Key Words in the Vajracchedikā Sūtra

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Key Words in the Vajracchedikā Sūtra Bảo Anh Lạc Bookcase 31 KEY WORDS In the Vajracchedikā Sūtra (Fifth Printing) Bhikkhunī Giới Hương Hồng Đức publication 2020 Contact: Huong Sen Buddhist Temple 19865 Seaton Avenue, Perris, CA 92570, USA Tel: 951-657 -7272, Cell: 951-616 -8620 Email: [email protected] [email protected] Facebook: https://www.huongsentemple Web: www.huongsentemple.com Copyright@2020 by Bhikkhuni Gioi Huong, Sunyata Pham, Huong Sen Buddhist Temple in the United States. All rights reserved. CONTENTS The Fifth Printing.................................................................... i Preface.... .............................................................................. ii Introduction .......................................................................... iii CHAPTER I: ORIGIN OF THE VAJRACCHEDIKĀ SŪTRA 1. The Maha Prajñā Pāramitā Sūtra ....................................... 1 2. Birthplace of the Vajracchedikā Prajñā Pāramitā Sūtra .... 2 3. Meaning of the Vajracchedikā Sūtra Title ....................... 4 4. Relation of Venerable Subhūti and the Vajracchedikā Sūtra ................................................................. 8 5. Relation of the Sixth Patriarch Huineng and ..................... the Vajracchedikā Sūtra ........................................................ 19 CHAPTER II: KEY WORDS IN THE VAJRACCHEDIKĀ SŪTRA 1. Dwelling in and Subduing One’s Mind ............................. 30 2. Producing the Pure Mind without Dwelling Anywhere .... 54 3. All with Marks is Empty and False ................................. 57 4. If Someon Seen All Marks as No Marks, .......................... Then He Would See the Tathāgata ...................................... 64 5. See the Tathāgata in Forms is Practicing ........................... a Deviant Way ...................................................................... 67 6. The Past, the Present and Future Thoughts ........................ are Ungraspable ................................................................... 76 7. Either the Dharms or non-Dharmas should ....................... be Abandoned ...................................................................... 83 8. The Merits of Holding and Reciting the Four Lines of Verse of the Vajracchedikā Sūtra are Greater Than Those of Giving the Precious Gems Over the Three Thousand Great Thousand World Systems ................................................. 93 9. The Merits of Holding and Reciting the Four Lines of Verse of the Vajracchedikā Sūtra are Greater Than Those of Giving Up Bodies which are as Many as Grains of Sand of the Ganges River .................................................................. 103 10. If Someone Says the Tathāgata has Spoken Dharma, ..... He Slanders the Buddha ..................................................... 108 11. The Adornment of Buddha-Lands is as ........................... No Adornment; Therefore, It is Called Adornment ....... 118 12. Patience is as No Patience; Therefore, ............................. It is called Patience ............................................................ 129 13. Prajñā Pāramitā is as No Prajñā Pāramitā; ..................... therefore, It is Called Prajñā Pāramitā ............................. 140 14. All Particles of Dust are as No Particles .......................... of Dust; therefore, They are Called Particles of Dust ..... 149 15. The totality of All Marks is as Totality of All Marks; therefore, It is Called the Totality of All Marks .............. 151 16. The Thirty –Two Marks Are as No Thirty-Two Marks therefore, They are called the Thirty-Two Marks ............ 154 CHAPTER III: THE MERIT OF BELIEVING IN THE DHARMA SAYINGS OF THE VAJRACCHEDIKĀ SŪTRA 1. The Supreme Ralation of Venerable Subhūti and ............. the Vajracchedikā Sūtra ...................................................... 164 2. Reciting this Sūtra is Foremost and Most Rare .......... 166 3. Believing in the Vajracchedikā Sūtra is to ......................... Worship Numberless Buddhas .......................................... 170 4. The The Vajracchedikā Sūtra is the Mother ...................... of All Buddhas .................................................................... 175 5. Reducing the Karmic Hindrances by the Merits ............... of Reciting the Sūtra ............................................................ 