interpretations of the Buddha-essence doctrine in Tibetan traditions as well as a tentative comparison with critiques of the theory of "Original-enlightenment" in modern Chinese Buddhism; his analysis of the title of Tibetan version and the structure of the text; rGyal-tshab's philosophical positions on reality, Element, and natural luminosity of the mind; his expositions of the tripartite Buddha-essence, its ten aspects, and the eighteen similes; and the notion "spiritual gene" understood by dGe-lugs-pas.
      This comparative approach will provide a broader synthetic understanding of the role that Buddha-essence played as a doctrinal genre in Tibetan intellectual history.

Citation Jiang, Bo. "Cataphatic Emptiness: rGyal-tshab on the Buddha-Essence Theory of Asaṅga's Ratnagotravibhāgavyākhyā." PhD diss., Columbia University, 2008.


  • List of Tablesv
  • AcknowledgmentsvI
  • Technical Notesvii

Part 1: The Prāsaṅgika-Mādhyamika Interpretation of the Buddha-essence Theory

  • Introduction2
  • Chapter 1: Historical and Doctrinal Background17
    • 1. rGyal-tshab's Life and Works17
    • 2. The social-political background26
    • 3. The doctrinal background29
    • 4. The Structure and Contents of the rGyud bla ṭīkā33
  • Chapter 2: Doctrinal Classification of the Ratnagotravibhāga37
    • 1. Asaṅga and the Five Treatises of Maitreya38
    • 2. The subtle emptiness according to the RGV41
      • The truth-habit as the cause of saṃsāra41
      • The truth-habit as the addictive obscuration43
      • Śrāvakas and pratyekabuddhas' realization of objective selflessness44
      • Refuting the Vijñānavādin standpoint concerning emptiness47
    • 3. The Three Stages of Teaching according to the DIR49
      • Establishing the unique vehicle49
      • As the distinctive presentation of the Prāsaṅgika-Mādhyamika
        viewpoint        54
    • 4. The Prajñāpāramitā-sūtra and the TGS56
    • 5. The TGS as Being Definitive62
  • Chapter 3: Critiques of Absolutism, Skepticism, and Quietism69
    • 1. Critique of Dol-po-pa's "Great Madhyamaka"70
      • Refuting Dol-po-pa's classification of the TGS71
      • Refuting Buddha-essence as a permanent entity72
      • Refuting Buddha-essence as being endowed with twofold purities77
    • 2. Critique of the Mainstream Positions81
      • 'Gos-lo's position on Buddha-essence84
      • dGe-lugs-pa scholars' responses89
    • 3. A Comparison with Critiques of "Original-enlightenment" theory in Modern Chinese Buddhism94
      • A comparison of interpretations between 'Gos-lo and Zongmi96
      • Modern Chinese Critiques of "Original-enlightenment"99
  • Chapter 4: Analysis of the Title and Textural Structure110
    • 1. The Title "Mahāyānottaratantra" and Its Implication110
    • 2. The Seven Vajra-Like Bases114
      • Two aspects114
      • rGyal-tshab's revision of rNgog-lo's "two wheels" theory 116
      • The first three bases as ultimate fruition118
      • The last four bases as cause and conditions119
    • 3. The Term "Ratnagotra" and the Textual Structure of RGV121
    • 4. rGyal-tshab on the Fourfold Ratnagotra as Cause and Conditions124
      • The Element as a cause according to RGV I.16124
      • The last three bases as conditions127
    • 5. On RGV 1.3129
    • 6. Conclusion132
  • Chapter 5: Reality, Element, and Natural Luminosity of the Mind134
    • 1. The Buddha-essence and Its Various Names134
    • 2. Reality136
      • As immutable ultimate reality136
      • The tainted reality138
    • 3. Dharmatā140
    • 4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind142
      • Origin in Canonical sources142
      • rGyal-tshab's Exegesis on the Passages from the SMS and the DIR144
      • On the Passage from the GGS147
    • 5. The Element150
      • According to the AAN150
      • According to the MAS154
    • 6. The Buddha-essence and the Madhyamaka Philosophy156
      • The Equation of the Buddha-essence with emptiness156
      • Realizing the Buddha-essence as the Middle Way159
    • 7. Conclusion163
  • Chapter 6: Buddha-essence and Its Ten Aspects164
    • 1. The Tripartite Buddha-essence164
      • The diffusion of the truth body166
      • The indivisible reality and generic potentials168
    • 2. The Ten Points170
      • Nature171
      • Causes173
      • Fruition178
      • Actions187
      • Possession192
      • Engagement194
      • States196
      • All-pervadingness198
      • Unchangeability200
      • Indivisible excellences205
  • Chapter 7: The Eighteen Similes in the Tathāgatagarbha-sūtra209
    • 1. rGyal-tshab's General Discussion209
    • 2. The Nine Smiles for the Obscuring Defilements215
      • The lotus simile for latent state of attachment215
      • The bees simile for latent state of hatred216
      • The husks simile for latent state of misknowledge216
      • The filth simile for intense outburst of attachment, hatred, and misknowledge218
      • The floor simile for ground of instincts for misknowledge219
      • The fruit simile for addictions eliminated by the Path of Insight220
      • The tattered rags simile for addictions eliminated by the Path of Meditation221
      • The woman simile for addictions related to the Impure Stages222
      • The clay simile for addictions related to the Pure stages223
      • Discussion of the twofold obscuration224
    • 3. The Nine Smiles for the Obscured Element226
      • The three similes for the Truth Body228
      • The gold simile for reality230
      • The five similes for the spiritual gene231
  • Chapter 8: The Twofold Spiritual Gene236
    • 1. Tsong-kha-pa's Analysis of the Vijñānavadin Standpoints237
    • 2. A Mādhyamika Critique of the Vijñānavadin Standpoint248
    • 3. The dGe-Iugs-pa Exegesis of the "Spiritual Gene" Section of the AA250
    • 4. Natural Luminosity of the Mind under Debate256
  • Conclusion264
  • Abbreviations268
  • Bibliography271

Part 2: Appendices

  • 1. A Special Edition of Chapter One of the Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i ṭīkā (1a-72a and 64a-170b)285
    • A. Topical Outline285
    • B. Special Edition306
  • 2. Translations449
    • A. The Mahāyānottaratantrarvyākhyā (Chapter One: 1.1-7.5 and 21.1-78.22)449
    • B. The Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i ṭīkā (Chapter One: 1a-72a and
      64a-170b)      525

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