As the abiding nature of reality, as reality itself, the expanse of reality, the faultlessness of reality, the nature of just what is, the
unmistakable
nature of just what is, the unalterable nature of just what is, and as the genuine goal, it abides as just what is.
Dudjom Rinpoche - Fundamentals and History of the Nyingmapa
an?
yet there no great difference in their pattern of thought
nd reahsation, for whlch reason they possess the same
3 The Greater Vehicle
which arouse corrupt states, in accordance with the quota- tion begmnmg:
All things originate interdependently.
They are compounded by the conditions of ignorance.
And continuing down to:
Thus only this great mass of suffering has arisen.
The latter includes the buddha-bodies, pristine cognitions and fields of the utterly pure The former are so called because they depend on extraneous COndItIOnS of deeds and propensities, and the latter because they originate from the condition of obscurationless power.
Then, the essential nature of the absolute is classified into both the unchanging and the incontrovertible. The former consists of the nucleus of inne. r radiance, the unchanging natural expression of the expanse of reahty, or the truth which is the abiding nature. As the Sutra of the Bounteous Array says:
This nucleus is well defined As the ground-of-all.
,the when the of the uncorrupted path has been reac. hed, It IS explamed that this same nucleus is incontrovertibly ac- tuahsed because the conflicting emotions which cover the genuine resultant ground-of-all are entirely purified. ' , This philosophical system of Mind Only (Cittamdtra) is classified mto ? oth those who hold sensa to be veridical (Sakaravada) and those to be false (Nirakaravada). The former profess that, to
The greater vehicle or the vehicle of the bodhisattvas has two divisions which are made also on the basis of its philosophical schools, namely,
the Vijfianavada and the Madhyamaka.
VIJNANA V ADA
[71a. 1-72b. 3] The Vijfianavadin merely confirms that objects are not perceived and indeed that substance is covert in accordance with the Sautrantika refutation which, on analysis, did not find the temporal parts of consciousness and the spatial parts of atoms postulated by the Vaibhasika. For this reason the Sutra of the King of Contemplation
(Samad'hirajasutra, T 127) says:161
o sons of the Conqueror, this threefold realm is only mind.
This philosophical school is therefore called the Vijfianavada of consciousness] because it maintains all, things to be merely the appan-
tiona1 aspect of mind.
The Vijfianavadin also admits, in conformity with the transmission
of the final turning of the doctrinal wheel, that all things are definitively
ordered according to three [essential natures] of reality, namely, the
imaginary, the dependent and the absolute.
Among these, the essential category of the imaginary is classified
into the nominal imaginary and the imaginary of delimited character- istics. The former, since it indicates the conventional, includes the essential features of, or the particular names and symbols applied to, all things, which are exaggerated by the intellect despite being non- existent in reality. The latter is exemplified by the'two [postulated]
selves [of individuals and phenomena]. The essential nature of the dependent is also divided into both impure dependence and pure de- pendence. The former includes everything subsumed by the five basic
he of the eye which apprehends the colour blue the blue eXIst b l ' , '
s as ue, Just as It appears, The latter are slightly superior
the former in holding that everything such as the appearance of
has no substantiality of either object or intellect and that nothm 'I' '
g matena eXIsts apart from consciousness through which the
pro ', f' '
penSItIes 0 Ignorance are exaggerated and appearances then vitiated
Or enhanced by the ignorance of the intellect.
d,:hen, further classified, [those holding sensa to be veridical] are
1 erentIated according to the categories of objects and consciousness
So that ther h I " ' b" e are t ose c aImmg perception has an equal number of
o )ectlVe and subjective factors, those claiming there is a diversity of
sensa but n t f ' , ,
, 0 0 conSCIOusness, and those claImmg that [sensa and
resemble the two halves of one egg. 162 Those holding
1:;sa,to be false, too, are divided between the maculate and the immacu-
b ehsmce,they hold that the essence of mind is either vitiated or not
yt estamsofig ,,
ent 'I norant prOpenSItIeS, Among those claiming perception
al s an equal number of objective and subjective factors, there are
The Greater Vehicle 161
162 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
The Greater Vehicle 163
adherents of the eight aggregates of consciousness, and adherents of the six aggregates of consciousness. And among those claiming there is diversity of sensa but not of consciousness, there are some who hold to the six aggregates of consciousness and others who hold to a single consciousness. Such classifications become limitless.
While this school is somewhat superior to the vehicles of the pious attendants and the self-centred buddhas, it does not correctly under- stand the nature of the absolute category which is the ultimate truth. This is because, although both those holding sensa to be veridical and those holding sensa to be false realise that the sensa of external objects are not true, they do admit the intrinsic awareness which is naturally radiant, non-dual perception to exist absolutely as the ultimate truth. 163
MADHY AMAKA
Secondly, the Madhyamika are divided into both adherents of the coarse, Outer Madhyamaka which claims there is no substantial exist- ence, and the subtle, inner Great Madhyamaka of the definitive mean- ing. The former includes both the Svatantrika-Madhyamaka and the Prasangika-Madhyamaka systems.