177 6. If someone Hears This Sūtra and is Not Frightened, ....... That Person is Most Rare ................................................... 179 7. Respecting the Sūtra ....................................................... 182 8. To Make Offering to 84,000 Buddhas is Incomparable .... to the Merits of Reciting the Vajracchedikā Sūtra ............ 183 CHAPTER IV: CONCLUSION .......................................... 189 Source ................................................................................... 198 Bao Anh Lac Bookstore ..................................................... 199 With awakened wisdom, bright as the sun and the full moon, with immeasurable compassion to help humankind, we resolve to live beautifully. The Fifth Printing Key Words in the Vajracchedikā Sūtra was first published six years ago (2014), republished the second, third, and fourth times in 2015, 2016 and 2018 respectively by Tôn Giáo Publishing House,Vietnam. In this fifth reprinting (2020), for better use and service of the book, errors have been corrected, pictures, summaries, questions and discussions have been added at the end of each chapter, and especially, the book has been translated into English. We would like to gratefully acknowledge with special thanks Bhikkhunī Viên Quang, Bhikkhunī Nguyên Hiếu, and Pamela C. Kirby (English editors who worked as my assistants for English translating, proofreading, design and publication). Best Regards, University of California, Riverside Rainy Season, April 20, 2020 Bhikkhunī TN Gioi Huong PREFACE Those who have recited the Vajracchedikā Sūtra (the Diamond-Cutter of Perfect Wisdom) many times will know the meanings of prajñā, what emptiness (śūnyatā) means, what the non-perception of a self, a being, a soul, or a person means and the meaning of this famous Dharma sentence: Those who by my form did see me, And those who followed me by voice Wrong the efforts they engaged in, Me those people will not see.1 Another paragraph defines the meaning of Tathāgata: "Since previous lives, the Tathāgata has neither ever come nor gone in the future who is so-called the Tathāgata." In the Saṃyuktāgama Sutta, there is a story about self and possession of self, 2 which Ananda presented to the 1 Vajracchedikā Prajñā Pāramitā Sūtra, Sanskrit translated into English by Edward Conze, London: Sacred Text Series, https://universaltheosophy.com/sacred-texts/diamond-Sūtra/ 2 Non-self, Saṃyuktāgama Sutta, No.33, Vol.2, translated from Chinese into Vietnamese by Sa Môn Thích Tịnh Hạnh; translated into Vietnamese by Bhikkhunī Giới Hương. http://vnbet.vn/dai-tap-v-bo-a-ham-v-trung-a-ham-biet-dich-kinh-tap-a-ham-so- 1/tap-a-ham-quyen-2-kinh-33-phi-nga-13491.html Buddha that: "I have ever heard the Tathāgata who preached about the self and possession of self, but I do not completely understand it at all. I hope that the Blessed One will kindly explain it for me and the Assembly." The Blessed One replied, "Listen to this: if you clap your hands together, then surely a sound is made. So, where did that sound come from and after that the sound is gone, where will that sound abide?” "Dear Lord, that sound does not come from anywhere or reach to anywhere. Due to conditions, it is emitted and without conditions, it does not utter.” The Buddha concluded, "In the same way, self is something unreal; it is like the sound of two hands clapping. But because human beings have delusion and ignorance, they think it is true, but in fact, self is nothing. And possession of self is what belongs to self, like a pile of firewood, though it has the shape, after burning, the firewood is only a pile of ashes. It is not real. For a long time, beings thought “this is mine, this belonged to me, but nothing was mine.” From the basic tradition of Theravāda and over a few hundred years later, the theory of non-self in the Sutta Pitaka has been sublimed in the spirit of the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā) or Prajñā of the Mahāyāna (Bắc Truyền). The Vajracchedikā Sūtra states the doctrine of non-self in another way: there is no self, no being, soul or person. Through the two cited examples of both traditions, there is not much difference in the doctrine of non-self. The latter is not the difficult metaphors, but the true form non-self of all things, but beings do not