Acknowledgments Cover image of Maitreya Buddha courtesy of Osel Shen Phen Ling’s web site at www.fpmt-osel.org. Image was created by Bob Jacobson, 1996. Acknowledgement is made of the glossary items obtained at http://www.rinpoche.com/glossary.htm. We give thanks to Maitreya Buddha and all Enlightened beings. We give thanks to Arya Asanga and all great bodhisattvas. We give thanks to Lama Zasep Tulku Rinpoche and all accomplished spiritual guides. We offer our sincere appreciation to Deborah Simpson and MaryJane Nehring, co-founders of Gaden Rime Zong Ling (1982). Special appreciation to George Tilser, for his masterful audio-taping of the original teachings. Special appreciation to each transcriber, who worker on each tape for about 6 hours. Special appreciation to USAT program director, Cyndy Roomy. Special appreciation to all involved in the USAT program in any capacity. And finally, (although Rick will try to edit this one out, no doubt!), a very special appreciation we should offer to Rick Rova, who has devoted literally hundreds of hours and his considerable technical expertise to get the project into its current state-of the-art format. Any and every mistake or error of judgement is entirely the responsibility of the editors. Your forbearance is appreciated! May every living being recognize and fully develop their potential to become perfectly Enlightened Buddhas as quickly as possible. The USAT Buddha-nature course directors Vancouver, BC, Canada 2001 September 4 . Part 1 of Buddha-Nature Course Module of the USAT Program, Version 1.0, 04 September 2001 © Copyright 2001 Zuru Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre, Vancouver, BC Canada. All rights reserved Buddha-Nature The Mahayana Uttara Tantra Shastra Maitreya’s Root Text & Asanga’s Commentary Commentary by 13th Zasep Tulku Rinpoche Given during retreat at Lake Cowichan, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada from May 10-17, 1985 Based on translation by E. Obermiller Chapter 1, “On the Essence of Buddhahood,” Verses 1-165 1st Four Vajra Topics Hosted by Zuru Ling (formerly Gaden Rimé Zong Ling) Dharma Centre i Table of Contents INTRODUCTION TO THE USAT STUDY PROGRAM AND THE BUDDHA-NATURE TEACHINGS: ..........III CLASS 1. [MUTS01/00:00] ................................................................................................................................................1 (#1) ..............................................................................................................................................................................1 VERSE 1: THE CONTENTS OF THE WORK ..........................................................................................................................9 VERSE 2: THE SEVEN SUBJECTS ACCORDING TO THE DHARANISVARA-RAJA-PARIPRCCHA................................................10 CLASS 2: [MUTS01/41:20]..............................................................................................................................................11 VERSE 3: THE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SEVEN SUBJECTS ........................................................................................11 (#2) ............................................................................................................................................................................12 THE JEWEL OF THE BUDDHA...........................................................................................................................................17 VERSE 4..........................................................................................................................................................................17 VERSE 5..........................................................................................................................................................................17 VERSE 6..........................................................................................................................................................................17 VERSE 7..........................................................................................................................................................................17 VERSE 8..........................................................................................................................................................................17 (#3) ............................................................................................................................................................................24 CLASS 3 [MUTS03/0:00].................................................................................................................................................25 CLASS 4: [MUTS03/41:50]..............................................................................................................................................39 (#4) ............................................................................................................................................................................39 CLASS 5. [MUTS04/34:55] ..............................................................................................................................................51 THE JEWEL OF THE DOCTRINE ........................................................................................................................................51 VERSE 9..........................................................................................................................................................................51 (#5) ............................................................................................................................................................................53 VERSE 10. .......................................................................................................................................................................55 CLASS 6. [MUTS05/24:50] ..............................................................................................................................................59 (#6) ............................................................................................................................................................................64 CLASS 6 OPTIONAL: MAHAYANA PRECEPTS [MUTS06/08:00].........................................................................67 CLASS 6 OPTIONAL: MINDFULNESS OF BREATHING MEDITATION [MUTS06/37:00 TO 38:45] .............72 CLASS 7. [MUTS06/38:53] ..............................................................................................................................................73 VERSE 11. .......................................................................................................................................................................73 VERSE 12. .......................................................................................................................................................................74 (#7) ............................................................................................................................................................................74 VERSE 13. .......................................................................................................................................................................75 THE JEWEL OF THE CONGREGATION: .............................................................................................................................75 VERSE 14. .......................................................................................................................................................................79 VERSE 15. THE SAINT’S KNOWLEDGE OF THE ABSOLUTE TRUTH .................................................................................80 VERSE 16. THE EMPIRICAL KNOWLEDGE OF THE SAINTS ..............................................................................................81 CLASS 8. [MUTS07/28:25] ..............................................................................................................................................83 (#8) ............................................................................................................................................................................87 VERSE 17. THE PERCEPTION OF THE SAINTS IS INTROSPECTIVE KNOWLEDGE...............................................................88 VERSE 18. .......................................................................................................................................................................89 ii CLASS 9. [MUTS08/25:30] ............................................................................................................................................. 95 VERSE 19. ...................................................................................................................................................................... 95 THE DOCTRINE AND THE CONGREGATION ARE NOT REFUGES IN THE ULTIMATE SENSE............................................. 97 VERSE 20. ...................................................................................................................................................................... 97 (#9) ......................................................................................................................................................................... 102 CLASS 10. [MUTS09/13:30] ........................................................................................................................................