Outer Madhyamaka Svatantrika-Madhyamaka
[72b. 4-73b. 4] The philosophical systems of the Sautrantika and Mind Only (Cittamatra) fall into the extreme of clinging to substan- tial existence, and so do not depart from conceptual elaboration, which is subjectively oriented. However, the Svatantrika system occupies the centre (madhyama) because therein all things are held to be of the nature of the middle way which does not fall into either of the two extremes.
Moreover, the tenet that all things exist in the perceptual aspect of the bewildered intellect of relative appearance, but are ultimately non- existent in the awareness of the unbewildered intellect is claimed by the Svatantrika-Madhyamika.
'Vhen these [two truths] are classified, there is held to be both a correct relative (tathyasart7:vfti) in which appearances are causally effective, and an erroneous relative (mithyasan:zvfti) in which ances are not causally effective. On the ultimate level, too, there is held to be an ultimate truth which is referred to by synonyms (paryayaparamarthasatya) in order to cut through. a single aspect of conceptual elaboration, such as the view that a shoot is not self-pro- duced, and an ultimate truth without synonyms (aparyayaparamartha- satya) which cuts through conceptual elaboration of the four extremes,
beginning with the view that a shoot is produced neither from itself, nor from another source and so on. Their characteristic nature is that the relative [truth] does not resist scrutiny inasmuch as it can be refuted by the scrutinising intellect, and the ultimate truth does resist scrutiny inasmuch as it cannot be refuted by the intellect.
Nagarjuna
Accordingly, in order to realise that the relative or phenomenal ap- pearances which cannot be denied are not [inherently] existent one is made to perceive that they do not exist as veridical The substances of external objects and of consciousness are held to be empty
a. nd only a pristine cognition undifferentiated into any of the exaggera- tIonandde . . f[. o.
preciatlOn 0 VIews concermng] bemg and non-being is admItted. So it is that the Short Commentary (Sphu{artha, T 3793) begins:
By the pristine cognition which is individual, intrinsic awareness . . .
o•
. .
t at w IC IS to be refuted [I. e. the mherent existence
cue as the Valra Fragments (rdo-rje'i gzegs-ma) which scrutinises the Refutation of Production from Entities or Non-Entities od-med skye-'gog) which scrutinises results; the Refutation of the Four
The refutati
f .
OJ. relatIve s h
f h
hO h· ] . I
on 0
IS a so proven by reason and logical axioms,
164 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
The Greater Vehicle 165
Limits of Production (mu-bzhi skye-'gog) which scutinises [both causes and results]; the Supreme Relativity (rten-'brel chen-po), arranged in syllogisms of implicitly affirmative negation (ma-yin dgag); and the Absence of the Singular and the Multiple (gcig-dang du-bral) arranged in syllogisms of explicit negation (med-dgag). 164
As a result, illusion and so forth, which are the objects of proof [in this system], are not proven by means of implicitly affirmative nega- tion which delimits their scope,165 but they are adduced by means of explicit negation which excludes166 through mere negation [the possibil- ity of] genuine substantial existence. In this way, a hypothetically con- ceived unborn nature is claimed by the Svatantrika-Madhyamika to be a characteristic of ultimate truth, unelaborate as the sky.
In addition, by proving that which does not ultimately exist to be relatively existent, this system continues the flaws of the eternalist- nihilist dichotomy. Their understanding of mere explicit negation, a hypothetically conceived freedom from conceptual elaboration, abides not in the definitive meaning, and even the intellectual reasoning which refutes conceptual elaboration does not transcend the details of concep- tual elaboration.
Prasaitgika-M adhyamaka
[73b. 5-77a. 4. ] Secondly, the Prasangika-Madhyamika demarcate the two truths by distinguishing between the bewildered intellect and the unbewildered intellect. The dichotomy between subjective conscious- ness and objective data never appears within the range of the meditative absorptions of sublime bodhisattvas and the all-knowing pristine cogni- tion of the buddhas, just as dreams are not perceived when one is not asleep. As the master Nagarjuna says:
Just as, for example, on falling asleep,
A man sees by the power of dreams
His son, wife, mansion and lands,
But sees them not upon awakening,
So it is that when those who know relative
appearance
Open the eyes of intelligence,
Part from the sleep of unknowing,
And wake up, they no longer perceive it.
The subjective entry into pristine cognition is also called quies<;ence, and when all the conceptual elaborations of mind and mental events have been interrupted and obstructed, that which abides in the cessation of supreme quiescence, the expanse of reality free from all thoughts and expressions, is called the reality of unbewildered intelligence. As Candraklrti has explained [in his Introduction to the Madhyamaka,
Ch. ll, v. 13]:
Thus, because reality is uncreated,
Intellects too are uncreated.
Therefore the reality known within the contents
of these [intellects]
Is known conventionally, in the manner, For example, of the mind
Which correctly cognises its object
On the emergence of objective sensa.
Aryadeva
Andalso[Ch. 1l,v. 16]:
When the dry brushwood of all that is knowable is burnt,
The peace which results is the body of reality of the conquerors.
At that time there "is neither creation nor cessation, For the cessation of mind has been actualised by that
body.
