Buddha-Nature Timeline

From Buddha-Nature
Revision as of 13:32, 30 January 2023 by AlexC (talk | contribs)
By 100 BCE
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Aṅguttaranikāya mentions the luminous nature of the mind.
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By 100 CE
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Aṣṭasahāsrikāprajñāpāramitāsūtra states that the mind is luminous by nature.
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c.100 CE
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Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra (which Michael Radich dates as early as the 2nd century) mentions tathāgathagarbha and uses the term ātman to describe buddha-nature.
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c. 200 CE
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Tathāgatagarbhasūtra (as dated by Michael Zimmermann) and other scriptures later considered as sūtras teaching tathāgathagarbha are circulating and promoting the concept of buddha-nature.
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c. 200 CE
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Nāgārjuna writes the Dharmadhātustava and praises the sphere of reality as the basis of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa. He calls it "the element" and "luminous mind" and claims emptiness does not negate this nature.
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c. 300 CE
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Tathāgatagarbhasūtra is translated into Chinese, perhaps by Faju.
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c. 320 CE
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Śrīmālādevīsiṃhanādanirdeśa (which may have been circulating as one of the most influential sūtras on buddha-nature) is said to have been translated into Chinese by Seng Fani. It claims buddha-nature "is empty of adventitious stains but not empty of its limitless inseparable qualities."
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By 400 CE
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Mahābherīsūtra (which was translated into Chinese by Guṇabhadra) equates buddha-nature with the dharmakāya. Anūnatvāpūrṇatvanirdeśaparivarta (which Jonathan Silk dates to at least before the early 5th century) mentions how sentient beings, bodhisattvas, and buddhas are three phases of the buddha-nature being impure, partially obscured, and fully pure.
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c.417 CE
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Buddhabhadra and Faxian translate the Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra into Chinese.
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By 433 CE
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According to Takasaki, the Ratnagotravibhāga, which Central Asian and Tibetan sources attribute to Maitreya and Chinese sources attribute to Sāramati, is composed.
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c. 500 CE
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Ratnamati, who translated the Ratnagotravibhāga into Chinese, travels to China.
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c. 550 CE
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Paramārtha translates the Awakening of Faith attributed to Aśvaghoṣa into Chinese and thereby promotes the concept of Original Enlightenment.
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580 CE
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Tanyan writes the first commentary on the Awakening of Faith, which was followed by some 170 other commentaries written in China, Japan, and Korea.
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792-794 CE
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The Great Samye Debate takes place between the Indian gradualists led by the Mādhyamika master Kamalaśīla and Chinese subitists led by Chan monk Heshang Moheyan (or Hashang Mahāyāna).
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c. 800 CE
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Yeshe De and others translate major buddha-nature sūtras such as the Tathāgatagarbhasūtra and Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra into Tibetan.
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By 1040 CE
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Maitrīpa (986-1063) is said to have discovered the texts of the Ratnagotravibhāga and Dharmadharmatāvibhāga in a stūpa.
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c. 1045 CE
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Ratnavajra, grandfather of Sajjana, is believed to have composed his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum.
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c. 1050 CE
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Atiśa Dīpaṅkara and Naktso Tsultrim Gyelwa translate the Ratnagotravibhāgauttaratantra or the Ultimate Continuum into Tibetan in Yerpa, Tibet.
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1076 CE
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Ngok Loden Sherab and Tsen Khawoche depart for Kashmir where they would receive teachings on the works of Maitreya, including the Ultimate Continuum, from Sajjana.
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c. 1085 CE
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Tsen Khawoche Drime Sherab, who received teachings on the Ultimate Continuum from Sajjana with the help of Zu Gawai Dorje as translator, returns to Tibet and teaches the Ultimate Continuum, thereby starting the meditative tradition (སྒོམ་ལུགས་) of the Ultimate Continuum.
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By 1092 CE
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Ngok Loden Sherab translates the Ultimate Continuum with the help of Sajjana in the town of Anupama in Kashmir. He also composes his commentaries on the Ultimate Continuum, and Sajjana writes his instructions on the Ultimate Continuum.
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c. 1100 CE
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Marpa Dopa Chökyi Wangchuk composes his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum according to his teacher Parahita's explanation, although the commentary is perhaps mistakenly attributed to Marpa Chökyi Lodrö.