understand and practice this. The Vajracchedikā Sūtra has thirty-two passages in total. Venerable Bhikkhunī Giới Hương relies on the Vietnamese translation of the most Venerable Trí Tịnh3 and the English translation of Edward Conze.4 She annotates each paragraph which is supported with many well-illustrated quotations from other scriptures in order to help the reader easily understand the deep meaning. When reading the Key Words in the Vajracchedikā Sūtra, we are more receptive to it, as there are stories about ancestors Đức Sơn, Long Đàm or King Kalinga and sages. She has explained it thoroughly, but emphasizes here that the reader or the practitioner must attest to the Dharma as it is. This result will come fast or slow depending on the wisdom and performance of each person. The Vajracchedikā Sūtra considers the importance of 3 Kinh Kim Cang Bát-nhã Ba-la-mật (Vajracchedikā Prajñā
Recommended publications
  • Buddhist Pilgrimage
    Published for free distribution Buddhist Pilgrimage New Edition 2009 Chan Khoon San ii Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati. The Gift of Dhamma excels all gifts. The printing of this book for free distribution is sponsored by the generous donations of Dhamma friends and supporters, whose names appear in the donation list at the end of this book. ISBN 983-40876-0-8 © Copyright 2001 Chan Khoon San irst Printing, 2002 " 2000 copies Second Printing 2005 " 2000 copies New Edition 2009 − 7200 copies All commercial rights reserved. Any reproduction in whole or part, in any form, for sale, profit or material gain is strictly prohibited. However, permission to print this book, in its entirety, for free distribution as a gift of Dhamma, is allowed after prior notification to the author. New Cover Design ,nset photo shows the famous Reclining .uddha image at Kusinara. ,ts uni/ue facial e0pression evokes the bliss of peace 1santisukha2 of the final liberation as the .uddha passes into Mahaparinibbana. Set in the background is the 3reat Stupa of Sanchi located near .hopal, an important .uddhist shrine where relics of the Chief 4isciples and the Arahants of the Third .uddhist Council were discovered. Printed in ,uala -um.ur, 0alaysia 1y 5a6u6aya ,ndah Sdn. .hd., 78, 9alan 14E, Ampang New Village, 78000 Selangor 4arul Ehsan, 5alaysia. Tel: 03-42917001, 42917002, a0: 03-42922053 iii DEDICATI2N This book is dedicated to the spiritual advisors who accompanied the pilgrimage groups to ,ndia from 1991 to 2008. Their guidance and patience, in helping to create a better understanding and appreciation of the significance of the pilgrimage in .uddhism, have made those 6ourneys of faith more meaningful and beneficial to all the pilgrims concerned.
    [Show full text]
  • On the Penetration of Dharmakya and Dharmadesana -Based on the Different Ideas of Dharani and Tathagatagarbha
    On the Penetration of Dharmakya and Dharmadesana -based on the different ideas of dharani and tathagatagarbha- Kakusho U jike We can recognize many developements of the Buddhakaya theory in the evo- lution of Mahayana thought systems which are related to various doctrines such as the Vi jnanavada, etc. In my opinion, the Buddhakaya theory stressed how the Bodhisattvas or any living being can meet the eternal Buddha and enjoy the benefits of instruction on enlightenment from him. In the Mahayana, the concept of truth also developed parallel with the Bud- dhakaya theory and the most important theme for the Mahayanist is how to understand the nature of the Buddha who became one with the truth (dharma- kaya). That is to say, the problem of how to realize the truth is the same pro- blem of how to meet the eternal Buddha with the joy of uniting oneself with the realm of the Buddha's enlightenment (dharmadhatu). In this situation one's faculties are always tested in the effort to encounter and understand the real teaching of the Buddha, because the truth revealed by the Buddha is quite high and deep, going beyond the intellect of ordinary people The Buddha's teaching is understood only by eminent Bodhisattvas who possess the super power of hearing the subtle voice of the Buddha. One of the excellent means of the Bodhisattvas for hearing, memorizing, and preaching etc., the teachings of the Buddha is considered to be the dharani. Dharani seemed to appear at first in the Prajnaparamita-sutras or in other Sutras having close relation to theme).
