;:l (/)
ADEPT PATH
1Truth-body
2 Enjoyment-body 3 Apparition-body
CONTEMPLATION PATH
[Gradual elimination of Obscurations; growth in the Perfections in Desire Realm; Insight through Eight Contemplative States in Form and Formless Realms.
ADEPT PATH
1Truth-body
2 Enjoyment-body 3 Apparition-body
CONTEMPLATION PATH
[Gradual elimination of Obscurations; growth in the Perfections in Desire Realm; Insight through Eight Contemplative States in Form and Formless Realms.
Richard-Sherburne-A-Lamp-for-the-Path-and-Commentary-of-Atisha
Unleashed is Corruption, destroying virtue, sporting at will today.
[3] And so this fair teaching of the Sage
Emits, as it were, its dying gasp; and knowing
It is the hour when impurities are in power, Those desiring liberation act with care. "43
Colophons
[BENEDICTION]
May the instruction on the Superior Person, set forth
More fully here, endure as long as the Buddha's teaching; And possessed of the compassionate Enlightenment Thought, May you practise it with zeal by day and by night.
(TRANSLA TOR'S COLOPHON]
This Commentary on "The Lamp for the Enlightenment Path" which ends here, was composed by Diparilkara- srijfiana qf the royal family of Bengal, a great and learned
monk of Sakya, who lives the Bodhisattva's life.
[1] There lives a Bodhisattva who is like a holy Tree:
Its seed of Conduct was sown in the soil of Faith;
Its sprout of Love dewed by the water of Concentration; Its root is Compassion; Enlightenment Thought itstrunk; Its boughs are the Perfections, leaves the Attractions;
TANTRA 181
? 182 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
It flowers with the Seven Riches,
Bears the fruit of the Six Mindfulnesses,
And is filled with the Ten Virtues' fragrance; Birds of distiples are its [friendly] flock.
[2] Dipamkarasrfpada is he, born of Bengal, Envoy of the Buddha's race in our present day, Born like a Sun in the midst of men,
In fame renowned, wise in true religion,
By his vows well bound, and a scholar of ability,
Worthy to be Guru to those of rank.
[3] Cherished like an only child by the Buddhas,
With a mind and high intention like gold and crescent moon, He is a teacher attuned to the thoughts and ways [339a]
Of those who stray from the explanation of Doctrine.
He would never think to avoid these persons
Who have no faith, as though they were poison;
But simply rejecting their bad ways, his own unharmed,
His friendly strength is instantly ready.
[4] Born in cultured country because of good karma, Born of royal family, a good rebirth;
Born of Mahayana Family, the good tradition;
Born a Buddha's Son by his good resolve.
[5] Such is this Guru Bodhisattva,
Diparilkarasnjfiana, the Compassionate One;
And th~ disciple who aspires [to be] his "Superior Person" Is this Sakya monk, Tshul-khrims rgyal-ba.
[6] And he says, having given his own careful
Service with reverence and faith, that [this text]
Is the essence of [Attsa's] solemn oath: "This is the
Heart of hearts of the Royal Union Tantra: Cakrasamvara; As well of the 84,000 collections of Doctrine;
Cultivate in the mind all your days and nights. "
[7] There has never been another Tibetan disciple Besides myself alone, Nag-tsho, to whom he granted So unstintingly of his personal instruction.
With faith and devotion, I will always pay homage To that Guru, with my body and speech and mind.
Translated and corrected by the $feat Indian scholar and Bodhisattva Guru, the Bengali Sri-dipainkarajiianapada, and the monk-translator, Tshul-khrims rgyal-ba.
[Sde-dge version ends here].
? (SECOND BENEDICTION)
In fame renowned, versed in the best religious tradition,
Like the Sun, labouring only for others' good;
Such is this holy and Venerable One
Who reformed Mnga'-ris' three regions in Holy Doctrine.
When Byang-chub-'od and Tshul-khrims rgyal-ba
With sincere mind and heart begged a Commentary [339b] On the Lamp for the Path, this is what he composed, With wisdom and love as the heart of the matter.
"Do not show it to all," he said; "class it as secret. "44
Since he wrote this for virtue's sake,
May I and all others understand the entire meaning Of this text exactly, and swiftly attain the rank
Of the Omniscient King, and may the measureless
Good of creatures be marvellously achieved!
2
3
4
5 6
Notes to Chapter 7
Ot. 4530, Vol. 81:115. 2. Tripi~akamala was quoted at the end of the pre- ceding chapter, concluding the explanation of the Perfection Vehicle; hence the statement "And again. ". The "one and only Goal" which both the Perfection Vehicle and the Mantra Vehicle have in common is the resulting Enlightenment. The Goal must be kept "unobscured" (ma-rmongs/ asaf! 1mllqha); that is, the Mantra Vehicle must be as carefully and correctly followed in its proper order and details as the Vehicle of the Perfections and its paths.
The Enlightenment Thought in its ultimate sense (as opposed to its relative sense) refers again to the cultivation of Emptiness. Madhyamika teaching on Emptiness is the basis ofMantrayana. See Chapter 6, note 13.
bskyed-pa'i rim-pa/utpatti? krama: Generation Stage. Two stages are referred to in the practice of the highest class ofTantra, the Supreme Union:
1) Generation Stage,
2) Completion Stage (rdzogs-pa'i rim-pa/saf! lpanna? krama).
The first refers to preparatory study, initiations, and practices in the lower classes ofTantra as well as ofSupreme Union Tantra itself; the second is the ultimate initiation and experience in Supreme Union. See A. Wayman, FBT, Chapter 9; and TBT, pp. 47-8.
gzungs/dhiirarJf: the actual syllables and sounds of a mantra, often with no meaning outside of their applied symbolism. The word mantra is more generic; dhiirarJfs are the specific mantras of particular deities and Vajrasattvas as found in their particular Tantras.
bzlas,-brjod/jiipa: muttering, or whispering.
Atisa mentions eight kinds of rites, but lists only the four more commonly known ones:
1) Appeasement (zhi-ba/siintikam);
2) Prosperity (rgyas-pa/pawftikam);
TANTRA 183
? 184 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY 3) Domination (dbang-dubyed-pa/vasf-kararJam);
7
4) Destruction (mngon-spyod =drag-shu/ spyod-pa/iibhiciirikam).
There are various listings of the Eight Great Powers (dngos-grub/siddhi) in both Brahmanic and Buddhist tantric practice. See Yogasutra, III:46ff. , for an example of the former. Wayman (FBT, p. 220, n. 13) has equivalated the Tibetan and Sanskrit terms for most of the powers in Atisa's list:
8 9
See Glossary for the Four Bases of Miraculous Powers.
A lisa's division ofT antras into seven classes differs from the division of four classes established by Bu-ston for the arrangement of the Tantra in Kanjur. Bu-ston's Rgyud-sde spyi'i rnam-par-bzhag rgyud-sde rin-po-che'i mdzes- rgyan [Ot. I, Vol. 1] is the opening treatise of the entire Tibetan canon, listing the Tantras in order, beginning with the highest, and their individual sub-groupings according to Tantric "Family" (rigs/kula) with its Progenitor
(gtso-bo/kulesa) and progeny (rigs-can). The four_ classes of Tantra of Bu- ston have been described by Wayman [TBT, p. 33] in this way:
10 11
As will be seen from Atisa's following quotation, still another division offive classes ofTantra exists. Judging from the titles which Atisa later presents for bibliography of his seven classes, it becomes apparent that his division is simply a more detailed listing and designation of the same groupings which Bu-ston has under only four classes. For example, Bu-ston's Supreme Union class contains two important divisions of Mother Tantras (stressi'ng Wisdom and Insight) and Father Tantras (stressing Means). Atisa's Supreme Union corresponds to Bu-ston's Mother Tantra; his Great Union, to the Father Tantra.