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c. 1100 CE
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Patsab Lotsāwa Nyima Drakpa, who introduced the Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka tradition to Tibet, and Marpa Dopa Chökyi Wangchuk, who is known for the transmission of Cakrasaṃvara to Tibet, translate the Ultimate Continuum. Marpa Dopa also composes his commentary.
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c. 1130 CE
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Gampopa claims that "the text for our Mahāmudrā is the Ultimate Continuum."
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c. 1150 CE
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Chapa Chökyi Senge, the sixth abbot of Sangpu Neutok, composes his summary as well as a detailed explanation of the Ultimate Continuum and carries on the philosophical legacy of Ngok Loden Sherab.
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c. 1150 CE
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Lhodrak Dharma Senge, for whom we do not have much information, composes his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum.
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c. 1272
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Drogön Chögyal Pakpa writes his synopsis of the Ultimate Continuum in the palace of Kubilai Khan in China.
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c. 1200 CE
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Jetsun Drakpa Gyaltsen composes his notes on the Ultimate Continuum entitled the Unmistaken Intent of Maitreya in response to master Thinley Zangpo.
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1226 CE
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Sherab Jungne, the student of Jikten Gönpo Rinchen Pel of Drigung, compiles the Single Intention containing the 150 vajra statements of his master, thus launching an important classic of the Drigung Kagyu school.
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c. 1230 CE
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Sakya Paṇḍita Kunga Gyaltsen critiques the other theories of buddha-nature and presents buddha-nature as an unchanging sphere of reality in his Distinguishing the Three Vows. He argues that the buddha-nature sūtras teaching innate enlightenment are provisional teachings.
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c. 1270 CE
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Kyotön Mönlam Tsultrim, the eighth abbot of Nartang, composes many works on buddha-nature, including his Instructions on "The Ultimate Continuum of the Mahāyāna", and he promotes the meditative tradition from Tsen Khawoche.
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c. 1280 CE
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Chomden Rikpai Raldri, a learned Kadam scholar of Nartang, writes his exegesis on the Ultimate Continuum entitled the Flower Ornament and also writes his History of Dharma Associated with Maitreya.
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c. 1300 CE
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Lodrö Tsungme of Sangpu Neutok composes his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum entitled The Precious Lamp That Illuminates the Definitive Meaning of the Mahāyāna Uttaratantra Treatise, which is aligned to the interpretation in the meditative tradition.
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c. 1300 CE
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One Yarlung Lotsāwa, according to Gö Lotsāwa Zhönu Pal, is said to have translated the Ultimate Continuum.
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By 1305
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Chomden Rikpai Raldri, the Narthang scholar, composes his Ornamental Flowers: A Commentary on the Mahāyāna Uttaratantra and explains buddha-nature to be an emptiness indivisible from awareness.
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c. 1320 CE
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The Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje composes his Treatise on Pointing Out the Tathāgata Heart, a commentary on the Dharmadhātustava, and other writings related to buddha-nature.
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c. 1330 CE
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Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen writes his tour de force Mountain Doctrine and many other works and he expounds the philosophy of zhentong or "other-emptiness," in which conventional phenomena are empty of self-existence and buddha-nature is the ultimate absolute reality endowed with all qualities of the Buddha.
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c. 1340
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Tanak Rinchen Yeshe, who was a teacher of both Tokme Zangpo and Dolpopa, writes his Illumination of the Definitive Meaning: A Commentary on the Uttaratantra in Relation to the Sūtras, which presents a promo-zhentong interpretation.
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c. 1350 CE
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Longchenpa Drime Õzer composes his Seven Treasures, Trilogy of Relaxation, and Trilogy of Liberation, in which he presents buddha-nature as the empty luminous nature of the mind.
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c. 1350 CE
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Sazang Mati Paṇchen Lodrö Gyaltsen improves the Tibetan translation of the Ultimate Continuum and writes his long and clear exposition Illuminating the Definitive Meaning: An Explanation of the Ultimate Continuum.
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c. 1350 CE
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Zhangtön Sönam Drakpa, a student of Dolpopa, writes his Commentary on the Ultimate Continuum Clarifying the Last Wheel of Teachings, highlighting how the third turning is a definitive teaching.
