The Buddha Within

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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 ways 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 to 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 Hyingmapas.

The book is divided into twelve chapters. They are Ch. 1 General Introduction; Ch. 2 Introduction to the Rangton-Shentong Distinction ‘Ch. 3 Emptiness from the Shentong point of View; Ch. 4 The Shentong View of Absolute Reality; Ch. 5 Means of Apprehending Absolute Reality; Ch. 6 the Nature of Beings; Ch. 7 The Third Dharmacakra : Neyartha or Nitartha; Ch. 8 The Shentong Tradition; Ch. 9 Traditions of Interpretation of the RGV and RGVV; Ch. 10 A Shentong Interpretation of the RGV and RGVV - A Paraphrase with comments ; Ch. 11 Translation of the Introduction to Kongtrul’s RGV Commentary ; Ch. 12 Conclusion.

The Appendices are - Works by Western Scholars; Prakrtisunyata, Svabhavasunyata and Parabkavasunyata in Rangtong and Shengtong Terms; Further details on the Three Svabhava and the Three kinds of Emptiness as found in the SNS; The Sandhinirmocan-sutra; Resume; Some points of Comparison Between Rangtong Commentators on RGV; The five Dharmas of Maitreya., Glossary of Terms.

S.K. Hookham is at Oxford University.

Contents

Acknowledgements	xiii
Yogin Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso’s Spontaneous Verses on the Subject of Rangton and Shentong	xv
Chapter 1: General Introduction	1
The Omniscient Dolpopa’s Prayer that Unties the Vajra Word Knots	5
Section One - The Issues	9
Chapter 2: Introduction to the Rangtong-Shentong Distinction	11
2.1 The Origin and Significance of Buddhist Commentarial Traditions	11
2.2 The Rangtong/Shentong Distinction	13
2.3 The Meaning of Rangtong	14
2.4 The Meaning of Shentong	15
2.5 The Importance of the Rangtong-Shentong Distinction	16
Chapter 3: Emptiness from the Shentong Point of View	19
3.1 Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness	19
3.2 The Final Stage - Shentong (Yogacara Madhyamaka)	22
3.3 No Shentong Without a Proper Understanding of Rangtong	26
3.4 Problems of Definitions of Terms	29
Chapter 4: The Shentong View of Absolute Reality	33
4.1 Buddhajnana	33
4.2 Inseparable Qualities	37
i. Inseparable Qualities of the Dharmakaya	38
ii. The Concept of Uncompoundedness	44
iii. Inseparability and the Spontaneous Existence of the Buddha Qualities	47
4.3 Buddha Activity	51
Chapter 5: Means of Apprehending Absolute Reality	57
5.1 Faith	57
i. Faith and Buddhajnana	57
ii. Faith and Direct Experience	60
iii. Direct Experience as Valid Cognition	63
5.2 Non-conceptuality (nisprapanca)	65
i. Nisprapanca as Awareness Experienced in Meditation	65
ii. Nisprapanca as Freedom from Extremes	71
iii. Nisprapanca as Non-conceptuality in the RGV [1.9]
iv. Nisprapanca in the Tantras	77
5.3 The Two Realities and the Two Visions	79
i. Satya	79
ii. Paramarthasatya	79
iii. Samvrtisatya	81
iv. Ultimate Reality is not Dependent Arising	82
v. Own Nature and Other Nature (Svabhava and Parabhava)	82
vi. The Two Realities Inseparable	83
vii. The Two Senses of Manifestation and Emptiness	85
viii. The Importance of the Distinction	85
ix. The Relationship Between the Two Realities	87
x. The Two Visions-Precisely What Is and the Extent of What Is (Yathavadbhavikata and Yavadbhavikata)	87
Chapter 6: The Nature of Beings	91
6.1 Base, Path and Fruit	91
6.2 Tathagatagarbha	94
i. The Shentong and Rangtong Approaches Compared	94
ii. The Term “Tathagatagarbha”	99
6.3 Self	100