So it is that this state is called the realisation of ultimate truth and the object of this [realisation] is the fundamental abiding nature, the natur- ally pure expanse of reality.
166 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
However the bewildered intellect of false perception vitiates [this reality] its propensities of common ignorance. In the manner of a person with a certain eye disease clinging to the ? f and the vision of combed-out hairs, the sensa of the subJect- object dichotomy which appear as the various of the SIX
of beings along with their experiences of happmess . and and low, and the different sensa which appear to bemgs dunng the aftermath of meditation, that is, the world and ItS contents as are generally known, are both assigned to the two of
appearance, according to whether are the sensa of ImpaIred or unimpaired faculties. As the Introductwn to Madhyamaka (Ch. 6, v. 24)
says:
There are two kinds of false perception, One endowed with clear sense faculties,
The other with impaired faculties.
The perception of the impaired faculties
Is deemed wrong observation by those of excellent
faculties.
By virtue of this, all the things of sarpsara, along :with mind, the events and their objective sensations, are relative also applies to the attainment of the levels associated the impure forms 167 which are within the . u. mmpeded range . of mmd and mental events and to other such appantIOnS among the SIX gates of consciousness. In short, all that is or IS
amassed on the side of relative appearance and estabhshed as ment. Relative appearances are also divided into the erroneous which appears to those of impaired faculties, the correct. relative which appears as the object ofunimpaired faculties. The former mcludes the perceptiort of two moons and dreams which are reputed to untrue even when they appear within the range of mundane perceptIOn. The latter includes the perception of one moon which is reputed to be true
when it appears within the range of mundane
Now, that which diversely appears to the
The Greater Vehicle 167 And in the Destruction of Bewilderment by Nagarjuna [Madhyamaka-
bhramaghtita by A. ryadeva, T 3850]:168
When genuiqe scholars have accordingly
Destroyed all the propensities of ignorance
By the sun of knowledge, without exception,
The objective mind and mental events are not seen.
In this way, the ultimate truth is characterised as the essence free from all conceptual elaborations of the subject-object dichotomy, in which all the stains of the mind and its mental events are quiescent in the expanse of reality, and which is not extraneously perceived because it is not discursive thought, or words, phrases and other such particular existents. Ultimate truth is also characterised as the abiding nature of reality which is beyond thought, free from all conceptual elaborations, and untouched by philosophical systems. As explained in the Root Stanzas on the Madhyamaka entitled Discriminative Awareness (cf. Ch. 25, v. 24):
It is characterised as quiescent
Without being extraneously perceived, Unelaborated by conceptual elaborations,
And not different from non-conceptualisation.
To sum up: The expanse that is characterised as the profound, calm mind of the sublimest of buddhas free from all obscurations, the all- knowing pristine cognition which realises that [expanse], the essence of the pristine cognition of sublime bodhisattvas' meditative equipoise, and the sensations of higher insight which appear during the aftermath [of meditation] are all the ultimate truth.
. Although the Prasarigika also appraise things to have no independent existence through the five logical axioms, they do not, in the manner of the Svatantrika, alternately prove relative appearances to be false once refuted them, or prove freedom from conceptual elabora- tion. having once refuted conceptual elaboration with respect to ultimate realIty and so forth. Rather, this unbewildered intention of the dialectic escorts the inexpressible, inconceivable abiding in which no things are differentiated according to theories of non-being, both being and non-being or neither being nor non- bemg. It has refuted all the philosophical systems which have been upheld. Accordingly, the Refutation of Disputed Topics (v. 29) says:
If I were to possess some proposition, I would at that time be at fault.
Since I am without propositions,
I am entirely without fault.
ibly true under the circumstances of t. he ,:hlc of
clings to duality, is never referred to m meditative eqmpOlSe 0 sublime beings or in a buddha whose has and whom bewildering appearances never appear, Just as the VISIon of com
ed-out hairs experienced by one of impaired eyesight never
n one of good eyesight. Accordingly it is scvid in the above [IntroductW
to the Madhyamaka, Ch. 6, v. 29]:
Having investigated any erroneous objects
Such as the vision of hairs in blindness,
One should know the [relative truth] also to include Anything seen by anyone of pure vision.
168 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
And in the Four Hundred Verses T 3846, Ch. 16, v. 25):
One who adheres to no standpoint,
Of being, non-being, both being and non-being, Or neither being nor non-being,
Over a very long period cannot be censured.
And also in the Jewel Lamp of the iVIadhyamaka (Madhyamakaratna- pradfpa, T 3854):
Substances which are postulated
Do not even subtly exist.
Since they have been uncreated from the beginning, They are as the son of a barren woman.
If it is objected that [in the Prasailgika view] the very definitive structure of the two truths would become non-existent, it is the case that in the abiding nature of reality all dualistic doctrines such as the two truths are transcended. The Prasailgika do label the apparitional world according to its mere exaggerated status, but they do not adhere to it in the manner of those philosophical systems which cling to it as [inherently] true. As it is said in the Introduction to the Madhyamaka (Ch. 6 v. 18ab):
Just as you hold substances to have dependent existence,
I have not admitted even relative existence. And in the Sutra of the King of Contemplation:
As for the unwritten doctrines [of emptiness], Those which are heard and revealed
Are indeed heard and revealed
After the unchanging [reality] has been exaggerated.