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c. 1350 CE
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Gyalse Tokme Zangpo writes his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum, Illuminating the Definitive Meaning, in E temple.
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1359 CE
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Butön Rinchen Drup writes his Ornament That Illuminates and Beautifies the Tathāgata Heart and underscores that the buddha-nature teachings are expedient provisional teachings and not to be taken literally.
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c. 1360 CE
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Dondrup Rinchen, the first teacher of Tsongkhapa, composes his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum, in which he refutes certain interpretations of buddha-nature which were later adopted by the Geluk tradition.
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1366 CE
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Lama Dampa Sönam Gyaltsen composed his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum entitled Definitive Clarification of the Intent with Gyeltsen Zangpo as scribe. A synopsis containing topical outline was also extracted later. He presents an interpretation different from the position of Sapañ.
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c. 1380 CE
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Yeshe Dorje from Minyak, a student of 4th Karmapa Rolpai Dorje and Donzhak, wrote his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum highlighting the Zhentong view.
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c. 1385 CE
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Rendawa Zhönu Lodrö, the great promoter of Mādhyamika in Tibet, composed his synopsis on buddha-nature and exegesis on Kālacakra highlighting the Rangtong understanding although Gö Lotsāwa claims that he later changed his approach.
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1390 CE
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Gharungpa Lhai Gyaltsen wrote his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum in Namkha Dzod hermitage following Dolpopa's Zhentong tradition and Sazang's outline.
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c. 1390 CE
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Gendun Özer, a Kadampa master who is difficult to date, composed his outline and commentary on the Ultimate Continuum claiming to be different from the wordy commentaries from the past and presenting logical arguments, direct explanation, enumeration, etc. as requested by his students of central Tibet. He uses Ngok’s translation but uses Naktso and Patsap’s translation also.
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c. 1400 CE
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Rongtön Sheja Kunrik wrote his commentary on and practice manual for the Ultimate Continuum.
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1401 CE
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Tsongkhapa Lobzang Drakpa, who founded Ganden monastery in 1409 wrote his Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, followed by other works which initiated the Geluk understanding of buddha-nature.
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c. 1420 CE
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Gyaltsap Darma Rinchen, who received teachings on the Ultimate Continuum from both Rendawa and Tsongkhapa, wrote his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum which came to influence subsequent Gelukpa understanding of buddha-nature and interpretation of the Ultimate Continuum. The commentary was written at Nenying at the request of Gungru Gyaltsen Zangpo.
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c. 1425 CE
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Jonang Lotsāwa improved the translation of the Ultimate Continuum.
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By 1450 CE
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Bodong Paṇchen Chokle Namgyal wrote his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum and presents a interesting interpretation.
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1455 CE
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The 7th Ganden Tripa Lodrö Tenpa wrote his commentary on the 'Ultimate Continuum following the interpretation of buddha-nature by his master Gyaltsap Je.
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1473
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Gö Lotsāwa Zhönu Pal, the famous historian, dictated his extensive commentary on the Ultimate Continuum in Mondang.
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1474 CE
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Śākya Chokden composed his Explanation of Buddhagarbha: An Essence of Sūtra and Tantra highlighting his position that real buddha-nature does not exist in sentient beings.
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1539 CE
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The Karma Kagyu scholar Dumowa Tashi Özer, a student of the 7th Karmapa, wrote his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum integrating the points from the 3rd Karmapa Rangjung Dorje's synopsis.
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1540 CE
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Paṇchen Sönam Drakpa, the main author studied in Drepung Loseling, composed his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum based on Gyaltsap Je's commentary at Gaden Zurkhang.
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c. 1550 CE
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The eighth Karmapa Mikyö Dorje wrote his The Lamp That Excellently Elucidates the System of the Proponents of the Other-Emptiness Madhyamaka and other works and highlighted the understanding of 'expanse zhentong'.
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c. 1615 CE
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Tāranātha wrote many works including his masterpiece Thoroughly Ascertaining the Great Middle Way of the Expansive Supreme Vehicle and championed the Zhentong philosophy of Jonang tradition.
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c. 1620 CE
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One Taklung Chöje, perhaps Taklung Zhabdrung Ngawang Namgyal, composed his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum in which he refutes various Tibetan interpretations.