Ot. 84, Vol. 3:253. 3.
slob-dpon dbang-bskur/iiciirya-abhiSeka. The full title of this Initiation in the Union and Supreme Union Tantra class is "Vajra-Preceptor" (rdo-rje slob- dpon/vajra-iiciirya). In this section of the Commentary, I translate iiciirya with the English "Preceptor" to distinguish this office and Initiation from the connotations of Acarya seen in the Path of the Perfections and in the
I) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)
Good Flask (bum-pa bzang-po! gola-bhadra); Fleetness of Foot (rkang mgyogs/piidalepa); Sword (ral-gri! khaqga);
Commander (mngag-gzhug/pre~aka); Underworld (sa-'og/piitiila-siddhi); Invisibility (mi-snang-ba/antardhiina); Wishing-Tree (dpag-bsam gyi shing = Royalty (rgyal-srid/riijya).
1) 2) 3) 4)
Supreme Union (rnal-'byor b/a-na-med/anuttara): for those who delight in inner concentration completely;
Union (rnal-'byor/yoga): for those who delight predominantly in inner concentration over external ritual;
Practice (spyod/caryii): for those who delight equally in external ritual and inner concentration;
Action (bya-ba/kriyii): for those who delight mainly in external ritual over inner concentration.
Pratimok~a sense. See Chart II, and Wayman, FBT, pp. 311-17.
12 rjes-gnang/anujnii. ?
13 marJ4ala. A symbolic representation of a deity's realm of existence,
generally a geometric design showing all aspects of the universe. "Entering the mal)<;lala" is the meditational construction of this representation within
kalpa vrksa);
? 14
15 16
17 18
19
oneself, seeing and experiencing the Emptiness of the universe. Such meditation is both part of Sevenfold Worship (see Glossary) and of Tantric Initiation.
sgrub-thabs/siidhana: the formal yogic meditation procedure of exercise of evoking a deity within oneself or in front of oneself. Hundreds of such siidhanas are found in the Tantra section of the Tanjur; for example, Atlsa's own Tiirii-bha(! iirikii-siidhana [Ot. 4508] for his own patroness, whom he mentions here.
sbyin-sreg/homa: fire-offering.
gtor-ma/bali: food-offering.
The devotee must be assigned a deity and the mantra appropriate to its service; for example, Tara (the "Saviouress") and her mantra: Om ta-re tuttiire tu-re svii-hii.
See root stanza 32 and its commentary.
For the account of this Acarya and the king. see the sources from Taranatha
and 'Gos lo-tsa-va given by A. Chattopadhyaya. Atisa and Tibet, pp. 47ff. Substantially they are in agreement with Atfsa's statements here. Adi-buddha-mahii-tantra = Kiilacakra-tantra [Ot. 4, Vol. 1]. This Tantra is classified by Bu-ston as "Neither Father nor Mother" tantra of the Supreme Union class. and strangely is omitted from Ansa's bibliography in this chapter of the Commentary.
Stanza 64 states the two of the Initiations which are parts of the Preceptor- Initiation (see Chart II) are forbidden to religious celibates - the "Secret Initiation" (gsang-ba! guhya) and the "Insight Initiation" (shes-rab/prajiia). These two Initiations involve contemplative yogic practices with a female partner called the "Wisdom" (rig/vidya) or sometimes the "Seal" (phyag- rgya/mudrii); the basic symbolism being that of the union of Emptiness (female = mother) and Means (male = father), but, in the terminology of Tantra, the union of Emptiness and Bliss. The symbolism ofthe sexual union
is very complex and profound in Tantra, and the interpretation of Tant(ic practice allows for both the contemplation of the sexual embrace with the mudrii/vidyii mentally, and contemplation of it with an actual or "concrete" partner. (See Chart II, under "Seal". ) It is the latter type that is involved in the Secret and Insight Initiations of the Preceptor-Initiation, and which is forbidden to religious celibates by the Kalacakra itself, by the very nature of
the Pratimok~ vows and the chastity it implies. Because of the abuse of Tantra in Tibet at the time, and its literal and unguided practice, Ansa's view (as he validates from his teachers) is that the two Initiations are dangerous,
not to say forbidden, to laymen as well.
Because the language ofTantric literature is correctly known only to those
who have been initiated and carefully guided by a Guru, the Sde-gzhung Rin-po-che has kindly pointed out to me the passages in the Kiilacakra (Great Tantra ofPrimal Buddha) where the prohibitions mentioned by Atlsa are found. Both places occur in Chapter 5 (ye-shes/jiiiina) of the famous scripture [Ot. 4, Vol. 1), the first in indirect language which indicates that physical continence must be preserved [p. 166. 4ff], and the second [p.
168. 4f] where it states that those yogins who are observing the vows [of religious celibacy] must at all times avoid the practices involved in the yogic union with a woman in the Insight-Wisdom Initiations.
phyag-rgya chen-po/mahii-mudra: Great Seal. The pledge (dam-tshig/ samaya) of the Great Seal is part of the Preceptor-Initiation. See Chart II, and Wayman, FBT, pp. 225-39.
For Expulsion offences, se~ Chapter 3, note 4.
20
21
TANTRA 185
? 186 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
22 The quote is possibly from Jiliinaklrti's general commentary on Tantra classes and the Vehicles at the end of the Tanjur Tantra section: Tattva- avatiira-sakala-vacas-vyiikhya-pra-kar! Ja [Ot. 4532].
ya-ba-'di-pa. According to sources in A. Chattopadhyaya, op. cit. , p. 74, Pai! )<;lapatika = Avadhiitipa = Advayavajra = Maitripa. For a brief history of this early Tantric teacher of Atisa, see Blue Annals (Roerich), II, p. 732. Ot. 83, Vol. 3: 233. 3f.
23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
For identification of this author, see A. Warder, Indian Buddhism, pp. 485f. Ot. 893, Vol. 35:121. 5
Unidentified.
Ot. 760(43), Vol. 24:189. 3
Ot. 760(25) and Ot. 847. The same quotation occurs in SS: 102.
Ot. 3097, Vol. 68. What is given as an actual quotation from this short text by Pairy<;Japatika (= Maitripa) is Atisa's own synopsis of it, interpreting the meaning of his Guru.
Atisa's "Thirteen Mantras" are good examples. of the types of ritual suggested here: [Ot. 4856-68]
32 33
3. 4 35 36 37 38 39
40
41
Ot. 3097, Vol. 68. See note 30 above. The quotation is again Atisa's para- phrasing of his Guru's instruction.
{de nyid rig Ia nyes pa med/. The line is open to interpretation because of the word rig (= vidyii), which can also refer to the female partner of the Secret and Insight Initiations, as well as the meaning I have translated here, viz. "wisdom".
See Chart I and Glossary: Aids to Conviction. See Chart I and Glossary: Aids to Conviction. Sec Chart I.
See Chart I and Glossary: Aids to Conviction. See Chart I.
The importance of learning what is and what is not wrong in practice is stressed in all Paths and Vehicles, from the Hearer's knowledge of his Pratimoksa rules to the Bodhisattva's "Pratimoksa" for his Conduct, and now for the Mantrayana as well. See Wayman, FiT , pp. 328-9.
This is the same Supreme Union Tantra mentioned in the bibliography given earlier in the chapter. The Vajrasattva to whom it is dedicated is also the being to whom Atisa paid obeisance at the opening of the Commentary. The very concise statement means that it is a false understanding of the Perfection of Insight to think that mere analysis of entities (such as cause and effect) for their emptiness of intrinsic nature is complete on the level of relative or everyday knowledge. The Insight must penetrate to the level of Ultimate Truth as well, seeing the emptiness of Emptiness.
I) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13)
Mantriirtha-avatiira (sngags-kyi don 'jug-pa), Seka-upadesa (dbang-gi man-ngag), Samaya-gupti (dam-tshig sbas-pa), Saudha-diina (gzhal-yas-khang sbyin-pa), Peyot~epa-vidhi (chu-gtor-gyi cho-ga), Homa-vidhi (sbyin-sreg-gi cho-ga), ? Deva-pujii-krama (lha-mchod-pa'i rim-pa), Ayul]. -siidhana (tshe bsgrub-pa'i thabs),
Mrtyu-vancana ('chi-ba slu-ba), Mumursu-~'iistra ('chi-ka-ma'i bstan-bcos), Sma-homa (ro bsreg-pa), Sapta-parva-vidhi (bdun-tshigs-kyi cho-ga), Citii-vidhi (tsha-tsha'i cho-ga).
? 42 Ot. 775, Vol. 29:77. 1 and 84. 1.
43 Explanation ofthe ''TreasureofPhenomenology", Ot. 5591, Vol. 115:277. 4.
44 Ikun lama bstan bar gsang bar rigs so gsungs/. The meaning of "secret" here
must be taken in the sense that his text should be taught only to those who are fit and sincere.
TANTRA 187
? Appendices
? v
~ IV <(
(:l. .
w
z <(
Cl
z
;:l
::;;
<(
~
(:l. .
;:l (/)
ADEPT PATH
1Truth-body
2 Enjoyment-body 3 Apparition-body
CONTEMPLATION PATH
[Gradual elimination of Obscurations; growth in the Perfections in Desire Realm; Insight through Eight Contemplative States in Form and Formless Realms. ]
VISION PATH
[Patience and Knowledge of Four Truths in all Three Realms]
BUDDHA LEVEL ti [Time of] :::::>
(/)
( / )
~
<( (:l. .
w
z <(
Cl
z
;:l
::;;
I
4 Highest Mundane Dharmas 3 Patience
2Summits
1 W armth
EQUIPMENT PATH:
5 Insight
4 Concentration 3 Mindfulness 2Zeal
1 Faith
III
Chart I
The Five Paths
II . PRACTICE PATH:
DEVOUTNESS LEVEL
BEGINNER
BODHISATTYA LEVELS
10 Dharma Cloud 9TrueMind
8 Unshakeable 7 Far-Reaching 6 Face to Face
5 Invincible
4 Flaming
3Luminous ~ 2 Stainless
(:l. .
u. .
0
1Joyous u. l
LEVEL u. l
(/)
[Begetting the ;:l
Thought]
<(
u
(/) u. l ~
(/)
::;; . . . . . . E-<
? Chart II Initiations in the Four Tantras [Permission of the Guru and Entrance to Ma~<;Jala must precede. ]
ACTION
[1] Garland
[phreng]
[2] Water
[chu]
[3] Diadem
[cod-pan]
FIVE [2-6] WISDOM INITIA TIONS
[rig-pa'i dbang]
I
PRACTICE
UNION SUPREME UNION
[4] Vajra
[rdo-rje]
[5] Bell
[dril-bu]
[6] Name
[ming]
\. . . ----------- -----
[7] PRECEPTOR-INITIATION*
[s/ob-dpon dbang-bskur]
[AfterFiveWisdomInitiations]:
Three Pledges: (dam-tshig) 1Vajra
2 Bell
3 Seal
. I\
Mental Concrete Insight Insight
[a] FLASK
[bum-pa]
[b] SECRET*
[gsang-ba]
[c] INSIGHT*
[shes-rab]
[d] SYLLABLE [~higs]
* Referred to in Stanzas 62-66.
? Glossary
Acarya (slob-dpon). Sanskrit title forformal teachers and great authors. Affiictions (nyon-mongs/klesa). That aspect of human activity which induces and produces karmic consequences. One of the two sources of obscuration (q. v. ) or obstacles to Enlightenment. Often taken as three fetters or poisons: attraction, revulsion, and illusion. Also listed as ten: 1) desire, 2) aversion, 3) pride, 4) ignorance, 5) doubt, 6) view that holds a real person, 7) view that holds extremes, 8) false views, 9) holding one's own views as best, 10) holding one's own conduct and
vowed life as best.
Aggregates (phung-bo/skandha). The five groups of phenomena that
make up the apparent "self': I) body or form, 2) feelings, 3)
perceptions, 4) habits, 5) consciousness. ? Aids to Conviction (nges-par byed-pa'i cha dang mthun-pa/nirvedha- . bhagiya). The four basic virtuous achievements of the Practice Path (see Chart I), each in its degrees of weak-medium-strong: 1) Warmth: so called from the great fire that has been kindled to burn up the afflictions. 2) Summits: so called because it is a higher achievement than just the basic virtues, and from it one ascends to higher states. 3) Patience: devout perseverance in virtue as one approaches the Vision
Path. 4) Highest Mundane Phenomena: so called because one experiences all phenomena of the world as essentially full of suffering, and on that account is ready for the Path of Vision and seeing the Four Truths in their entirety.
Aids to Liberation (thar-pa'i cha dang mthun-pa/mok~a-bhagiya). The five basic virtues of the Equipment Path (see Chart I), necessary for the beginning of progress toward Enlightenment: 1) Faith, 2) Zeal, 3) Mindfulness, 4) Concentration, 5) Insight.
Apparition Body (sprul-sku/nirma~a-kaya). One of the Three Bodies of Buddha (q. v. ). A miraculously created body which appears in the lower realms, like that of Gautama in the sixth century sc, and for Tibetans, like the Dalai Lama and other incarnate lamas who are reincarnations of Buddhas.
Arhat (dgra-bcom-pa). One who has attained the highest level and goal of the Hinayana system, after passing through four stages of perfection: stream-entering, once-returning, never-returning, and arhatship. The Arhat has achieved nirva~a. but not Buddhahood, because he does not return out of compassion to teach others as the Mahayana bodhisattva does.
Asailga (thogs-med). Third-century AD saint and author, reputed founder of the Mind-Only (cittamatra) school of Mahayana, inspired by Maitreya. ? Composer of the Levels ofYoga Practice, and numerous other important works which Atisa follows in his teaching on Calmness and the superknowledges.
? Bodhibhadra (byang-chug bzang-po). One of Atisa's early teachers at Nalanda university, whose Chapter on Concentration Equipment is used extensively in the Commentary.
B~hisattva (byang-chub sems-dpa'). An "Enlightenment-being", used m the sense both of anyone pursuing the Mahayana paths to Enlightenment and of one who has already achieved Buddhahood but continues to return to teach others, referring as well to the eternal Buddhas who have always been so.
Broad Practice (rgya-chen spyod/vistirna-carya). The common way of referring to the practice of the Perfections, motivated by compassion for others in the pursuit of one's own Enlightenment.
Buddha-field (sangs-rgyas kyi khams/buddha-k~tra). Realm ofexistence of a Buddha.
Byang-chub-'od (Bodhi-prabha). Royal prince of Mnga'-ris and ordained monk who invited Atisa to Tibet and became his disciple. Cakrasarilvara ('khor-lo sdom-pa/bde-mchog). Narne of an Enlightened
Being around whom a group of Tantric texts and practices centre. Known as the Triple-Pledge King because of the special Tantric vows taken with initiation in his mandala.
Calmness (zhi-gnas/samatha). Goal of yogic practice, always paired with Higher Vision, connoting perfect attainment of concentration.
Celibate. See Pure Life.
Cormilunity (dge-'dun/sangha). Originally denoting the monastic com-
munities; later embracing all who accept the Buddhist doctrine. Concentration (ting-nge-'dzin/samadhi). The culmination of the steps of yogic exercises in achieving single-pointed focus of awareness beyond
the senses and mental activity.
Conceptual Thought (rnam-rtog/vikalpa). The ideation process of the
mind, the forming of concepts and discursive thinking.
