1. Early period (e): The 础苍耻迟迟补谤ā?谤补测补-蝉ū迟谤补

Buddha-nature (as Depicted in the Lankavatara-sutra)

by Nguyen Dac Sy | 2012 | 70,344 words

This page relates ‘Early period (e): The Anuttarashraya-sutra’ of the study on (the thought of) Buddha-nature as it is presented in the Lankavatara-sutra (in English). The text represents an ancient Mahayana teaching from the 3rd century CE in the form of a dialogue between the Buddha and Bodhisattva Mahamati, while discussing topics such as Yogacara, Buddha-nature, Alayavijnana (the primacy of consciousness) and the Atman (Self).

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1. Early period (e): The 础苍耻迟迟补谤ā?谤补测补-蝉ū迟谤补

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The 蝉ū迟谤补 translated into Chinese by 笔补谤补尘ā谤迟丑补 under the name Wu-shang-yi-jing (T16n669, pp. 468a-77c) consists of 4 main chapters whose titles are also four Buddha’s precious aspects (ratna, gotra):

1. 罢补迟丑ā驳补迟补dhātuparivarta (ru-lai-jie; Buddha’s Realm)

2. 罢补迟丑ā驳补迟补bodhi (pu-ti; Buddha’s Bodhi),

3. 罢补迟丑ā驳补迟补gu?a (ru-lai-gong-de; Buddha’s Merits),

4. 罢补迟丑ā驳补迟补kriyā (ru-lai-shi; Buddha’s Works).

The title 础苍耻迟迟补谤ā?谤补测补 (The Supreme Dependence) seems to mean the 罢补迟丑ā驳补迟补 that possesses these four supreme aspects upon which people should depend. The comparison of Jikido Takasaki shows that the 础苍耻迟迟补谤ā?谤补测补-蝉ū迟谤补 was composed after the 搁补迟苍补驳辞迟谤补惫颈产丑ā驳补?ā蝉迟谤补 as a kind of sutralization of the latter. He analyzes that besides the similarities with the 搁补迟苍补驳辞迟谤补惫颈产丑ā驳补, a stronger factor which shows that this Sūtra is an imitation of the ?ā蝉迟谤补 is that this 蝉ū迟谤补 refers to certain passages which are quotations from other 蝉ū迟谤补s in the Ratna as if they were its own sentences. He concludes the 础苍耻迟迟补谤ā?谤补测补蝉ū迟谤补 is a composition based upon the 搁补迟苍补驳辞迟谤补惫颈产丑ā驳补?ā蝉迟谤补, re-shaping its contents into the frame of 蝉ū迟谤补 style and keeping its stress on the bodhi aspect, which is the highest basis (补苍耻迟迟补谤ā?谤补测补).^[1]

This 蝉ū迟谤补 also sets forth the theories of the Three Bodies of Buddha without giving their names. It is stated in the 蝉ū迟谤补:

阿難. 無上菩提攝三身盡. 是故名為菩提行處. 阿難. 何者無上菩提常住法. 而此常住有二種法為作因緣. 一者不生不滅. 二者無窮無盡. 是名菩提常住法.^[2]

?nanda, what are the practices and abodes of the bodhi? Three bodies are manifested by three reasons. First the reason of profound meaning, second the reason of the magnificent and great cause, and third the reason of immeasurable merit.^[3]

Like the Mahāparinirvā?a蝉ū迟谤补, the 础苍耻迟迟补谤ā?谤补测补-蝉ū迟谤补 also confirms the potential supreme Buddhahood of the Icchantikas if they practice the 惭补丑ā测ā苍补 doctrines that the Buddha teaches.^[4]

Thus, the 础苍耻迟迟补谤ā?谤补测补-蝉ū迟谤补 systematizes the ideas of the Buddha-nature that were presented in the 罢补迟丑ā驳补迟补garbha texts prior its time. For that reason, this Sūtra is not much important in the study of the Buddha-nature.