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The Center of the Sunlit Sky Madhyamaka in the Kagyti Tradition

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The Center of the Sunlit Sky Madhyamaka in the Kagyti Tradition The Center of the Sunlit Sky Madhyamaka in the Kagyti Tradition Karl Brunnholzl The Center of the Sunlit Sky Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 2 The Nitartha Institute Series published by Snow Lion Publications Nitartha Institute was founded in 1996 by The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche, under the guidance of Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche and Khenpo Tsültrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, the leading contemporary teachers of the Karma Kagyü tra- dition of Tibetan Buddhism. The Institute, under the aegis of Nitartha interna- tional, aims to fully transmit the Buddhist tradition of contemplative inquiry and learning; it offers Western students training in advanced Buddhist view and practice, as taught by the Karma Kagyü and Nyingma lineages of Tibet. The Institute is pleased to ally with Snow Lion Publications in presenting this series of important works offering a wide range of graded educational materials that include authoritative translations of key texts from the Buddhist tradition, both those unique to the Kagyü and Nyingma lineages and those common to the wider scope of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism; modern commentaries by notable line- age scholar-practitioners; manuals for contemplative practice; and broader stud- ies that deepen understanding of particular aspects of the Buddhist view. The initial releases are from the Kagyü tradition and will be followed by publications from the Nyingma tradition. This publication is an Intermediate Level Nitartha book. Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 3 The Center of the Sunlit Sky Madhyamaka in the Kagyü Tradition Karl Brunnhölzl Including a Translation of Pawo Rinpoche’s Commentary on the Knowledge Section of ⁄›ntideva’s The Entrance to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life (Bodhicary›vat›ra) Snow Lion Publications ithaca, new york ✦ boulder, colorado Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 4 Snow Lion Publications P.O. Box 6483 Ithaca, NY 14851 USA (607) 273-8519 www.snowlionpub.com Copyright © 2004 Karl Brunnhölzl All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Printed in Canada on acid-free recycled paper. ISBN 1-55939-218-5 Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available from the Library of Congress. Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 5 T Contents Acknowledgments 11 Foreword 13 Preface 17 Introduction 25 Part One: The General Presentation of Madhyamaka in the Kagyü Tradition 45 1 The Transmission of Madhyamaka from India to Tibet and Its Relation to Vajray›na and Mah›mudr› 47 2 The Middle from Beginning to End 69 Madhyamaka Ground 72 What Is Reality? 72 No Ground for the Two Realities 77 The Detailed Explanation of the Two Realities 80 The Meaning of the Terms 80 Painting the Sky: A Description of Their Defining Characteristics 82 Are the Two Realities One or Different? 88 Seeming Divisions of the Seeming 94 Dividing Space: Divisions of the Ultimate 99 A Critical Analysis of Some Other Tibetan Views on the Two Realities in Centrism 101 The Definite Number of Two Realities and the Purpose of Understanding Them 105 The Emptiness of Emptiness 110 Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 6 6 The Center of the Sunlit Sky Freedom Is the Nature of Not Having a Nature 110 Elaborations on Simplicity 114 The Twenty Emptinesses 117 The Sixteen Emptinesses 122 The Two Types of Identitylessness 126 Lost Identity 126 Phenomenal Identitylessness 135 Personal Identitylessness 137 Are the Two Identitylessnesses One or Different? 141 The Purpose of Teaching Two Identitylessnesses 141 From Knowledge to Wisdom 142 Madhyamaka Path 153 How Can Madhyamaka Be a Personal Practice? 157 Reasoning and Debate in Centrism 172 Three Stages of Analysis by N›g›rjuna and firyadeva 172 Is Reasoning Reasonable? 174 Reasons and Negations 177 What Is the Object of Negation in Centrist Reasonings? 193 The Status of Valid Cognition in Centrism 199 Do Centrists Have a Thesis or Position? 218 Illusory Lions Killing Illusory Elephants: Empty Reasonings for Liberation 231 Some Essential Points of Centrist Reasoning 231 Disillusionment with Phenomenal Identity 235 The Five Great Madhyamaka Reasonings 235 Other Reasonings 262 Unmasking Personal Identity 264 The Result of Centrist Reasoned Analysis 271 Madhyamaka Meditation 273 Why Is Analytical Meditation Necessary? 273 Calm Abiding and Superior Insight 276 Analytical Meditation and Resting Meditation 279 Working with the Mind in Meditation and Daily Life 285 Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 7 Contents 7 How to Practice a Session of Analytical Meditation 290 The Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness 295 Mental Nonengagement in Meditation 310 Madhyamaka Conduct 321 Madhyamaka Fruition 323 3 The Distinction between Autonomists and Consequentialists 333 Classifications of Centrism in India and Tibet 333 Refutation of Mistaken Assumptions about Autonomists and Consequentialists 341 The Actual Distinction between Autonomists and Consequentialists 360 How the Distinction between Autonomists and Consequentialists by Later Tibetans Is a Novelty 373 The Origin of the Controversy between Autonomists and Consequentialists 392 Do Hearers and Solitary Realizers Realize Emptiness? 