Conduct (tshul-khrims/sila). Second of the Ten Perfections, involving the observance of vows, growth in virtuous actions, and seeking the
good of others.
Conscious Stream (rgyud/sariltana). Buddhist term for describing the
individual so-called person, which ultimately is constituted in a flowing series of phenomena (chos/dharma), and what in other systems would be called the soul or self (bdag/atman).
Dependent Origination (rten-cing-'brel-bar 'byung-ba/pratitya- samutpada). The Buddha's twelvefold "chain of causality" explaining the factors involved in continued rebirth in sathsara, called "Dependent Origination" rather than "Causal Chain" because there
can be no real or true cause-effect relation in a world in which there are no real substances (the doctrine of Non-Self). Hence, the twelve links of the chain are merely conditions under which the following link arises in dependence on the former endlessly. Only the cessation of the links of the ignorance-condition and thirst-condition can break the chain and make liberation possible. The twelve conditions or links are: 1) ignorance, 2) impressions, 3) consciousness, 4) name-and-form, 5) the six sense-organs, 6) contact of senses with objects, 7) feeling,
GLOSSARY 193
? 194 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
8) thirst or desire, 9) grasping, 10) becoming, 11) birth, and 12) old age and death.
In the tradition of the Middle Way school, Dependent Origination is used to show the relativity of all phenomena, and hence the proof of the emptiness of inherent existence in all things.
Destinies ('gro-ba/gati). The six principal rebirths possible in sarhsara, depending on one's karma. Three good destinies: human, gods. ? demi- gods; three bad destinies: animals, hell-beings, hungry ghosts.
Discipline ('dul-ba/vinaya). One of the Three Baskets of Buddhist scripture, containing the narratives of how the Buddha established the monastidife and rules.
Discipline-Master ('dul-ba 'dzin-pa/vinaya-dhara). Scholar-monk who specialises in the study and interpretation of the monastic rule; also famous authors of commentaries on the Discipline.
Doctrine (chos/dhanna). Second of the Three Jewels; the Buddhist teaching in general.
Eightfold Path ('phags-pa'i lam yan-lag brgyad). Fourth of the Four Truths, the way to bring about the cessation of the origin of suffering: 1) Right view, 2) Right thought, 3} Right speech, 4) Right conduct,
5) Right livelihood, 6) Right effort, 7) Right mindfulness, and 8) Right
concentration.
Eight Great Powers (dngos-grub/siddhi). Magical and preternatural
capabilities developed through Tantric yoga practice, to be used only
for the good of others. See Commentary, Chapter 7.
Eight Unfavourable Conditions (mi-khom-pa brgyad/a~av-ak~na). Aspects of sarhsara that render the pursuit of liberation especially
difficult: rebirth 1} in a hell, 2) as an animal, 3} as a hungry ghost, 4) as one of the long-lived gods, or 5) in a barbarian country, and 6) having impaired faculties, or 7) false views, or 8) living when no Tathagata appears.
Elements (kham/dhatu). The eighteen phenomena which compose the stream of consciousness (q. v. ); that is, each of the six sense-bases (organ + object) with its activating consciousness (rnam-shes/vijiiana).
Emptiness (stong-pa-nyid/siinyata). The absolute nature of all existence, void of own-nature in respect to both person and phenomena in the Mahayana system.
Enjoyment Body (Iongs-spyod sku/sarhbhoga-kaya). The body of Buddha as it exists in the Buddha paradises (fields) and upper realms, teaching the Doctrine to bodhisattvas who are at that stage. This body is fully adorned with the unique physical characteristics of a Buddha.
Enlightenment Thought (byang-chub-sems/bodhicitta). The basic attitude and motivation of attaining Buddhahood for the sake of all living beings; contains two stages: resolution (q. v. ) and actual progress (q. v. ) in compassion and insight.
Equipment. See Two Equipments.
Equipoise (mnyam-par bzhag-pa/samahita). The culmination of yogic
concentration, steadiness in holding the composure of Calmness when the lower levels of distraction have been eliminated.
? Essential Reality (chos-nyid/dh~rmata). The true nature of a thing as it is in itself, not as perceived or apprehended.
Five Aggregates. See Aggregates.
Five Bovine Articles (ba'i mam lnga/panca-gavya). Products of the cow,
commonly used in India as housing material: dung, urine, spittle, mucus, milk.
Five Branches of Knowledge (rig-pa'i gnas lnga/panca-vidya-stha-nani). Five classical sciences of: grammar, logic, the Self, healing, and crafts.
Five Dominants (dbang-po/indriyat;~i). Same virtues as the Aids to Liberation (q. v. ).
Five Eyes (mig/cak~u). The fleshly eye, the religious eye, the insight eye, the divine eye, the Buddha eye.
Five Paths (lam/marga). The five major stages of growth through which one must pass to reach either nirvaQa or Buddhahood: 1) Equipment Path, 2) Practice Path, 3) Vision Path, 4) Contemplation Path, and 5)
Adept Path. These stages will occur whether one is of the Hearer's or Solitary Buddha's Vehicle seeking the goal of Arhatship in nirvaQa, or of. the Mahayana Bodhisattva's Vehicle seeking Buddhahood for the sake of others. The first two Paths are considered Mundane in that the virtues being practised do not yet entail direct personal experience of the Four Truths. The remaining three Paths are called Supramundane because the seeker's experience is now a personal awareness and growth in the insights and wisdom which constitute the Enlightenment above and beyond even the ordinary good person's practice of virtue.
See Chart I.
Five Powers (stobs/balani). Same as Aids to Libera. tion (q. v. ).
Five Precepts (bslab-pa'i gzhi/sik~pada). Five rules of the Lay Devotee
(q. v. ).
Five Wisdoms (ye-shes/jnanani). 1) Wisdom about the purified nature of
the Ultimate Element, 2) Mirror-like Wisdom, 3) Wisdom of Equanimity, 4) Investigative Wisdom, 5) Wisdom about what needs to be done.
Four Applications of Mindfulness (dran-pa nye-bar bzhag-pa/smrti- upasthanani). Directing one's awareness to: 1) body, 2) feelings, 3) thoughts, 4) phenomena.
Four Bases of Miraculous Powers {rdzu-'phrul gyi rkang-pa/rddhi- padal)). Elements necessary for an adept to work wonders for others: 1) desire to do so, 2) diligence in practice, 3) thought, 4) examination.
Four Basic Sins (pham-par byung-ba/parajika). The four most serious offences against the monastic rule; the transgressions comprising the Expulsion class in the Pratimok~a (q. v. ): 1) sexual intercourse, 2) theft, 3) homicide, 4) lying to praise self.
Four Infinitudes (tshad-med/apramiil). a). 1) love, 2) compassion, 3) gladness about others' happiness, 4) equanimity.
Four Means of Attraction (bsdu-pa'i dngos-po/sal! lgraha-vastiini). Four ways of making the Doctrine appealing to others: 1) showing generosity, 2). speaking in a kind and loving manner, 3) working for the benefit of others, 4) practising what one preaches.
GLOSSARY 195
? 196 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
Four Modes of Life (tshul/karaka-dharma. l). ). Four exhortations made in the monk's ordination ceremony: 1) not to revile if reviled, 2) not to be angry when provoked, 3) not cursing when cursed, 4) not striking back if struck.
Four Resources (rten bzhi). Promises made in the ordination ceremony of novices and monks: 1) to live under trees, 2) to live by alms, 3) to live in rags, 4) to use simple medicines.
Four Right Efforts (yang-dag-par spong-ba/saiilyak-prahaQani). 1) to prevent evil which has not yet occurred, 2) to forsake evil which already exists, 3) to bring about good which does not yet exist, 4) to develop goodness which already exists.
Four Truths {bden-pa/satya). 1) All existence is suffering, 2) and this suffering has its origin in self-grasping, 3) and that origination of suffering can be stopped, 4) by means ofthe Eightfold Path (q. v. ).