    [Show full text]
  • Buddhist Pilgrimage
    Published for free distribution Buddhist Pilgrimage ew Edition 2009 Chan Khoon San ii Sabbadanam dhammadanam jinati. The Gift of Dhamma excels all gifts. The printing of this book for free distribution is sponsored by the generous donations of Dhamma friends and supporters, whose names appear in the donation list at the end of this book. ISB: 983-40876-0-8 © Copyright 2001 Chan Khoon San First Printing, 2002 – 2000 copies Second Printing 2005 – 2000 copies New Edition 2009 − 7200 copies All commercial rights reserved. Any reproduction in whole or part, in any form, for sale, profit or material gain is strictly prohibited. However, permission to print this book, in its entirety , for free distribution as a gift of Dhamma , is allowed after prior notification to the author. ew Cover Design Inset photo shows the famous Reclining Buddha image at Kusinara. Its unique facial expression evokes the bliss of peace ( santisukha ) of the final liberation as the Buddha passes into Mahaparinibbana. Set in the background is the Great Stupa of Sanchi located near Bhopal, an important Buddhist shrine where relics of the Chief Disciples and the Arahants of the Third Buddhist Council were discovered. Printed in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by: Majujaya Indah Sdn. Bhd., 68, Jalan 14E, Ampang New Village, 68000 Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia. Tel: 03-42916001, 42916002, Fax: 03-42922053 iii DEDICATIO This book is dedicated to the spiritual advisors who accompanied the pilgrimage groups to India from 1991 to 2008. Their guidance and patience, in helping to create a better understanding and appreciation of the significance of the pilgrimage in Buddhism, have made those journeys of faith more meaningful and beneficial to all the pilgrims concerned.
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Buddhism in the Changing Life of Rural Women in Sri Lanka Since Independence
    Edith Cowan University Research Online Theses: Doctorates and Masters Theses 1-1-2002 The role of Buddhism in the changing life of rural women in Sri Lanka since independence Lalani Weddikkara Edith Cowan University Follow this and additional works at: https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses Part of the Religion Commons Recommended Citation Weddikkara, L. (2002). The role of Buddhism in the changing life of rural women in Sri Lanka since independence. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/746 This Thesis is posted at Research Online. https://ro.ecu.edu.au/theses/746 Edith Cowan University Copyright Warning You may print or download ONE copy of this document for the purpose of your own research or study. The University does not authorize you to copy, communicate or otherwise make available electronically to any other person any copyright material contained on this site. You are reminded of the following: Copyright owners are entitled to take legal action against persons who infringe their copyright. A reproduction of material that is protected by copyright may be a copyright infringement. Where the reproduction of such material is done without attribution of authorship, with false attribution of authorship or the authorship is treated in a derogatory manner, this may be a breach of the author’s moral rights contained in Part IX of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Courts have the power to impose a wide range of civil and criminal sanctions for infringement of copyright, infringement of moral rights and other offences under the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Higher penalties may apply, and higher damages may be awarded, for offences and infringements involving the conversion of material into digital or electronic form.