Therefore, the provision of pristine cognition has been accumu- lated through meditation which coalesces meditative equipoise in ity, or discriminative awareness, and the great compassion of skIlful means and when the provision of merit has been accumulated by all things as an apparition during the aftermat. h of meditation, finally the buddha-body of reality and the two bodIes of form are obtained. As it is said in the Jewel Garland (Ratniivalf, T 4158, Ch. 3, v. 12):
This body of form of the buddhas Originated from the provision of merit.
The body of reality, to be brief,
Springs from the provision of kingly pristine
The Greater Vehicle 169
Thus the Madhyamaka of the ground refers to the two truths, the Madhyamaka of the path to the provisions, and the Madhyamaka of the result to the coalesence of the two buddha-bodies.
Great Madhyamaka
[77a. 4-84a. 4] Secondly, concerning the subtle, inner Great Madh- yamaka of definitive meaning, it is stated in the Jewel Lamp of the Madhyamaka by the master Bhavya (skal-Idan):
The Madhyamaka of the Prasailgika and the Svatantrika is the coarse, Outer Madhyamaka. It should indeed be expres- sed by those who profess well-informed intelligence during debates with [extremist] Outsiders, during the composition of great treatises, and while establishing texts which concern supreme reasoning. However, when the subtle, inner
Madhyamaka is experientially cultivated, one should medi- tate on the nature of Yogacara-Madhyamaka. 169
cognition.
Asanga
170 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
The Greater Vehicle 171
In this way, two Madhyamaka are spoken of, one outer and coarse,
the other inner and subtle.
Concerning the latter, the regent Ajita [Maitreya] has extensively
analysed the meaningful intention of the topics of vast significance which revealed all things in terms of the three essential natures. This he did by means of discourses connected with the irreversible intention of the final turning of the doctrinal wheel and with the utter purity of the three spheres [of subject, object and their interaction].
Whereas in the aforementioned tradition of Mind Only, the depend- ent nature is the ground of emptiness and is explained to be the absolute, empty of imaginary objects of refutation, here it is the absolute reality (chos-nyid yongs-grub) that is claimed to be empty of imaginary objects of refutation. Accordingly, the components, psychophysical bases and activity fields, which are dependently conceived, are said to be a ground which is empty of the imaginary self and its properties;
and the ground which is empty of that dependent ground of emptiness is absolute reality. This ground of emptiness never comes into existence because it is empty of the phenomena of sarpsara, which are charac- terised as suddenly arisen and which are divided according to essential stains and substantial faults. However this ground is not empty of the amassed enlightened attributes of nirvaI). a which spontaneously abide
from the beginning.
Accordingly, it is said in the Supreme Continuum ofthe Greater Vehicle
(Ch. 1, v. 1SS):
The seed which is empty of suddenly arisen
phenomena
Endowed with divisive characteristics
Is not empty of the unsurpassed reality "Endowed with indivisible characteristics.
1
And in the Commentary [on the Supreme Continuum ofthe Greater Vehicle,
Mahiiyiinottaratantrasiistravyiikhyii, T 402S, p. 76]:
If one asks what is revealed by this passage, the reason for there being no basis of all-conflicting emotions requiring t. o be clarified in this naturally pure seed of the tathagata IS that it is naturally free from suddenly arisen stains. It nothing at all which can be established as a basis for punfi- cation for its nature is reality, pure of divisive phenomena.
So it that the nucleus of the tathagata is empty of divisions . . which may be removed and of the entire nest of emotions, but it is not empty of the inconceivable of the buddhas which outnumber all the sands of the RIver
Ganges and are non-divisive and inalienable.
Now it is also said that the imaginary implies that attributes are without
substantial existence, the dependent that creation is without substantial existence and the absolute that ultimate reality is without substantial existence. The first two of these [indicate] that the conceptual aspects of the subject-object dichotomy, which are suddenly arising fictions, are empty of their own essence, and the latter refers to emptiness as the naturally expressed, fundamental essence itself which has no sub- stantiality. Since this [ultimate reality] is naturally pure, it abides, through its function of emptiness, as the enlightened attributes of the buddha-body of reality, and through its apparitional function as the ground on which the buddha-bodies, fields, celestial mansions and so forth arise. Through its function of awareness, it is spontaneously pres- , ent from the beginning, free from causes and free from results, because it is the supporting ground of the ten powers, the four fearlessnesses and the like. This natural expression of the buddhas, which is called the nucleus of the sugata, does not abide as the seed of creation, destruc- tion, transformation, change, increase or decrease, cause or condition, and so forth, and it is ever uncovered, without being an object of metaphor, thought or expression. It is said in the Play of Maiijusrf (Maiijusrfvikrftjitamahiiyiinasutra, T 96):
Sister, although suddenly arising conflicting emotions do emerge in relation to the natural inner radiance, the natural inner radiance cannot be defiled by those suddenly arisen all-conflicting emotions.