Good Flask (bum-pa bzang-po/gola-bhadra). One of the Eight Great Powers (q. v. ).
Guru (bla-ma). Spiritual teacher.
Hearer (nyan-thos/sravaka). Follower of the Theravadin teaching; one
who is seeking his own liberation and striving to become an arhat
(q. v. ).
Emits, as it were, its dying gasp; and knowing
It is the hour when impurities are in power, Those desiring liberation act with care. "43
Colophons
[BENEDICTION]
May the instruction on the Superior Person, set forth
More fully here, endure as long as the Buddha's teaching; And possessed of the compassionate Enlightenment Thought, May you practise it with zeal by day and by night.
(TRANSLA TOR'S COLOPHON]
This Commentary on "The Lamp for the Enlightenment Path" which ends here, was composed by Diparilkara- srijfiana qf the royal family of Bengal, a great and learned
monk of Sakya, who lives the Bodhisattva's life.
[1] There lives a Bodhisattva who is like a holy Tree:
Its seed of Conduct was sown in the soil of Faith;
Its sprout of Love dewed by the water of Concentration; Its root is Compassion; Enlightenment Thought itstrunk; Its boughs are the Perfections, leaves the Attractions;
TANTRA 181
? 182 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
It flowers with the Seven Riches,
Bears the fruit of the Six Mindfulnesses,
And is filled with the Ten Virtues' fragrance; Birds of distiples are its [friendly] flock.
[2] Dipamkarasrfpada is he, born of Bengal, Envoy of the Buddha's race in our present day, Born like a Sun in the midst of men,
In fame renowned, wise in true religion,
By his vows well bound, and a scholar of ability,
Worthy to be Guru to those of rank.
[3] Cherished like an only child by the Buddhas,
With a mind and high intention like gold and crescent moon, He is a teacher attuned to the thoughts and ways [339a]
Of those who stray from the explanation of Doctrine.
He would never think to avoid these persons
Who have no faith, as though they were poison;
But simply rejecting their bad ways, his own unharmed,
His friendly strength is instantly ready.
[4] Born in cultured country because of good karma, Born of royal family, a good rebirth;
Born of Mahayana Family, the good tradition;
Born a Buddha's Son by his good resolve.
[5] Such is this Guru Bodhisattva,
Diparilkarasnjfiana, the Compassionate One;
And th~ disciple who aspires [to be] his "Superior Person" Is this Sakya monk, Tshul-khrims rgyal-ba.
[6] And he says, having given his own careful
Service with reverence and faith, that [this text]
Is the essence of [Attsa's] solemn oath: "This is the
Heart of hearts of the Royal Union Tantra: Cakrasamvara; As well of the 84,000 collections of Doctrine;
Cultivate in the mind all your days and nights. "
[7] There has never been another Tibetan disciple Besides myself alone, Nag-tsho, to whom he granted So unstintingly of his personal instruction.
With faith and devotion, I will always pay homage To that Guru, with my body and speech and mind.
Translated and corrected by the $feat Indian scholar and Bodhisattva Guru, the Bengali Sri-dipainkarajiianapada, and the monk-translator, Tshul-khrims rgyal-ba.
[Sde-dge version ends here].
? (SECOND BENEDICTION)
In fame renowned, versed in the best religious tradition,
Like the Sun, labouring only for others' good;
Such is this holy and Venerable One
Who reformed Mnga'-ris' three regions in Holy Doctrine.
When Byang-chub-'od and Tshul-khrims rgyal-ba
With sincere mind and heart begged a Commentary [339b] On the Lamp for the Path, this is what he composed, With wisdom and love as the heart of the matter.
"Do not show it to all," he said; "class it as secret. "44
Since he wrote this for virtue's sake,
May I and all others understand the entire meaning Of this text exactly, and swiftly attain the rank
Of the Omniscient King, and may the measureless
Good of creatures be marvellously achieved!
2
3
4
5 6
Notes to Chapter 7
Ot. 4530, Vol. 81:115. 2. Tripi~akamala was quoted at the end of the pre- ceding chapter, concluding the explanation of the Perfection Vehicle; hence the statement "And again. ". The "one and only Goal" which both the Perfection Vehicle and the Mantra Vehicle have in common is the resulting Enlightenment. The Goal must be kept "unobscured" (ma-rmongs/ asaf! 1mllqha); that is, the Mantra Vehicle must be as carefully and correctly followed in its proper order and details as the Vehicle of the Perfections and its paths.
The Enlightenment Thought in its ultimate sense (as opposed to its relative sense) refers again to the cultivation of Emptiness. Madhyamika teaching on Emptiness is the basis ofMantrayana. See Chapter 6, note 13.
bskyed-pa'i rim-pa/utpatti? krama: Generation Stage. Two stages are referred to in the practice of the highest class ofTantra, the Supreme Union:
1) Generation Stage,
2) Completion Stage (rdzogs-pa'i rim-pa/saf! lpanna? krama).
The first refers to preparatory study, initiations, and practices in the lower classes ofTantra as well as ofSupreme Union Tantra itself; the second is the ultimate initiation and experience in Supreme Union. See A. Wayman, FBT, Chapter 9; and TBT, pp. 47-8.
gzungs/dhiirarJf: the actual syllables and sounds of a mantra, often with no meaning outside of their applied symbolism. The word mantra is more generic; dhiirarJfs are the specific mantras of particular deities and Vajrasattvas as found in their particular Tantras.
bzlas,-brjod/jiipa: muttering, or whispering.
Atisa mentions eight kinds of rites, but lists only the four more commonly known ones:
1) Appeasement (zhi-ba/siintikam);
2) Prosperity (rgyas-pa/pawftikam);
TANTRA 183
? 184 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY 3) Domination (dbang-dubyed-pa/vasf-kararJam);
7
4) Destruction (mngon-spyod =drag-shu/ spyod-pa/iibhiciirikam).
There are various listings of the Eight Great Powers (dngos-grub/siddhi) in both Brahmanic and Buddhist tantric practice. See Yogasutra, III:46ff. , for an example of the former. Wayman (FBT, p. 220, n. 13) has equivalated the Tibetan and Sanskrit terms for most of the powers in Atisa's list:
8 9
See Glossary for the Four Bases of Miraculous Powers.
A lisa's division ofT antras into seven classes differs from the division of four classes established by Bu-ston for the arrangement of the Tantra in Kanjur. Bu-ston's Rgyud-sde spyi'i rnam-par-bzhag rgyud-sde rin-po-che'i mdzes- rgyan [Ot. I, Vol. 1] is the opening treatise of the entire Tibetan canon, listing the Tantras in order, beginning with the highest, and their individual sub-groupings according to Tantric "Family" (rigs/kula) with its Progenitor
(gtso-bo/kulesa) and progeny (rigs-can). The four_ classes of Tantra of Bu- ston have been described by Wayman [TBT, p. 33] in this way:
10 11
As will be seen from Atisa's following quotation, still another division offive classes ofTantra exists. Judging from the titles which Atisa later presents for bibliography of his seven classes, it becomes apparent that his division is simply a more detailed listing and designation of the same groupings which Bu-ston has under only four classes. For example, Bu-ston's Supreme Union class contains two important divisions of Mother Tantras (stressi'ng Wisdom and Insight) and Father Tantras (stressing Means). Atisa's Supreme Union corresponds to Bu-ston's Mother Tantra; his Great Union, to the Father Tantra.