    [Show full text]
  • Bridging Worlds: Buddhist Women's Voices Across Generations
    BRIDGING WORLDS Buddhist Women’s Voices Across Generations EDITED BY Karma Lekshe Tsomo First Edition: Yuan Chuan Press 2004 Second Edition: Sakyadhita 2018 Copyright © 2018 Karma Lekshe Tsomo All rights reserved No part of this book may not be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, or by any information storage or retreival system, without the prior written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations. Cover Illustration, "Woman on Bridge" © 1982 Shig Hiu Wan. All rights reserved. "Buddha" calligraphy ©1978 Il Ta Sunim. All rights reserved. Chapter Illustrations © 2012 Dr. Helen H. Hu. All rights reserved. Book design and layout by Lillian Barnes Bridging Worlds Buddhist Women’s Voices Across Generations EDITED BY Karma Lekshe Tsomo 7th Sakyadhita International Conference on Buddhist Women With a Message from His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama SAKYADHITA | HONOLULU, HAWAI‘I iv | Bridging Worlds Contents | v CONTENTS MESSAGE His Holiness the XIVth Dalai Lama xi ACKNOWLEDGMENTS xiii INTRODUCTION 1 Karma Lekshe Tsomo UNDERSTANDING BUDDHIST WOMEN AROUND THE WORLD Thus Have I Heard: The Emerging Female Voice in Buddhism Tenzin Palmo 21 Sakyadhita: Empowering the Daughters of the Buddha Thea Mohr 27 Buddhist Women of Bhutan Tenzin Dadon (Sonam Wangmo) 43 Buddhist Laywomen of Nepal Nivedita Kumari Mishra 45 Himalayan Buddhist Nuns Pacha Lobzang Chhodon 59 Great Women Practitioners of Buddhadharma: Inspiration in Modern Times Sherab Sangmo 63 Buddhist Nuns of Vietnam Thich Nu Dien Van Hue 67 A Survey of the Bhikkhunī Saṅgha in Vietnam Thich Nu Dong Anh (Nguyen Thi Kim Loan) 71 Nuns of the Mendicant Tradition in Vietnam Thich Nu Tri Lien (Nguyen Thi Tuyet) 77 vi | Bridging Worlds UNDERSTANDING BUDDHIST WOMEN OF TAIWAN Buddhist Women in Taiwan Chuandao Shih 85 A Perspective on Buddhist Women in Taiwan Yikong Shi 91 The Inspiration ofVen.
    [Show full text]
  • An Exploration of the Early One-True Dharmadhatu Thoughts---From
    2019 9th International Conference on Education and Social Science (ICESS 2019) An Exploration of the Early One-True Dharmadhatu Thoughts----From Mind Only Chittamatra, Tantra to Huayen Theory Xiangjun Su Institute of Taoism and Religious Culture, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China 206877705@qq. com Keywords: One-true dharmadhatu; Mind only chittamatra; Tantra, Huayen theory; Harmony without obstacles Abstract: The concept of one-true Dharmadhatu originates from India Buddhism, and it appears both in Vijnapti-matrata and Tantra classics, approximately having the same meaning. Li tongxuan was the first one who introduced the concept of One-true Dharmadhatu into Huayen theory. Conformed with the thinking mode of Matter-mind-being Nonduality by Li Tongxuan, taking Fundamental Wisdom as its basis, One-true Dharmadhatu has such harmonious teaching characteristics as wisdom and earth being one, nature and things binging not different, and harmony without obstacles. Later, Chengguan, in his Wutai Mountain Period, explained One-true Dharmadhatu as Dharmadhatu Pure Wisdom, and combined it with Fazang’s Five Dharmadhatu thought, thus made it more philosophical. Introduction In China’s Huayen thoughts, One-true Dharmadhatu is an important concept. Since was introduced into Huayen theory by Li Tongxuan, One-true Dharmadhatu has appeared often in Chenguan’s works and the Huayen works of the following dynasties. Japanese scholar Xiaodaodaishan, Tanwan region researcher Hong Meizhen have discussed the concept of One-true Dharmadhatu in their works. [1]China Main Land scholar Liu Yuanyuan has discussed Li Tongxuan’s thoughts on One-true Dharmadhatu and its influences on Chengguan deeply, but it is not comprehensive, and also not involves in the thoughts of Chengguan.