And the regent Ajita has said [in the Supreme Continuum ofthe Greater Vehicle, Ch. l, v. S]:
Uncompounded and spontaneously present, Unrealised through external conditions, Endowed with knowledge, love and power
Is the buddhahood possessing the two benefits.
If one were otherwise to apprehend all things as being exclusively empty of their own essence, in the manner ofthe proponents of intrinsic emptiness (rang-stong-pa), then it is said that according to the same [argument] the buddha-body of reality would also be empty of Itself. The buddha-bodies, pristine cognitions, fields and so forth be non-existent, the accumulation of the provisions and purifi- of obscurations, which depend upon these, would also be non- eXIstent, and indeed the teachings through which the causal and result- vehicles reveal all of purifying stains, whatever their
SIS or path, would be dImInIshed. The ground of purification being non-existent, there would be no need to effect purification. Being empty of pristine cognition, there would be no work on behalf of others and [enlightened] understanding. There being nothing existent, even WIth respect to the relative appearances of the impure dependent
172 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
nature, there would also be no enlightened attributes to impurities into the pure dependent nature. There would be no self to become the ground of bondage and liberation, and there would be no doctrine to be realised by each one individually. Many such faults would persist and by nature give rise to the source of unbearable views. This can be known from quotations such as the following from the Sutra o f the Dialogue with Kasyapa from the Sublime Pagoda o f Precious Jewels (Aryaratnakutakasyapaparivartas11tra, T 87):
o Ka§yapa, whoever, referring to emptiness, relies upon emptiness deviates from this discourse of mine; theirs is said to be a great deviation. 0 Kasyapa, it is better to abide in a view [which clings to] individual existence to the extent of Mount Sumeru, than with manifest egotism to adopt a view to emptiness. If you ask why, 0 Kasyapa, I have explained that although that which arises from all views is emptiness, Kasyapa, that which exclusively regards empti- ness is untenable.
If one were, on the other hand, to object that this would not be emptiness, it is not the case, as the Sublime Siitra ofthe Descent to Lanka says:
Ifyou ask what is the emptiness which is the ultimate reality of all things, the great pristine cognition of the sublime beings, it is as follows. The attainment of the pristine cogni- tion of the sublime beings, which is one's own intrinsic awareness, is empty of the propensities of all views and faults. This is called the emptiness which is the ultimate reality of all things, the great pristine cognition of sublime beings.
This ultimate reality that is empty of extraneous entities (gzhan-stong), is similarly found in siltras belonging to the intermediate promulgation of the doctrinal wheel. It is said in the Transcendental Perfection of Discriminative Awareness in Twenty-five Thousand Lines:
173
t rea er
The nature of, this expanse in the minds of sentient beings is like a treasure precIOUS gems within the earth, uncovered by stains in respect Its own essence, and yet it simultaneously assumes the sud- denly ansen of sarpsara, in the manner, for example, of water and Ice. It says m the Sutra of the King of Contemplation:
Pure, clear and inwardly radiant, Undisturbed and uncompounded Is the nucleus of the sugata.
It is the reality that abides from the beginning.
And in the master Nagarjuna's Eulogy to the Expanse ofReality (v. 23):
The water that lies within the earth Remains immaculately pure.
The pristine cognition within conflicting
emotions, too,
Remains similarly immaculate.
Such q,uotations that the status of the nucleus [of the tathagata] accor? mg to the defimtlve meaning is inconceivable.
ThIs nucleus of the tathagata, with respect to its own essence, is the throughout sarpsara and nirvat:la, without good or evil. As it is saId [m the Ornament ofthe Sutras ofthe Greater Vehicle, Ch. 9, v. 37]:
The nature of just what is, in all things, is undifferentiated.
When purified, it is the nature of the tathagata. Therefore all living beings possess that nucleus.
fUCh extensive quotations have an intention directed towards the abso- nature, which is unchanging reality. Therefore the Supreme Con-
tznuum of the Greater Vehicle (Ch. l, v. 51) says: Subsequently just as it was before
Is the unchanging reality.
In this context, if you ask what is the emptiness of other substances, it applies whether the tathagatas have appeared or not.
As the abiding nature of reality, as reality itself, the expanse of reality, the faultlessness of reality, the nature of just what is, the unmistakable nature of just what is, the unalterable nature of just what is, and as the genuine goal, it abides as just what is. Therefore, this reality, which is empty of extraneous entities, is called the emptiness of other substances. Subhl1ti, this is the greater vehicle of the bodhisattvas, great spiritual warriors.
. .
':Vhen beings are circumstantially classified in relation to the stains whlch suddenly' h [; 11 ' " ,
in t
.
ans:, t ey a mto three categones. As It IS explained he Supreme Contmuum of the Greater Vehicle eCh. l, v. 47):
to order of being impure, unfymg that IS Impure and being utterly pure,
They are called sentIent beings, bodhisattvas and tathagatas.
The Greater Vehicle And it is extensively mentioned in the Supreme Continuum o+the G
. I ' '}
Vehzc e, as CIted above in the passage eCh. l, v. lss) which begins:
The seed which is empty of suddenly arisen phenomena Endowed with divisive characteristics. . .