6.4 Gotra	104
i. The ‘Cut-off’ Gotra and the Three Yanas	105
ii. Gotra as both Cause and Emptiness	108
Chapter 7: The Third Dharmacakra: Neyartha or Nitartha	113
7.1 The Third Dharmacakra	113
i. The Three Dharmacakras	113
ii. The Third Dharmacakra as Nitartha	114
iii. Kongtrul’s Distinction between the Two Kind of Nitartha Sutra of the Third Dharmacakra	117
iv. Dolpopa’s Analysis	121
v. The Third Dharmacakra is Not Cittamatra	122
7.2 Neyartha and Nitartha	124
i. Rangtong Explanations of Neyartha and Nitartha	124
ii. The Terms “Neyartha” and “Nitartha”	126
iii. The Ratnagotravibhaga-Neyartha or Nitartha?	127
Section Two-Historical Background	133
Chapter 8: The Shentong Tradition	135
8.1 The Jonangpas	135
i. The Jonangpa Lineage	135
ii. Some Opponents and Supporters of Shentong	136
iii. The Mountain Dharma-Ocean of Nitartha (Richos nges don rgya mtsho, RC)	136
iv. Comparison with Later Shentongpas	140
v. The Essence of the Controversy	141
vi. Shentong is Secret Oral Instruction	142
8.2 Sources of Shentong	143
i. The Tibetan Inheritance	143
ii. Some of Dolpopa’s Indian Sources of Shentong	147
iii. Other Views on the Indian Sources of Shentong	149
iv. The Brhattika	151
v. Nagarjuna’s Stotra and Karikas	154
vi. How Shentong Relates to Later Developments of Buddhism in India	156
vii. The Term “Great Madhyamaka”	157
viii. Tantric Shentong	159
8.3 Kongtrul and the Rimay Tradition	161
i. Kongtrul	161
ii. The Rimay Tradition	162
Chapter 9: Traditions of Interpretation of the RGV and RGVV	165
9.1 Introduction to the Ratnagotravibhaga and Ratnagotravibhagavyakhya and Associated Traditions.	165
i. Authorship and Rediscovery	165
ii. Maitreya	166
iii. The Importance of the Maitreya-Asanga Connection	167
iv. The RGV as a Synthesis of the Tathagatagarbha Sutras and the Prajnaparamita Sutras	169
v. The Vyakhya (RGVV)	171
vi. Transmission to Tibet	171
9.2 Matters Arising from the Introduction to Kongtrul’s Commentary on the RGV.	172
i. The Two Tibetan Transmission Lineages of the RGV	172
ii. Questions Arising from Kongtrul’s Commentary	173
iii. Other Commentators Not Mentioned in the Initial Praises	175
iv. Gampopa and the Sutra and Tantra Mahamudra	176
v. Rangjung Dorje and the Mahamudra-Dzogchen Synthesis	178
Section Three-A Shentong Interpretation of the RGV and RGVV and a Translation of Kongtrul’s Introduction to His RGV Commentary	179
Chapter 10: A Shentong Interpretation of the RGV and RGVV-A Paraphrase With Comments	181
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 Purification	192
The Four Paradoxes	193
The Three Reasons	196
The Element Arranged in Ten Points	198
The Nine Examples	221
The Essence of the Doctrine	229
The Purpose of the Instruction	233
10.5 Vajra Base 5: Enlightenment	235
10.6 Vajra Base 6: Qualities	249
10.7 Vajra Base 7: Activity	252
10.8 The Benefits	260
Chapter 11: Translation of the Introduction to Kongtrul’s RGV Commentary	263
Chapter 12: Conclusion	289
Appendix 1: Works by Western Scholars	295
Appendix 2: Prakrtisunyata, Svabhavasunyata and Parabhavasunyata in Rangtong and Shentong Terms	299
Appendix 3: Further Details on the Three Svabhava and the Three Kinds of Emptiness as Found in the SNS	303
Appendix 4: The Sandhinirmocanasutra: Resume	311
Appendix 5: Some Points of Comparison Between Rangtong Commentators on RGV	317
Appendix 6: The Five Dharmas of Maitreya	325
Abbreviations	327
Notes	329
Conventions Used	363
Glossary of Terms	364
Bibliography	367
Index	379
Tables
8.1	152
8.2	153

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