    [Show full text]
  • A Translation of the Introduction and the Tenth Chapters of the Hizo Hoyaku
    A Translation of the 密 Introduction and the Tenth Chapters of the Hizo Hoyaku 教 文 by Minoru Kiyota 化 Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin Preface Although the mantra and dharani literature was already known in the Nara period (710-784),it failed to occupy a respectable position in the academiccircles of the Buddhists either during the Nara period or the early Heian period. During the reign of Emperor Saga, (809-823), leading masters of Nara presented their views on Buddhism in the presence of the emperor at Shoryo-ji Temple, after which they were asked to organize their views into texts. Texts were composed and submitted to the throne at the time of the reign of Emperor Junna, (823-833). Kukai, (774-835), though not a member of the Nara priesthood, submitted the Juju Shinron, the Treatise on the Ten Stages, organized into ten chuan, and the Sokushin Jobutsu Gi, the Essence of Inherent Buddhahood, organized into one chuan. It is commonlyheld, however, that because the Juju Shinron was excessively voluminous, Kukai was asked to submit an abridged version, which is the Hizo Hoyaku, the Jewel Key to the Secret Store, organized into three chuan. It is speculated therefore, that both the Hizo Hoyaku and the Sokushin Jobutsu Gi were composed sometime in the early 830's under an imperial edict. The Hizo Hoyaku is designed to describe the doctrine of Shingon Buddhism, the Japanese version of the mantra school, and to bring about the official recognition of that school as a distinct school of Japanese Buddhism. The major literary sources to which the Hizo Hoyaku makes reference are: Mahavairocana Sutra, Vajrasekhara Sutra, Laiikavatara Sutra, Bodhicitta Sastra, Shaku-maka-en-ron (Shih- -96- mo-ho-yeh-lun) and Daichido-ron (Ta-chih-tu-lun).
    [Show full text]
  • Mining for Gold
    !"#"#$%&'(%)'*+% !"#$%&'(")%*%+,"-,."/012+$-(%+,"%,(+"('3"/**3,(%-2"4-(5$3"-,."65$1+*3"+7"('3"#'%88'5,%" 9-,&'-"%,"('3"!,:%3,(";30(*"-,."<%=3*"+7"('3"4+>23"?,3*"-,."#$+5&'("(+"<%73"" ('$+5&'"<%=%,&"('3"65$3"-,."63$73:(3."@+2A"<%73"%,"('3"B+.3$,"C+$2." ,-%.--/%0/12//*'3/%42"3325#"% % % % 6#1('+571"'#% % C'3,"D3.%(-(%,&"+,"('%*"1-13$">37+$3">3&%,,%,&"%(E"F"*3("DA"%,(3,(%+,*"7+$"('3"7527%22D3,("+7" WKHSXUSRVHRIWKH%XGGKD·V6DVDQD³+5$"7$33.+D"7$+D"*5773$%,&"-,."('3"G327-$3"+7"-22" 2%=%,&">3%,&*H"";'3!"#$#%%&E"+$"%D-&3E"('-(":-D3"(+"D%,."G-*"+7"'&(&³('3"'3-$(G++.E"+$" 3**3,:3H""" " F"$3D3D>3$3."DA"+G,"%,*1%$-(%+,"(+"5,.3$(-83">'%88'5,%"2%73":-D3"G'3,"$3-.%,&"('%*" SKUDVHLQWKH3DOL7H[W6RFLHW\·V"($-,*2-(%+,"+7"('3")*#++*,"#!-#.*&"/&I"´$EKLNNKXQLLV 8998#1"/*:µ%;"";'3"#5..'D·VWHDFKLQJDQDORJLHVRIKHDUWZRRGJ"-,."$37%,%,&"&+2.K"-$3"2-D1*" ('-("%225*($-(3"('3"D3-,%,&"-,."&+-2"-*"G322"-*"('3"D3-,*"+7"('3"1$-:(%:3H""L+,*52(%,&"G%('"-," 32.3$"B-'-('3$-"D3,(+$"+7"D%,3"%,"('3"#'%88'5"9-,&'-"+,"G'-("G+52.">3"5*3752"(+"1$3*3,(" (+"('3"M%$*("N2+>-2"L+,&$3**"+,"#5..'%*("C+PHQKHUHSHDWHGWKUHHWLPHV´PLQLQJIRU &+2.µO";'5*E"('3"(%(23"-,."('3D3"+7"('%*"1-13$"-113-$3.H" " ,QODWHUUHIOHFWLRQ,UHDOL]HGWKDW´6DUDµ"P-8-";3**-$-"+$"Q3=-*-$-R"G-*"-2*+"('3",-D3"+7"('3" 9$%"<-,8-,">'%88'5,%"=3,3$->23"G'+*3"*3$=%:3"(+"('3"9-,&'-"%,"'3$"7%7('":3,(5$A"L/"($%1"(+" L'%,-"G%('"'3$"133$*E"$3:+$.3.">+('"%,"L'%,-"-,."9$%"<-,8-E"'-*">33,"*+D3'+G"3,3$&3(%:-22A" 83A"%,">$%,&%,&"('3"G'+23"%**53"+7"('3"=%->%2%(A"+7"('3"+$%&%,-2">'%88'5,%"2%,3-&3"(+"2%73H"";'%*" 1-13$"('5*"-2*+"*3$=3*"-*"-"($%>5(3"(+"!AA-"9-$-E"(+"9-,&'-D%((-E"-,."(+"-22"('3"&$3-(">3%,&*"
    [Show full text]
  • Diversity in the Women of the Therīgāthā