Ot. 84, Vol. 3:253. 3.
slob-dpon dbang-bskur/iiciirya-abhiSeka. The full title of this Initiation in the Union and Supreme Union Tantra class is "Vajra-Preceptor" (rdo-rje slob- dpon/vajra-iiciirya). In this section of the Commentary, I translate iiciirya with the English "Preceptor" to distinguish this office and Initiation from the connotations of Acarya seen in the Path of the Perfections and in the
I) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8)
Good Flask (bum-pa bzang-po! gola-bhadra); Fleetness of Foot (rkang mgyogs/piidalepa); Sword (ral-gri! khaqga);
Commander (mngag-gzhug/pre~aka); Underworld (sa-'og/piitiila-siddhi); Invisibility (mi-snang-ba/antardhiina); Wishing-Tree (dpag-bsam gyi shing = Royalty (rgyal-srid/riijya).
1) 2) 3) 4)
Supreme Union (rnal-'byor b/a-na-med/anuttara): for those who delight in inner concentration completely;
Union (rnal-'byor/yoga): for those who delight predominantly in inner concentration over external ritual;
Practice (spyod/caryii): for those who delight equally in external ritual and inner concentration;
Action (bya-ba/kriyii): for those who delight mainly in external ritual over inner concentration.
Pratimok~a sense. See Chart II, and Wayman, FBT, pp. 311-17.
12 rjes-gnang/anujnii. ?
13 marJ4ala. A symbolic representation of a deity's realm of existence,
generally a geometric design showing all aspects of the universe. "Entering the mal)<;lala" is the meditational construction of this representation within
kalpa vrksa);
? 14
15 16
17 18
19
oneself, seeing and experiencing the Emptiness of the universe. Such meditation is both part of Sevenfold Worship (see Glossary) and of Tantric Initiation.
sgrub-thabs/siidhana: the formal yogic meditation procedure of exercise of evoking a deity within oneself or in front of oneself. Hundreds of such siidhanas are found in the Tantra section of the Tanjur; for example, Atlsa's own Tiirii-bha(! iirikii-siidhana [Ot. 4508] for his own patroness, whom he mentions here.
sbyin-sreg/homa: fire-offering.
gtor-ma/bali: food-offering.
The devotee must be assigned a deity and the mantra appropriate to its service; for example, Tara (the "Saviouress") and her mantra: Om ta-re tuttiire tu-re svii-hii.
See root stanza 32 and its commentary.
For the account of this Acarya and the king. see the sources from Taranatha
and 'Gos lo-tsa-va given by A. Chattopadhyaya. Atisa and Tibet, pp. 47ff. Substantially they are in agreement with Atfsa's statements here. Adi-buddha-mahii-tantra = Kiilacakra-tantra [Ot. 4, Vol. 1]. This Tantra is classified by Bu-ston as "Neither Father nor Mother" tantra of the Supreme Union class. and strangely is omitted from Ansa's bibliography in this chapter of the Commentary.
Stanza 64 states the two of the Initiations which are parts of the Preceptor- Initiation (see Chart II) are forbidden to religious celibates - the "Secret Initiation" (gsang-ba! guhya) and the "Insight Initiation" (shes-rab/prajiia). These two Initiations involve contemplative yogic practices with a female partner called the "Wisdom" (rig/vidya) or sometimes the "Seal" (phyag- rgya/mudrii); the basic symbolism being that of the union of Emptiness (female = mother) and Means (male = father), but, in the terminology of Tantra, the union of Emptiness and Bliss. The symbolism ofthe sexual union
is very complex and profound in Tantra, and the interpretation of Tant(ic practice allows for both the contemplation of the sexual embrace with the mudrii/vidyii mentally, and contemplation of it with an actual or "concrete" partner. (See Chart II, under "Seal". ) It is the latter type that is involved in the Secret and Insight Initiations of the Preceptor-Initiation, and which is forbidden to religious celibates by the Kalacakra itself, by the very nature of
the Pratimok~ vows and the chastity it implies. Because of the abuse of Tantra in Tibet at the time, and its literal and unguided practice, Ansa's view (as he validates from his teachers) is that the two Initiations are dangerous,
not to say forbidden, to laymen as well.
Because the language ofTantric literature is correctly known only to those
who have been initiated and carefully guided by a Guru, the Sde-gzhung Rin-po-che has kindly pointed out to me the passages in the Kiilacakra (Great Tantra ofPrimal Buddha) where the prohibitions mentioned by Atlsa are found. Both places occur in Chapter 5 (ye-shes/jiiiina) of the famous scripture [Ot. 4, Vol. 1), the first in indirect language which indicates that physical continence must be preserved [p. 166. 4ff], and the second [p.
168. 4f] where it states that those yogins who are observing the vows [of religious celibacy] must at all times avoid the practices involved in the yogic union with a woman in the Insight-Wisdom Initiations.
phyag-rgya chen-po/mahii-mudra: Great Seal. The pledge (dam-tshig/ samaya) of the Great Seal is part of the Preceptor-Initiation. See Chart II, and Wayman, FBT, pp. 225-39.
For Expulsion offences, se~ Chapter 3, note 4.
20
21
TANTRA 185
? 186 A LAMP FOR THE PATH AND COMMENTARY
22 The quote is possibly from Jiliinaklrti's general commentary on Tantra classes and the Vehicles at the end of the Tanjur Tantra section: Tattva- avatiira-sakala-vacas-vyiikhya-pra-kar! Ja [Ot. 4532].
ya-ba-'di-pa. According to sources in A. Chattopadhyaya, op. cit. , p. 74, Pai! )<;lapatika = Avadhiitipa = Advayavajra = Maitripa. For a brief history of this early Tantric teacher of Atisa, see Blue Annals (Roerich), II, p. 732. Ot. 83, Vol. 3: 233. 3f.
23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
31
For identification of this author, see A. Warder, Indian Buddhism, pp. 485f. Ot. 893, Vol. 35:121. 5
Unidentified.
Ot. 760(43), Vol. 24:189. 3
Ot. 760(25) and Ot. 847. The same quotation occurs in SS: 102.
Ot. 3097, Vol. 68. What is given as an actual quotation from this short text by Pairy<;Japatika (= Maitripa) is Atisa's own synopsis of it, interpreting the meaning of his Guru.
Atisa's "Thirteen Mantras" are good examples. of the types of ritual suggested here: [Ot. 4856-68]
32 33
3. 4 35 36 37 38 39
40
41
Ot. 3097, Vol. 68. See note 30 above. The quotation is again Atisa's para- phrasing of his Guru's instruction.
{de nyid rig Ia nyes pa med/. The line is open to interpretation because of the word rig (= vidyii), which can also refer to the female partner of the Secret and Insight Initiations, as well as the meaning I have translated here, viz. "wisdom".
See Chart I and Glossary: Aids to Conviction. See Chart I and Glossary: Aids to Conviction. Sec Chart I.
See Chart I and Glossary: Aids to Conviction. See Chart I.
The importance of learning what is and what is not wrong in practice is stressed in all Paths and Vehicles, from the Hearer's knowledge of his Pratimoksa rules to the Bodhisattva's "Pratimoksa" for his Conduct, and now for the Mantrayana as well. See Wayman, FiT , pp. 328-9.
This is the same Supreme Union Tantra mentioned in the bibliography given earlier in the chapter. The Vajrasattva to whom it is dedicated is also the being to whom Atisa paid obeisance at the opening of the Commentary. The very concise statement means that it is a false understanding of the Perfection of Insight to think that mere analysis of entities (such as cause and effect) for their emptiness of intrinsic nature is complete on the level of relative or everyday knowledge. The Insight must penetrate to the level of Ultimate Truth as well, seeing the emptiness of Emptiness.
I) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6) 7) 8) 9) 10) 11) 12) 13)
Mantriirtha-avatiira (sngags-kyi don 'jug-pa), Seka-upadesa (dbang-gi man-ngag), Samaya-gupti (dam-tshig sbas-pa), Saudha-diina (gzhal-yas-khang sbyin-pa), Peyot~epa-vidhi (chu-gtor-gyi cho-ga), Homa-vidhi (sbyin-sreg-gi cho-ga), ? Deva-pujii-krama (lha-mchod-pa'i rim-pa), Ayul]. -siidhana (tshe bsgrub-pa'i thabs),
Mrtyu-vancana ('chi-ba slu-ba), Mumursu-~'iistra ('chi-ka-ma'i bstan-bcos), Sma-homa (ro bsreg-pa), Sapta-parva-vidhi (bdun-tshigs-kyi cho-ga), Citii-vidhi (tsha-tsha'i cho-ga).
