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

Translation of Commentary on the Ultimate Continuum of the Mahāyāna

Dissertation

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
    viewpoint54
- 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