    Lesley University DigitalCommons@Lesley Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences Mindfulness Studies Theses (GSASS) Spring 5-6-2020 Diversity in the Women of the Therīgāthā Kyung Peggy Meill [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/mindfulness_theses Part of the Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons Recommended Citation Meill, Kyung Peggy, "Diversity in the Women of the Therīgāthā" (2020). Mindfulness Studies Theses. 29. https://digitalcommons.lesley.edu/mindfulness_theses/29 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School of Arts and Social Sciences (GSASS) at DigitalCommons@Lesley. It has been accepted for inclusion in Mindfulness Studies Theses by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@Lesley. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. DIVERSITY IN THE WOMEN OF THE THERĪGĀTHĀ i Diversity in the Women of the Therīgāthā Kyung Peggy Kim Meill Lesley University May 2020 Dr. Melissa Jean and Dr. Andrew Olendzki DIVERSITY IN THE WOMEN OF THE THERĪGĀTHĀ ii Abstract A literary work provides a window into the world of a writer, revealing her most intimate and forthright perspectives, beliefs, and emotions – this within a scope of a certain time and place that shapes the milieu of her life. The Therīgāthā, an anthology of 73 poems found in the Pali canon, is an example of such an asseveration, composed by theris (women elders of wisdom or senior disciples), some of the first Buddhist nuns who lived in the time of the Buddha 2500 years ago. The gathas (songs or poems) impart significant details concerning early Buddhism and some of its integral elements of mental and spiritual development.
    [Show full text]
  • The Tathagatagarbha Theory Reconsidered Reflections on Some Recent Issues in Japanese Buddhist Studies
    Japanese Journal of Religious Studies 2000 27/1-2 The Tathagatagarbha Theory Reconsidered Reflections on Some Recent Issues in Japanese Buddhist Studies TAKASAKlJikido 高崎直道 The Tathagatagarbha theory is an influential yet controversial part of the Buddhist tradition. This essay examines some of the issues related to tms tradition that have been discussed recently by Buddhist scholars: the dhdtu-vada thesis and the critique of “original enlightenment, ” the rela­ tionship between the terms tathagatagarbha and padmagarbha, the inter­ pretation of dependent origination in the Ratnagotravibhaga, the role of relics worship in the Mahdparinirvana-sutra, and the Tathagatamrbha theory in Tibetan Buddhism. Keywords: Tathagatagarbha — Ratnagotravibhaga — padmagarbha — dhdtu — Buddha nature — relics — Mahdparinirvana-sutra Nearly fifty years have passed since the publication of the Ratnagvtra- vibhdga, the earliest and most basic Sanskrit text of the Tathagatagarbha theory, since then many studies of this text and the Tathagatagarbha theory have been published, including my English translation of the Ratnagotravibhaga (Takasaki 1966), my work m Japanese on the forma­ tion of the Tathagatagarbha theory in Indian Mahayana Buddhism (1974), and D. Seyfort R uegg’s works on the Tathaeataearbha theory in Tibetan Buddnism (1969,1989). Recent notable publications on this topic include S. K. Hookham’s Buddha Within (1991) and Shimoda Masahiro’s work on the Mahdparinirvana-sutra (1997),indicating that the Tathagatagarbha theory is a continuing (and continually contro­ versial) topic of interest among Buddhist scholars. In the 1980s voices of criticism were raised against the Tathagata- This essay is an expanded revision of a paper given at the XIIth Conference of the International Association of Buddhist Studies at Lausanne, Switzerland, Ausrust 1999.
