K¬¹nti in the bodhisattva path of ˜¹ntideva Barbara E. Nelson March 2021 Canberra, Australia Corrected version of a thesis presented in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Sydney, August, 2003 Abstract ˜¹ntideva, an Indian Buddhist monk who flourished in the 8th century C.E., was the author of two works, the Bodhicary¹vat¹ra and the ˜ik¬¹samuccaya. These texts concern the practices of the bodhisattva and have an important place in the Mah¹y¹na Buddhist tradition. The Bodhicary¹vat¹ra has been translated from Sanskrit and Tibetan many times, but detailed study of the content of the two texts is lacking. Therefore, ˜¹ntideva’s contribution to his tradition has not been clearly defined. This thesis investigates k¬¹nti in the bodhisattva path of ˜¹ntideva and compares ˜¹ntideva’s interpretation of k¬¹nti with that found in the Mah¹y¹na tradition. Key concepts in the description of the bodhisattva path and the models of the bodhisattva path available to ˜¹ntideva are outlined. The bodhisattva path is presented in a variety of ways in Mah¹y¹na texts. K¬¹nti as a p¹ramit¹ is primarily an antidote to anger, but has a number of other meanings in Mah¹y¹na literature. The structures of ˜¹ntideva’s two works are examined and shown not to conform entirely to any previous models of the path. ˜¹ntideva’s treatment of k¬¹nti shows his focus on the preliminary stages of the bodhisattva path and on the beginner bodhisattva. ˜¹ntideva treats k¬¹nti mainly as an antidote to anger, but also as a part of developing the positive emotions of benevolence and compassion. He relies on the previous tradition, but does not draw on all aspects of k¬¹nti found in earlier literature. iii Acknowledgements I would like to thank all the people who have helped me during the years I have worked on this thesis. My supervisor, Dr Peter Oldmeadow, has guided the thesis to its completion. I very much appreciate his scholarship and calm direction. Dr N. Ross Reat supervised me in the initial stages of the project at the University of Queensland, and the Department of Studies in Religion there provided me with facilities to begin the project. The Australian Government awarded an Australian Postgraduate Award, which also helped me to get started. I spent two very happy months in Puªe in May and June 1998, reading the k¬¹nti chapters with Mrs Pushpa Kale. She provided insights into the cultural background of the texts, and helped with making sense of them. Having the opportunity to undertake intensive Sanskrit study in an environment where Sanskrit scholars are plentiful and valued was a joy. Royce and Tamara provided me with contacts in Puªe. Professor Saroja Bhate of the University of Puªe; and my landlord and my yoga teacher all helped to make my stay there a wonderful experience. My friend Jilli has encouraged me from the very beginning to the very end. I value her friendship immensely, and her belief that I could do it. Patrick Kearney also encouraged me at the beginning of my studies, and provided an opportunity to discuss Buddhist thought. Eloith helped me translate La Vallée Poussin’s difficult French. I thank all my friends who took an interest, the Dzogchen Community, and I thank all my teachers. My family loved and supported me. Hugh, Adrian and Diana, who all had experience of the academic enterprise, encouraged me to keep going. Margaret, Ron and Geoffrey always provided emotional and practical support. I am very sad that my father, Hugh, passed away in June 2001, and did not have the opportunity to see the thesis completed. The thesis would not have been possible without the excellent collection of the Australian National University Library. I am grateful to the past scholars of the ANU who ensured the collection existed. I am also grateful to the Library for providing me with paid employment over many years. Finally, because not least, I thank Conrad for his love, companionship, encouragement and assistance in many ways over the past four years. iv Table of Contents Abstract............................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgements........................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ............................................................................................. v Abbreviations ................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................1 Chapter 2 ˜¹ntideva : an introduction ........................................................8 I ˜¹ntideva’s life, work and tradition ....................................................... 8 I.1 ˜¹ntideva’s life.................................................................................... 13 I.2 ˜¹ntideva’s works ............................................................................... 14 I.3 ˜¹ntideva’s tradition ........................................................................... 18 II Survey of study of ˜¹ntideva ................................................................ 20 II.1 Early assessments .............................................................................. 21 II.2 Late nineteenth century and early twentieth century context ............ 24 II.3 Mid-twentieth century ....................................................................... 27 II.4 Later twentieth century ..................................................................... 42 Conclusion ............................................................................................... 43 Chapter 3 Bodhisattva path and k¬¹nti in the Mah¹y¹na tradition.............45 I Literature............................................................................................... 46 II Path structures...................................................................................... 53 II.1 Bodhisattva, bodhicitta, and the bodhisattva path ............................. 53 II.2 P¹ramit¹s........................................................................................... 63 II.3 BhØmis .............................................................................................. 76 II.4 M¹rga ...............................................................................................113 III K¬¹nti ................................................................................................118 v III.1 Types of k¬¹nti ................................................................................118 III.2 K¬¹ntip¹ramit¹ ...............................................................................124 Conclusio n ..............................................................................................134 Chapter 4 Bodhisattva path in ˜¹ntideva’s works ..................................... 136 I Structures .............................................................................................137 I.1Structure of the Bodhicary¹vat¹ra.......................................................137 I.2 Structure of the ˜ik¬¹samuccaya .......................................................144 I.3 Comparison of the Bodhicary¹vat¹ra and the ˜ik¬¹samuccaya ...........148 I.4 Another version of the Bodhicary¹vat¹ra ...........................................161 II BhØmis in Bodhicary¹vat¹ra and ˜ik¬¹samuccaya ................................164 II.1 The beginning of the ˜ik¬¹samuccaya ...............................................165 II.2 Other references to bhØmis in the ˜ik¬¹samuccaya............................173 II.3 BhØmis and ˜¹ntideva’s path ............................................................177 Conclusio n ..............................................................................................178 Chapter 5 K¬¹nti in the works of ˜¹ntideva .............................................. 180 I K¬¹ntip¹ramit¹......................................................................................181 I.1 The three types of k¬¹ntip¹ramit¹ in the ˜ik¬¹samuccaya..................181 I.2 The three types of k¬¹ntip¹ramit¹ in the Bodhicary¹vat¹ra................188 I.3 Comparison of k¬¹nti in the Bodhicary¹vat¹ra and the ˜ik¬¹samuccaya ........................................................................................................................194 II ˜¹ntideva’s arguments .........................................................................202 II.1 Concepts of the main argument........................................................202 II.2 Arguments to change attitude to desired/undesired .........................220 II.3 Other arguments...............................................................................225 III Patient acceptance of the non-arising of dharmas (anutpattikadharmak¬¹nti)..............................................................................229 Conclusio n ..............................................................................................230 vi Chapter 6 K¬¹nti in ˜¹ntideva in the context of the tradition ................... 232 I.1 Ak¬ayamati SØtra ...............................................................................233 I.2 ¸rya¶Øra’s P¹ramit¹sam¹sa................................................................237 I.3 Candrak»rti’s Madhyamak¹vat¹rabh¹¬ya ............................................238 I.4 BodhisattvabhØmi...............................................................................239