? 42 Ot. 775, Vol. 29:77. 1 and 84. 1.
43 Explanation ofthe ''TreasureofPhenomenology", Ot. 5591, Vol. 115:277. 4.
44 Ikun lama bstan bar gsang bar rigs so gsungs/. The meaning of "secret" here
must be taken in the sense that his text should be taught only to those who are fit and sincere.
TANTRA 187
? Appendices
? v
~ IV <(
(:l. .
w
z <(
Cl
z
;:l
::;;
<(
~
(:l. .
;:l (/)
ADEPT PATH
1Truth-body
2 Enjoyment-body 3 Apparition-body
CONTEMPLATION PATH
[Gradual elimination of Obscurations; growth in the Perfections in Desire Realm; Insight through Eight Contemplative States in Form and Formless Realms. ]
VISION PATH
[Patience and Knowledge of Four Truths in all Three Realms]
BUDDHA LEVEL ti [Time of] :::::>
(/)
( / )
~
<( (:l. .
w
z <(
Cl
z
;:l
::;;
I
4 Highest Mundane Dharmas 3 Patience
2Summits
1 W armth
EQUIPMENT PATH:
5 Insight
4 Concentration 3 Mindfulness 2Zeal
1 Faith
III
Chart I
The Five Paths
II . PRACTICE PATH:
DEVOUTNESS LEVEL
BEGINNER
BODHISATTYA LEVELS
10 Dharma Cloud 9TrueMind
8 Unshakeable 7 Far-Reaching 6 Face to Face
5 Invincible
4 Flaming
3Luminous ~ 2 Stainless
(:l. .
u. .
0
1Joyous u. l
LEVEL u. l
(/)
[Begetting the ;:l
Thought]
<(
u
(/) u. l ~
(/)
::;; . . . . . . E-<
? Chart II Initiations in the Four Tantras [Permission of the Guru and Entrance to Ma~<;Jala must precede. ]
ACTION
[1] Garland
[phreng]
[2] Water
[chu]
[3] Diadem
[cod-pan]
FIVE [2-6] WISDOM INITIA TIONS
[rig-pa'i dbang]
I
PRACTICE
UNION SUPREME UNION
[4] Vajra
[rdo-rje]
[5] Bell
[dril-bu]
[6] Name
[ming]
\. . . ----------- -----
[7] PRECEPTOR-INITIATION*
[s/ob-dpon dbang-bskur]
[AfterFiveWisdomInitiations]:
Three Pledges: (dam-tshig) 1Vajra
2 Bell
3 Seal
. I\
Mental Concrete Insight Insight
[a] FLASK
[bum-pa]
[b] SECRET*
[gsang-ba]
[c] INSIGHT*
[shes-rab]
[d] SYLLABLE [~higs]
* Referred to in Stanzas 62-66.
? Glossary
Acarya (slob-dpon). Sanskrit title forformal teachers and great authors. Affiictions (nyon-mongs/klesa). That aspect of human activity which induces and produces karmic consequences. One of the two sources of obscuration (q. v. ) or obstacles to Enlightenment. Often taken as three fetters or poisons: attraction, revulsion, and illusion. Also listed as ten: 1) desire, 2) aversion, 3) pride, 4) ignorance, 5) doubt, 6) view that holds a real person, 7) view that holds extremes, 8) false views, 9) holding one's own views as best, 10) holding one's own conduct and
vowed life as best.
Aggregates (phung-bo/skandha). The five groups of phenomena that
make up the apparent "self': I) body or form, 2) feelings, 3)
perceptions, 4) habits, 5) consciousness. ? Aids to Conviction (nges-par byed-pa'i cha dang mthun-pa/nirvedha- . bhagiya). The four basic virtuous achievements of the Practice Path (see Chart I), each in its degrees of weak-medium-strong: 1) Warmth: so called from the great fire that has been kindled to burn up the afflictions. 2) Summits: so called because it is a higher achievement than just the basic virtues, and from it one ascends to higher states. 3) Patience: devout perseverance in virtue as one approaches the Vision
Path. 4) Highest Mundane Phenomena: so called because one experiences all phenomena of the world as essentially full of suffering, and on that account is ready for the Path of Vision and seeing the Four Truths in their entirety.
Aids to Liberation (thar-pa'i cha dang mthun-pa/mok~a-bhagiya). The five basic virtues of the Equipment Path (see Chart I), necessary for the beginning of progress toward Enlightenment: 1) Faith, 2) Zeal, 3) Mindfulness, 4) Concentration, 5) Insight.
Apparition Body (sprul-sku/nirma~a-kaya). One of the Three Bodies of Buddha (q. v. ). A miraculously created body which appears in the lower realms, like that of Gautama in the sixth century sc, and for Tibetans, like the Dalai Lama and other incarnate lamas who are reincarnations of Buddhas.
Arhat (dgra-bcom-pa). One who has attained the highest level and goal of the Hinayana system, after passing through four stages of perfection: stream-entering, once-returning, never-returning, and arhatship. The Arhat has achieved nirva~a. but not Buddhahood, because he does not return out of compassion to teach others as the Mahayana bodhisattva does.
Asailga (thogs-med). Third-century AD saint and author, reputed founder of the Mind-Only (cittamatra) school of Mahayana, inspired by Maitreya. ? Composer of the Levels ofYoga Practice, and numerous other important works which Atisa follows in his teaching on Calmness and the superknowledges.
? Bodhibhadra (byang-chug bzang-po). One of Atisa's early teachers at Nalanda university, whose Chapter on Concentration Equipment is used extensively in the Commentary.
B~hisattva (byang-chub sems-dpa'). An "Enlightenment-being", used m the sense both of anyone pursuing the Mahayana paths to Enlightenment and of one who has already achieved Buddhahood but continues to return to teach others, referring as well to the eternal Buddhas who have always been so.
Broad Practice (rgya-chen spyod/vistirna-carya). The common way of referring to the practice of the Perfections, motivated by compassion for others in the pursuit of one's own Enlightenment.
Buddha-field (sangs-rgyas kyi khams/buddha-k~tra). Realm ofexistence of a Buddha.
Byang-chub-'od (Bodhi-prabha). Royal prince of Mnga'-ris and ordained monk who invited Atisa to Tibet and became his disciple. Cakrasarilvara ('khor-lo sdom-pa/bde-mchog). Narne of an Enlightened
Being around whom a group of Tantric texts and practices centre. Known as the Triple-Pledge King because of the special Tantric vows taken with initiation in his mandala.
Calmness (zhi-gnas/samatha). Goal of yogic practice, always paired with Higher Vision, connoting perfect attainment of concentration.
Celibate. See Pure Life.
Cormilunity (dge-'dun/sangha). Originally denoting the monastic com-
munities; later embracing all who accept the Buddhist doctrine. Concentration (ting-nge-'dzin/samadhi). The culmination of the steps of yogic exercises in achieving single-pointed focus of awareness beyond
the senses and mental activity.
Conceptual Thought (rnam-rtog/vikalpa). The ideation process of the
mind, the forming of concepts and discursive thinking.
Conduct (tshul-khrims/sila). Second of the Ten Perfections, involving the observance of vows, growth in virtuous actions, and seeking the
good of others.
Conscious Stream (rgyud/sariltana). Buddhist term for describing the
individual so-called person, which ultimately is constituted in a flowing series of phenomena (chos/dharma), and what in other systems would be called the soul or self (bdag/atman).