    [Show full text]
  • The Mandala of Zen Rock Garden Wong Wah Sang, University Of
    Purity and Equanimity – The Mandala of Zen Rock Garden Wong Wah Sang, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong The Asian Conference on Ethics, Religion and Philosophy 2016 Official Conference Proceedings Abstract This paper discusses the ultimate essence of realization in Buddhism as the nature of purity and great equanimity. To illustrate this, the Zen rock garden is revealed like a Zen Koan, a case study to discern into the essence. The example used here is the karesansui (dry landscape) or rock garden in the Ryoanji Temple in Kyoto. Made up of sand, rock and moss, the rock garden invites direct contemplation from the observers. Scholars, artists and Buddhists etc. have made numerous investigation on this garden to answer the koan and different interpretations have been received. Now the Zen rock garden is looked upon as a mandala that bears the meaning to hold the essence of all phenomena. This essence has a technical term called dharmata, a Sanskrit word to mean the nature of phenomena which is also the nature of dharmadhatu, another Sanskrit word to mean the ultimate universe of Buddhism that contains all (all universes in n-dimensional time and n-dimensional space, all land in samsara and nirvana). The attributes of the dharmadhatu can be divided into the form and form-less aspects. There is an aspect of emptiness, a space-like aspect to allow all different manifestation, and an aspect of manifestation, a powerful aspect of vitality to allow things to appear. This aspect of emptiness has the quality of purity as it is free from discrimination and conceptuality while the aspect of manifestation has the quality of great equanimity as vitality is prevalent everywhere in the dharmadhatu, in all universes.
    [Show full text]
  • The Realm of Enlightenment in Vijñaptimātratā: the Formulation Of
    THE JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF BUDDHIST STUDIES EDITOR-IN-CHIEF A. K. Narain University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA EDITORS Heinz Bechert Leon Hurvitz Universitdt Gottingen, FRG UBC, Vancouver, Canada Lewis Lancaster Alexander W. MacDonald University of California, Berkeley, USA Universite de Paris X, Nanterre, France B.J. Stavisky Alex Way man WNIIR, Moscow, USSR Columbia University, New York, USA ASSOCIATE EDITOR Stephan Beyer University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA Volume 3 1980 Number 2 CONTENTS I. ARTICLES 1. A Yogacara Analysis of the Mind, Based on the Vijndna Section of Vasubandhu's Pancaskandhaprakarana with Guna- prabha's Commentary, by Brian Galloway 7 2. The Realm of Enlightenment in Vijnaptimdtratd: The Formu­ lation of the "Four Kinds of Pure Dharmas", by Noriaki Hakamaya, translated from the Japanese by John Keenan 21 3. Hu-Jan Nien-Ch'i (Suddenly a Thought Rose) Chinese Under­ standing of Mind and Consciousness, by Whalen Lai 42 4. Notes on the Ratnakuta Collection, by K. Priscilla Pedersen 60 5. The Sixteen Aspects of the Four Noble Truths and Their Opposites, by Alex Wayman 67 II. SHORT PAPERS 1. Kaniska's Buddha Coins — The Official Iconography of Sakyamuni & Maitreya, by Joseph Cribb 79 2. "Buddha-Mazda" from Kara-tepe in Old Termez (Uzbekistan): A Preliminary Communication, by Boris J. Stavisky 89 3. FausbpU and the Pali Jatakas, by Elisabeth Strandberg 95 III. BOOK REVIEWS 1. Love and Sympathy in Theravada Buddhism, by Harvey B. Aronson 103 2. Chukan to Vuishiki (Madhyamika and Vijriaptimatrata), by Gadjin Nagao 105 3. Introduction a la connaissance des hlvin bal de Thailande, by Anatole-Roger Peltier 107 4.
    [Show full text]