The Buddha Within (Hookham)

The Buddha Within: Tathagatagarbha Doctrine according to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga

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Tathagatagarbha—Buddha Nature—is a central concept of Mahayana Buddhism crucial to all the living practice traditions of Tibetan and Zen Buddhism. Its relationship to the concept of emptiness has been a subject of controversy for seven hundred years. Dr. Hookham's work investigates the divergent interpretations of these concepts and the way the TIbetan tradition is resolving them.

In particular she does this with reference to the only surviving Indian commentary on the Tathagatagarbha doctrine, the Ratnagotravibhaga. This text addresses itself directly to the issue of how to relate the doctrine of emptiness (the illusory nature of the world) to that of the truly existing, changeless Absolute (the Buddha Nature).

This is the first work by a Western writer to present an analysis of the Shentong tradition based on previously untranslated sources. The Shentong view rests on meditative experience that is inaccessible to the conceptualizing mind. It is deeply rooted in the sutra tradition of Indian Buddhism and is central to an understanding of the Mahamudra and Dzogchen traditions and Tantric practice among the Kagyupas and Nyingmapas.

(Source: SUNY Press)

Citation	Hookham, S. K. The Buddha Within: Tathagatagarbha Doctrine according to the Shentong Interpretation of the Ratnagotravibhaga. SUNY Series in Buddhist Studies. Albany: State University of New York Press, 1991.

Contents

• Acknowledgementsxiii

• Yogin Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso's Spontaneous Verses on the Subject of Rangtong and Shentongxv

• Chapter 1: General Introduction1
• The Omnicient Dolpopa's Prayer that Unties the Vajra Word Knots5

• Section One–The Issues9
• Chapter 2: Introduction to the Rangtong-Shentong Distinction11
• 2.1 The Origin and Significance of Buddhist Commentarial Traditions11
• 2.2 The Rangtong-Shentong Distinction13
• 2.3 The Meaning of Rangtong14
• 2.4 The Meaning of Shentong15
• 2.5 The Importance of the Rangtong-Shentong Distinction16

• Chapter 3: Emptiness from the Shentong Point of View19
• 3.1 Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness19
• 3.2 The Final Stage–Shentong (Yogacara Madhyamaka)22
• 3.3 No Shentong Without a Proper Understanding of Rangtong26
• 3.4 Problems of Definitions of Terms29

• Chapter 4: The Shentong View of Absolute Reality33
• 4.1 Buddhajnana33
• 4.2 Inseparable Qualities37
  • i. Inseparable Qualities of the Dharmakaya38
  • ii. The Concept of Uncompoundedness44
  • iii. Inseparability and the Spontaneous Existence of the Buddha Qualities47
• 4.3 Buddha Activity51

• Chapter 5: Means of Apprehending Absolute Reality57
• 5.1 Faith57
  • i. Faith and Buddhajnana57
  • ii. Faith and Direct Experience60
  • iii. Direct Experience as Valid Cognition63
• 5.2 Non-conceptuality (nisprapanca)65
  • i. Nisprapanca as Awareness Experienced in Meditation65
  • ii. Nisprapanca as Freedom from Extremes71
  • ii. Nisprapanca as Non-conceptuality in the RGV (1.9)73
  • ii. Nisprapanca as in the Tantras77
• 5.3 The Two Realities and the Two Visions79
  • i. Satya79
  • ii. Paramarthasatya79
  • iii. Samvrtisatya81
  • iv. Ultimate Reality is not Dependent Arising82
  • v. Own Nature and Other Nature (Svabhava and Parabhava)82
  • vi. The Two Realities Inseparable83
  • vii. The Two Senses of Manifestation and Emptiness85
  • viii. The Importance of the Distinction85
  • ix. The Relationship Between the To Realities87
  • x. The Two Visions–Precisely What Is and the Extent of What Is (Yathavadbhavikata and Yavadbhavikata)87

• Chapter 6: The Nature of Beings91
• 6.1 Base, Path, and Fruit91
• 6.2 Tathagatagarbha91
  • i. The Shentong and Rangtong Approaches Compared94
  • ii. The Term "Tathagatagarbha"99
• 6.3 Self100
• 6.4 Gotra104
  • i. The "Cut-off" Gotra and the Three Yanas105
  • ii. Gotra as both Cause and Emptiness108