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c. 1670 CE
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Tsele Natsok Rangdrol, a Drukpa Kagyu master, wrote his treatise on understanding buddha-nature and ultimate reality in the context of Madhyamaka, Mahāmudrā and Dzogchen, particularly relating it to practical application.
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c. 1820 CE
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Getse Mahāpaṇḍita Tsewang Chokdrup, a leading Nyingma master from Kaḥthog monastery wrote his exegesis on buddha-nature and Great Middle Way highlighting the validity of Zhentong.
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c. 1851 CE
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The itinerant monk scholar Dza Patrul Rinpoche composed his topical outline of the Ultimate Continuum in Zamthang monastery.
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c. 1880 CE
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Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo, a leading rime master, wrote his quintessential presentation of the Zhentong philosophy in the Jonang tradition.
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By 1899 CE
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Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye wrote his experiential commentary on the Ultimate Continuum in which he presents the understanding of Other Emptiness.
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1891 CE
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Mipam Namgyal Gyatso, the 19th century Nyingma polymath, wrote his exegesis on buddha-nature called Lion's Roar and underscored his understanding of buddha-nature as a union of emptiness and luminosity. He also made annotation of the Ultimate Continuum which his students compiled in 1925.
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c. 1900 CE
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Khenpo Zhenpen Chokyi Nangwa, also known as Zhenga, composed his interlinear commentary on the Ultimate Continuum as part of the thirteen great treatises, which came to be widely used in shedra curriculum.
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c. 1910 CE
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Drakar Lobzang Palden Tendzin Nyendrak wrote his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum following Gyaltsap Je's interpretation and also his work on Zhentong on behalf of some monks of Zamtang.
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c. 1930 CE
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Ngawang Tsoknyi Gyatso, a Jonang scholar of Zamtang monastery, wrote his treatises on buddha-nature explaining the Zhentong tradition of Dolpopa although Michael Sheehy considers his understanding lenient and mild Zhentong.
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1931 CE
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Eugène Obermiller translated the Ultimate Continuum for the first time into English in his The Sublime Science of the Great Vehicle to Salvation, Being a Manual of Buddhist Monism: The Work of Ārya Maitreya with a Commentary by Āryāsanga.
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1965 CE
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Ngawang Lodrö Drakpa wrote his Fearless Lion's Roar also known as the "Great Zhentong which highlights the Zhentong tradition of Jonang. The book came to be a classic on Zhentong alongside Dolpopa's Mountain Doctrine and Tāranātha's Thoroughly Ascertaining the Great Middle Way of the Expansive Supreme Vehicle.
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1969 CE
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David Seyfort Ruegg articulated and analysed the theories on buddha-nature in his La théorie du Tathagatagarbha et du garbha: Études sur la Sotériologie et la Gnoséologie du Bouddhisme.
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1975 CE
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Jangtse Khenzur Sönam Kunga finished his compilation of the various Tibetan philosophical understanding and interpretations of buddha-nature in Sarnath.
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1983 CE
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The 69th Je Khenpo Gendun Rinchen composed his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum in Phajoding.
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c. 1990 CE
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Muge Samten Gyatso composed his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum as requested by one Lobzang Tashi but the commentary is incomplete due to his illness.
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1992 CE
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The Gelukpa scholar Yeshe Gyatso of Chentsa Mani temple in Qinghai wrote his summary of, which is a full commentary on, the Ultimate Continuum following Gyaltsap Je's interpretation.
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2002 CE
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Troru Tsenam completed his commentary on the 'Ultimate Continuum which is based on the transcription of his lectures.
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2008 CE
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The 7th Drikung Chetsang, Konchog Tenzin Kunsang Thrinle Lhundrup composed his commentary on the Ultimate Continuum entitled Words of Asaṅga.
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2014 CE
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Karl Brunnholzl produced his tour de force on buddha-nature When the Clouds Part: The Uttaratantra and Its Meditative Tradition as a Bridge between Sutra and Tantra and highlighted the Zhentong tradition.
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2017 CE
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Tsering Wangchuk published his historical account of buddha-nature scholarship in Tibet entitled The Uttaratantra in the Land of Snows: Tibetan Thinkers Debate the Centrality of the Buddha-Nature Treatise.
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2021 CE
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Tsadra Foundation's web resource on buddha-nature was launched followed by a series of monthly conversations on buddha-nature.
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