421 Conclusion 438 4 Is There Such a Thing as Shentong-Madhyamaka? 445 The Yog›c›ra System in General 457 The System of the Lineage of Vast Activity 460 The Treatment of Yog›c›ra and the Rangtong-Shentong Controversy in Tibet 500 The Single Final Intention of the Two Philosophical Systems of the Great Vehicle 515 5 The Distinction between Expedient and Definitive Meaning 527 6 An Outline of Some Major Differences between Mikyö Dorje’s and Tsongkhapa’s Interpretations of Centrism 553 Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 8 8 The Center of the Sunlit Sky Part Two: The Bodhicary›vat›ra and Pawo Tsugla Trengwa 599 7 Some Remarks on the Bodhicary›vat›ra and Pawo Rinpoche’s Commentary 601 8 The Ninth Chapter of Pawo Rinpoche’s Commentary on The Entrance to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life 617 Appendix I: A Short Biography of the Second Pawo Rinpoche Tsugla Trengwa 791 Appendix II: Non-Buddhist Indian Schools 794 Appendix III: Tibetan Text of the Ninth Chapter of the Bodhicary›vat›ra 800 Glossary: English–Sanskrit–Tibetan 816 Glossary: Tibetan–Sanskrit–English 823 Bibliography 831 Endnotes 853 Index 963 Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 9 Much ado about nothing. William Shakespeare “O young lady, who gave you this self-confidence of yours?” “The Elder himself imparted it to me, because this self-confidence of mine would not have arisen if the Elder had not questioned me.” From The SÒtra of the Prophecy of the Young Lady Excellent Moon Breathe the form of Madhyamaka—open sky Feel the sound of Madhyamaka—roaring silence Open up to the touch of Madhyamaka—letting go Be thrilled by the taste of Madhyamaka—equality’s variety Get soaked within the scent of Madhyamaka—freedom innate Resistance is liberation No point in fighting You are all surrounded by yourself Give up the surroundings Don’t defend your headquarters And conquer the citadel of self-surrender Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 10 Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 11 T Acknowledgments This book would never have come into existence were it not for The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche telling me in his usual, seemingly casual way, “You should write an introduction on Madhyamaka for your translation of Pawo Rinpoche’s commentary on the Bodhicary›vat›ra.” At first, I took this remark as a joke. However, Rinpoche kept coming back to this idea. He even became very specific about what such an introduction should include and which texts should be con- sulted, so I could not but start taking this project more seriously. It rapidly grew from a mere introduction into quite an extensive volume of its own, partly because Rinpoche, at each of our meetings over the years, added topics to be included. Thus, my sincere gratitude and respect go to The Dzogchen Ponlop Rinpoche for his original idea and his continuous inspiration and guidance throughout the entire project. Even greater is the kindness and skillfulness of Khenchen Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, who for many years has guided West- ern students through the world of Tibetan Buddhist scriptures with their various philosophical systems and terminologies. Without him, I would not have much of a clue about the intricacies of the Buddhist teachings and their practical appli- cation. Further thanks go to Acharya Lama Tenpa Gyaltsen, who helped with many questions about translation. I am also very grateful to all the Western schol- ars, particularly Prof. Lambert Schmithausen and Dr. Klaus-Dieter Matthes, who opened my eyes to the richness and profundity of both the Sanskrit language and the Yog›c›ra tradition. Sincere thanks go to Sidney Piburn and Jeff Cox from Snow Lion Publications for their readiness to publish this text. Tracy Davis and Steve Rhodes deserve thanks and praise for being very meticulous and caring editors. My heartfelt grat- itude is also extended to Mette Harboe and Carmen Rumbaut for their untiring diligence in accomplishing the first volunteer phase of editing, in terms of Eng- lish as well as content. They are both to be commended for offering many help- ful suggestions and insights, as are Linda Patrik and Jirka Hladis. Thanks to Julia Martin for her assistance with the bibliographic research in Vienna and Stephanie Johnston for preparing the charts. Regarding the financial side, I would like to express my deep gratitude to a dear friend and anonymous benefactor who alle- viated my task of self-sponsoring, and to Nitartha Institute for assistance during Center Sunlit-01:Center Sunlit-01 6/30/09 9:35 AM Page 12 12 The Center of the Sunlit Sky the final phase of the project.
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