174 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
And in the Commentary [on the Supreme Continum ofthe Greater Vehicle,
p. 40]:
Therefore, those in the circumstance of being impure are called sentient beings, those in the circumstance of purifying that which is impure are called bodhisattvas and those in the circumstance of being utterly pure are called tathagatas.
Similarly, everything appears according to distinctions such as the three vehicles, to diffLfentiations based upon hierarchical classifications such as the ten levels and the five paths, and likewise to ethical hierar- chies such as good and evil sentient beings, pious attendants and self- centred buddhas, and sublime bodhisattvas and buddhas. However, the natural inner radiance, which is the expanse of reality and the ultimate truth, pervades everything without [distinctions between] good and evil or decrease and increase, just as, for example, vases appear to be distinguished according to their quality, there being clay vases, wooden vases, vases of precious gems and so on, while the space within these vases is identical in that it is without qualities. Accordingly, the Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle (Ch. 1, vv. 49-50) says:
Just as space is omnipresent,
Having a thoughtless nature,
So the natural expression of mind,
The immaculate expanse, is all-pervasive.
Its general characteristic pervades the limits
Of negative and positive attributes,
In the manner of the space
Within inferior, mediocre and superior material forms.
If one then asks what exactly the three circumstances just mentioned are, beings are separated between sarpsara and nirval). a according to the distinction of whether they are liberated or not liberated from the stains that obscure the nucleus. As the same text says:
One covered by the net of conflicting emotions Is truly called a sentient being.
On becoming free from conflicting emotions One is called a buddha.
Regarding this threefold circumstance, ordinary persons who are obscured by the great darkness of obscuration have nothing but_a portion of enlightened attributes. By contrast, the among the pious attendants and self-centred buddhas are more subhme than in enlightened attributes since they have gradually reduced the stamS covering the nucleus by the greater or lesser potency of the antidotes which have power to remove them. Then, the bodhisattvas appear to be even more sublime, having attained the levels, and surpassed those
The Greater Vehicle 175
who have not renounced all aspects of ignorance. Beyond that, the buddhas free from all obscurations appear yet more sublime.
Therefore, this ultimate truth which is the expanse [of reality] is not qualitatively perceived according to its abiding nature by the three lower kinds of sublime being, namely, the pious attendants, self-centred buddhas and bodhisattvas. It is not manifestly perceived by one who abides on the paths of provision and connection except as a mere volition of the scrutinising intellect. Again, although it is partially perceived on the paths of insight and meditation, the expanse cannot be perfectly perceived through these paths, apart from a mere proportion of its
enlightened attributes, just as a small child does not perceive the all-en- compassing sun apart from the mere glimpse of its rays through an aperture.
As has previously been cited [from the Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle, Ch. 2, v. 68]:
Because it is not an object of speech, Is subsumed by ultimate reality,
Is not within reason's domain,
Is beyond exemplification,
Is unsurpassed and is subsumed neither by existence nor quiescence,
The objective range of the Conqueror is inconceivable Even to sublime beings.
It is on the buddha level that the natural expression [of reality] is directly and perfectly perceived. As explained in the Commentary on the Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle (p. 77):
Just as the sun in the sky appears
Through an aperture in the clouds,
In this situation you are not fully perceived
Even by sublime beings endowed with pure eyes of Intelligence; for their intelligence is partial. However, Transcendent Lord, you who are the pure
body of reality,
Pervading the spacious expanse of limitless knowledge Are totally perceived by those whose intelligence is
limitless.
Would it then be, one ·might object, that sentient beings become bUddhas who have accumulated the two provisions and renounced the two obscurations by means of this naturally radiant expanse, which is effortlessly present in the nature of sentient beings? That is not so, because there are two kinds of renunciation, one that is naturally pure
and the other that becomes free from the suddenly arisen stains. The former is the reality which, in respect of its own essence, abides without
176 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
changing in the fundamental nature of great primordial purity. It is said in the Sutra of the Adornment of Pristine Cognition's Appearance which Penetrates the Scope of All Buddhas jiiiiniilokiilarrzkiirasutra, T 100):
MafijusrI, since the mind is naturally radiant, it is naturally undefiled by all-conflicting emotions, and is only [provision- ally] defiled by all the subsidiary conflicting emotions which suddenly arise. That which is naturally radiant is the very absence of all-conflicting emotions. For one who is without all-conflicting emotions, there is no antidote through which all-conflicting emotions should be renounced.
And in the Transcendental Pelfection of Discriminative Awareness m Twenty-five Thousand Lines:
"Kausika, what do you think of this? Are sentient beings created or do they expire? " He replied, "Venerable Subhiiti, that is not the case. If you ask why, it is because sentient beings are pure from the beginning. "
And also in the same text:
Since form is naturally radiant, it is pure without all-conflict- ing emotions. Since feeling, perception, habitual tendencies and consciousness are naturally radiant, they are pure with- out all-conflicting emotions. Since all manifestations up to omniscience are naturally radiant, they are pure and without all-conflicting emotions.
According to such extensive quotations, natural renunciation is that which transcends the phenomena of consciousness and is a genuine liberation from all obscurations. It is complete from the beginning in ultimate truth because absolute reality is naturally pure.