• Chapter 7: The Third Dharmacakra: Neyartha or Nitartha113
• 7.1 The Third Dharmacakra113
  • i. The Three Dharmacakras113
  • ii. The Third Dharmacakra as Nitartha114
  • iii. Kongtrul's Distinction Between the Tow Kinds of Nitartha Sutra of the
    Third Dharmacakra117
  • iv. Dolpopa's Anlaysis121
  • v. The Third Dharmacakra is Not Cittamatra122
• 7.2 Neyartha and Nitartha124
  • i. Rangtong Explanations of Neyartha and Nitartha124
  • ii. The Terms "Neyartha" and "Nitartha"126
  • iii. The Ratnagotravibhaga—Neyartha or Nitartha?127

• Section Two–Historical Background133

• Chapter 8: The Shentong Tradition135
• 8.1 The Jonangpas135
  • i. The Jonangpa Lineage135
  • ii. Some Opponents and Supporters of Shentong136
  • iii. The Mountain Dharma–Ocean of Nitartha (Ri chos nges don gya mtsho, RC)136
  • iv. Comparison With Later Shentongpas140
  • v. The Essence of the Controversy141
  • vi. Shentong is Secret Oral Instruction142
• 8.2 Sources of Shentong143
  • i. The Tibetan Inheritance143
  • ii. Some of Dolpopa's Indian Sources of Shentong147
  • iii. Other Views on the Indian Sources of Shentong149
  • iv. The Brhattika151
  • v. Nagarjuna's Stotra and Karikas154
  • vi. How Shentong Relates to Later Developments of Buddhism in India156
  • vii. The Term "Great Madhyamaka"157
  • viii. Tantric Shentong159
• 8.3 Kongtrul and the Rimay Tradition161
  • i. Kongtrul161
  • ii. The Rimay Tradition162

• Chapter 9: Traditions of Interpretation of the RGV and RGVV165
• 9.1 Introduction to the Ratnagotravibhaga and Ratnagotravibhagavyakhya and Associated Traditions.165
  • i. Authorship and Rediscovery165
  • ii. Maitreya166
  • iii. The Importance of the Maitreya-Asanga Connection167
  • iv. The RGV as a Synthesis of the Tathagatagarbha Sutras and the Prajnaparamita Sutras169
  • v. The Vyakhya (RGVV)171
  • vi. Transmission to Tibet171
• 9.2 Matters Arising from the Introduction to Kongtrul's Commentary on the RGV. 172
  • i. The Two Tibetan Transmission Lineages of the RGV172
  • ii. Questions Arising from Kongtrul's Commentary173
  • iii. Other Commentators Not Mentioned in the Initial Praises175
  • iv. Gampopa and the Sutra and Tantra Mahamudra176
  • v. Rangjung Dorje and the Mahamudra-Dzogchen Synthesis178

• Section Three–A Shentong Interpretation of the RGV and RGVV and a Translation of Kongtrul's Introduction to His RGV Commentary179

• 'Chapter 10: A Shentong Interpretation of the RGV and RGVV–A Paraphrase With Comments181
• 10.1 The Title and its Implications 181
• 10.2 General Introduction to the Seven Vajra Bases 182
• 10.3 Vajra Bases 1–3: The Three Jewels 186
• 10.4 Vajra Base 4: The Dhatu (Element)192
  • Causes and Conditions for Purification192
  • The Four Paradoxes193
  • The Three Reasons196
  • The Element Arranged in Ten Points198
  • The Nine Examples221
  • The Essence of the Doctrine229
  • The Purpose of the Instruction233
• 10.5 Vajra Base 5: Enlightenment235
• 10.6 Vajra Base 6: Qualities249
• 10.7 Vajra Base 7: Activity252
• 10.8 The Benefits260

• Chapter 11: Translation of the Introduction to Kongtrul's RGV Commentary263

• Chapter 12: Conclusion289

• Appendix 1: Works by Western Scholars295

• Appendix 2: Prakrtisunyata, Svabhavasunyata and Parabhavasunyata in Rangtong and Shentong Terms299

• Appendix 3: Further Details on the Three Svabhava and the Three Kinds of Emptiness as Found in the SNS303

• Appendix 4: The Sandhinirmocanasutra: Résumé 311

• Appendix 5: Some Points of Comparision Between Rangtong Commentators on RGV317

• Appendix 6: The Five Dharmas of Maitreya325

• Abbreviations327

• Notes329

• Conventions Used363

• Glossary of Terms364

• Bibliography367

• Index397

• Tables
• 8.1152
• 8.2153