Dependent Origination (rten-cing-'brel-bar 'byung-ba/pratitya- samutpada). The Buddha's twelvefold "chain of causality" explaining the factors involved in continued rebirth in sathsara, called "Dependent Origination" rather than "Causal Chain" because there
can be no real or true cause-effect relation in a world in which there are no real substances (the doctrine of Non-Self). Hence, the twelve links of the chain are merely conditions under which the following link arises in dependence on the former endlessly. Only the cessation of the links of the ignorance-condition and thirst-condition can break the chain and make liberation possible. The twelve conditions or links are: 1) ignorance, 2) impressions, 3) consciousness, 4) name-and-form, 5) the six sense-organs, 6) contact of senses with objects, 7) feeling,
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8) thirst or desire, 9) grasping, 10) becoming, 11) birth, and 12) old age and death.
In the tradition of the Middle Way school, Dependent Origination is used to show the relativity of all phenomena, and hence the proof of the emptiness of inherent existence in all things.
Destinies ('gro-ba/gati). The six principal rebirths possible in sarhsara, depending on one's karma. Three good destinies: human, gods. ? demi- gods; three bad destinies: animals, hell-beings, hungry ghosts.
Discipline ('dul-ba/vinaya). One of the Three Baskets of Buddhist scripture, containing the narratives of how the Buddha established the monastidife and rules.
Discipline-Master ('dul-ba 'dzin-pa/vinaya-dhara). Scholar-monk who specialises in the study and interpretation of the monastic rule; also famous authors of commentaries on the Discipline.
Doctrine (chos/dhanna). Second of the Three Jewels; the Buddhist teaching in general.
Eightfold Path ('phags-pa'i lam yan-lag brgyad). Fourth of the Four Truths, the way to bring about the cessation of the origin of suffering: 1) Right view, 2) Right thought, 3} Right speech, 4) Right conduct,
5) Right livelihood, 6) Right effort, 7) Right mindfulness, and 8) Right
concentration.
Eight Great Powers (dngos-grub/siddhi). Magical and preternatural
capabilities developed through Tantric yoga practice, to be used only
for the good of others. See Commentary, Chapter 7.
Eight Unfavourable Conditions (mi-khom-pa brgyad/a~av-ak~na). Aspects of sarhsara that render the pursuit of liberation especially
difficult: rebirth 1} in a hell, 2) as an animal, 3} as a hungry ghost, 4) as one of the long-lived gods, or 5) in a barbarian country, and 6) having impaired faculties, or 7) false views, or 8) living when no Tathagata appears.
Elements (kham/dhatu). The eighteen phenomena which compose the stream of consciousness (q. v. ); that is, each of the six sense-bases (organ + object) with its activating consciousness (rnam-shes/vijiiana).
Emptiness (stong-pa-nyid/siinyata). The absolute nature of all existence, void of own-nature in respect to both person and phenomena in the Mahayana system.
Enjoyment Body (Iongs-spyod sku/sarhbhoga-kaya). The body of Buddha as it exists in the Buddha paradises (fields) and upper realms, teaching the Doctrine to bodhisattvas who are at that stage. This body is fully adorned with the unique physical characteristics of a Buddha.
Enlightenment Thought (byang-chub-sems/bodhicitta). The basic attitude and motivation of attaining Buddhahood for the sake of all living beings; contains two stages: resolution (q. v. ) and actual progress (q. v. ) in compassion and insight.
Equipment. See Two Equipments.
Equipoise (mnyam-par bzhag-pa/samahita). The culmination of yogic
concentration, steadiness in holding the composure of Calmness when the lower levels of distraction have been eliminated.
? Essential Reality (chos-nyid/dh~rmata). The true nature of a thing as it is in itself, not as perceived or apprehended.
Five Aggregates. See Aggregates.
Five Bovine Articles (ba'i mam lnga/panca-gavya). Products of the cow,
commonly used in India as housing material: dung, urine, spittle, mucus, milk.
Five Branches of Knowledge (rig-pa'i gnas lnga/panca-vidya-stha-nani). Five classical sciences of: grammar, logic, the Self, healing, and crafts.
Five Dominants (dbang-po/indriyat;~i). Same virtues as the Aids to Liberation (q. v. ).
Five Eyes (mig/cak~u). The fleshly eye, the religious eye, the insight eye, the divine eye, the Buddha eye.
Five Paths (lam/marga). The five major stages of growth through which one must pass to reach either nirvaQa or Buddhahood: 1) Equipment Path, 2) Practice Path, 3) Vision Path, 4) Contemplation Path, and 5)
Adept Path. These stages will occur whether one is of the Hearer's or Solitary Buddha's Vehicle seeking the goal of Arhatship in nirvaQa, or of. the Mahayana Bodhisattva's Vehicle seeking Buddhahood for the sake of others. The first two Paths are considered Mundane in that the virtues being practised do not yet entail direct personal experience of the Four Truths. The remaining three Paths are called Supramundane because the seeker's experience is now a personal awareness and growth in the insights and wisdom which constitute the Enlightenment above and beyond even the ordinary good person's practice of virtue.
See Chart I.
Five Powers (stobs/balani). Same as Aids to Libera. tion (q. v. ).
Five Precepts (bslab-pa'i gzhi/sik~pada). Five rules of the Lay Devotee
(q. v. ).
Five Wisdoms (ye-shes/jnanani). 1) Wisdom about the purified nature of
the Ultimate Element, 2) Mirror-like Wisdom, 3) Wisdom of Equanimity, 4) Investigative Wisdom, 5) Wisdom about what needs to be done.
Four Applications of Mindfulness (dran-pa nye-bar bzhag-pa/smrti- upasthanani). Directing one's awareness to: 1) body, 2) feelings, 3) thoughts, 4) phenomena.
Four Bases of Miraculous Powers {rdzu-'phrul gyi rkang-pa/rddhi- padal)). Elements necessary for an adept to work wonders for others: 1) desire to do so, 2) diligence in practice, 3) thought, 4) examination.
Four Basic Sins (pham-par byung-ba/parajika). The four most serious offences against the monastic rule; the transgressions comprising the Expulsion class in the Pratimok~a (q. v. ): 1) sexual intercourse, 2) theft, 3) homicide, 4) lying to praise self.
Four Infinitudes (tshad-med/apramiil). a). 1) love, 2) compassion, 3) gladness about others' happiness, 4) equanimity.
Four Means of Attraction (bsdu-pa'i dngos-po/sal! lgraha-vastiini). Four ways of making the Doctrine appealing to others: 1) showing generosity, 2). speaking in a kind and loving manner, 3) working for the benefit of others, 4) practising what one preaches.
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Four Modes of Life (tshul/karaka-dharma. l). ). Four exhortations made in the monk's ordination ceremony: 1) not to revile if reviled, 2) not to be angry when provoked, 3) not cursing when cursed, 4) not striking back if struck.
Four Resources (rten bzhi). Promises made in the ordination ceremony of novices and monks: 1) to live under trees, 2) to live by alms, 3) to live in rags, 4) to use simple medicines.
Four Right Efforts (yang-dag-par spong-ba/saiilyak-prahaQani). 1) to prevent evil which has not yet occurred, 2) to forsake evil which already exists, 3) to bring about good which does not yet exist, 4) to develop goodness which already exists.
Four Truths {bden-pa/satya). 1) All existence is suffering, 2) and this suffering has its origin in self-grasping, 3) and that origination of suffering can be stopped, 4) by means ofthe Eightfold Path (q. v. ).
Good Flask (bum-pa bzang-po/gola-bhadra). One of the Eight Great Powers (q. v. ).
Guru (bla-ma). Spiritual teacher.
Hearer (nyan-thos/sravaka). Follower of the Theravadin teaching; one
who is seeking his own liberation and striving to become an arhat
(q. v. ).