The second kind of renunciation is the removal of the suddenly arising obscurations by an appropriate antidote. Although, as previously explained, the unactualised enlightened attributes which exist in the· ground unrefined by the path are present in the situation of sentient beings, no defect is thereby introduced to this philosophical system because it is not claimed that sentient beings are buddhas free from all obscurations. •
In the same way, there are also two kinds of realisation, namely, the naturally present pristine cognition realised through the intrinsic aware- ness of primordial reality, and the dependently produced pristine cog- nition realised through the power of meditating on the path. The former is characterised as supramundane, being the naturally present pristine cognition or discernment through individual intuitive awareness which
The Greater Vehicle 177 realises the ultimate reality. Thus [the Litany ofthe Names ofMaiijusrf,
v. 155ab] says:
It is awareness of itself, awareness of others, And awareness of all.
It is the all-knowing sacred total awareness.
The two fundamental kinds of renunciation and realisation are complete in their own essence, which is the abiding nature of ultimate reality. As the venerable Maitreya [in the Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle, Ch. l, v. 154]17o says:
Therein there is nothing to be clarified And nothing to be minutely established. Genuinely regarding that genuine reality, Genuinely perceiving it, one will be free.
The second kind of realisation is that pattern of realisation which is
expanded by the power of meditating on the path. It is called the
absolute which is incontrovertible because enlightened attributes of
obscurationless power are actualised once the two provisions of pristine
cognition have been accumulated through meditative equipoise and merit
during the aftermath. As the Ornament of the Satras of the Greater Vehicle , (Ch. 9, v. 22abd) says:
Though there is no distinction Between the former and the latter, It is the nature of just what is, Untainted by all obscurations, That is held to be the buddha.
4 The Superiority of Great Madhyamaka to Mind Only
aspects of consciousness is revealed in the ultimate truth A d' 1 . ' 'd' h . . ccormgy, It IS sal m t e Sublzme Siitra of the Descent to Lanka:
One who become without mind, intellect, the conscious- of . the mtellect, conceptualising thoughts and percep- tIOn,_wIll. receptive to the uncreated doctrine. 0 0ahamatl, smce the doctrine which is apparitionless and fr. om. con. ceptualising thoughts is revealed, this ul-
tImate reahty IS WIthout order or orderly intervals.
[84a. 4-92a. 6] This system, according to which the relative is. ,empty of its own essence and the ultimate empty of other entities, is variously revealed in both the intermediate and final promulgations. However, in particular, the presence of profound, radiant and non-dual pristine cognition, the nucleus of the sugata, as the ground of emptiness is extensively taught in the piIaka of the final transmitted precepts, and in those which speak ofall things as merely apparitional aspects ofmind.
Derived from these [precepts], certain masters of the past have been obliged to admit that the mind is ultimately real and thereby originated the school of the VijfUinavada [proponents of consciousness], which is one of those known at the present day as the four philosophical systems. While not reaching the genuine intention, that mind described as the mind of which all things are merely apparitional aspects partakes of two circumstances, one under which its intention is directed to the consciousness of the ground-of-all, and the other under which its inten- tion is directed to the absolute reality (chos-nyid yongs-gnlb).
When the former is intended, it is said not to be the ultimate truth because it is impermanent, the bewildered subject and object being relative appearances. For example, the Siitra ofthe Adornment ofPristine Cognition's Appearance which Penetrates the Scope of All Buddhas says:
SaradvatIputra, that which is called mind includes the con- sciousness of mind and intellect, the mental body, the faculty of the intellect and the base of the intellect. This is what is called the mind. If you ask how emptiness relates with it, SaradvatIputra, the mind is empty of the mind. In it there is no actor. If there were some actor, then its actions would be experienced as such by others. The mind is not manifestly conditioned even by the mind.
Though it is taught that all things are merely apparitional aspects of mind, there is no occasion so to speak in connection with the ultimate truth, for the pristine cognition transcending mind, intellect and all
Maitreya
And also [Ch. 3, vv. 40-1]:
Having renounced the mind and intellect
Consciousness, perception and thoughts ' Th . ,
e pIOUS attendants who have obtained the conceptualising doctrine
Become the sons of the Conqueror. Through the distinctions of [buddha-]field
and [bodhisattvas'] receptiveness [Th . ]. ,
eygam theVIrtuouspristinecognitionoftheTathagata.
Superiority ofGreat Madhyamaka 179
180 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
Superiority ofGreat Madhyamaka 181
There are, in addition, proponents of the Mind system who hold that consciousness is not the ultimate truth. But this is simply a subjective perception of sarp. sara, unable to sublimate the world. The ultimate truth is as. t. he unc? r-
rupted expanse, and as the WhICh realises it, namely, the supramundane, indIVIdual, mtUitIVe awareness of the sublime beings.
The distinction between these two [views] has been extensively taught in passages such as the following from that [same] sutra of the greater vehicle [Descent to Lanka, p. 64]:
In this context, Mahamati, pristine cognition is of three kinds: mundane, supramundane and most 0 Of these, that which having been created is destroyed IS consciousness; and that which is neither created de- stroyed is pristine cognition. Moreover, MahamatI, that which falls into the dichotomy of being symbolic or non-sym- bolic that which falls into the dichotomy of being and non- and that which is created from caus. es diverse character, is consciousness; whereas that WhICh IS terised as utterly transcending the dichotomy of symbol. Ic and non-symbolic is pristine cognition. And agam Mahamati that which is characterised as accumulatmg them is and that which is characterised as diminish- ing them is pristine cognition. . . .
Now these three kinds [of pristine cogmtIon respectIvely] generate the realisation of individual and general characteris- tics, the realisation of that which is created and destroyed and the realisation of that which is neither created nor ceases. The mundane pristine cognition is that of the extremists who manifestly cling to theses of being or non-being of all ordinary childish persons. The supramundane pnstme cognition is that of all pious attendants and . bud- dhas who openly cling to thoughts which fall mto and general characteristics. The most supramundane pnstme cognition is the analytical insight of the buddhas bodhisattvas into apparitionless reality. It is seen to be WIth- out creation or cessation, for they comprehend the level of the Tathagata who is free from theses concernmg being and non-being. .
Furthermore, Mahamati, that which is charactensed as unattached is pristine cognition, and that is charac- teristically attached to various objects is And again, Mahamati, that which is as pro- duced from the triple combination [of subject, object and
their interaction]l? l is consciousness and that characterised as the essential nature which is not so produced is pristine cognition. Then again, Mahamati, that which is charac- terised as not to be attained is pristine cognition, since
each one's own sublime pristine cognition does not emerge
as a perceptual object of realisation, [but is present] in the
manner of the moon's reflection in water. On this it must be said [Ch. 3, vv. 38-9]:
The mind accrues deeds and so forth)
But pristine cognition breaks them down)·
By discriminative awareness) too) the apparitionless Reality and powers are well obtained.
It is the mind which objectifies.
And similarly it is said in the Sublime Sutra of Clouds of Precious Jewels
(Aryaratnameghasutra, T 231):
.
This doctrine genuinely transcends all written and spoken words. It genuinely transcends the entire range of expres- sions. It genuinely transcends all verbalisation. It is free from all conceptual elaboration and free from all that is accepted or rejected. It is free from all opening and closing, and free from all sophistry. It is not to be analysed and is
not within the range of sophistry. It genuinely transcends the range of sophistry. It is non-symbolic, free from sym-. bolism and genuinely transcends the range of symbolism. It genuinely transcends the range of the childish. It genuinely transcends the range ofall demons, and genuinely transcends
the range of all conflicting emotions. It genuinely transcends the range of consciousness. It does, however, lie within the range of the indetermin'ate, dynamic, quiescent and sublime pristine cognition. The individual, intrinsic awareness of these attributes is a topic which is taintless, uncovered, pure,
bountiful, supreme, sacred, perfect, permanent, firm, en- during and imperishable. Whether the tathagatas have ap- peared or not, this expanse of reality is exclusively present.
The inconceivability of the ultimate, sublime pristine cognition, ex- tensively revealed by such quotations, does not lie within the path [followed] by the proponents of the Mind Only system. It is admitted that this naturally radiant, intuitive awareness, the perception free from the subject-object dichotomy, is itself the true basis of buddhahood and it is held that the subject is dependently real. It is therefore
for anyone holding consciousness to exist substantially in ultimate reality to understand literally the selflessness of phenomena. In the same vein the Sutra of the Descent to Lanka (Ch. 10, vv. 359 and 358) also says:
182
Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
Being mind only, it is apparitionless.
Being apparitionless, it is uncreated.
These middle paths
Have been explained by myself, and others too. Realising that there is only mind,
External substances are clarified.
By reversing the pattern of conceptualising thought, That path becomes the middle one.
So it is that this intention of the final transmitted precepts, abiding in the Great Madhyamaka of definitive meaning, is clearly revealed in
172
the commentaries of great bodhisattvas
the two promulgators who were masters of the greater [Nagar- juna and Asailga] along with their followers. Although certam masters may well have developed other systems and tenets e. lsewhere of necessity, it is difficult to estimate whether they are ordmary or sublIme beings. There may well be occasion to speak in the manner [of these masters] owing to various basic intentions once one has reached the level of the sublime ones, but childish persons like ourselves should understand the importance of not accumulating evil deeds which re- nounce the doctrine, having clung to a single extreme [view].
If this system [of Great Madhyamaka] were also to be as Mind Only because the three essential natures are taught then the three essential natures are extensively revealed, too, m the mter- mediate transmitted precepts such as the Intermediate Mother:
Maitreya, regard any imaginary form as not substantially existent. One might regard any conceptualised form as sub- stantially existent because thoughts exist substantially, but do not confer independent status upon it. Then you should regard the very form of reality as being disclosed by ultimate reality, for it is neither substantially existent nor not substan- tially existent.
And again in the Epitome ofthe Transcendental Perfection ofDiscriminative Awareness in Eight Thousand Lines (AHasahasrikapirJ,qartha, T 3809, vv. 27-9):
The transcendental perfection of discriminative awareness Genuinely depends on three teachings:
The imaginary, dependent and absolute alone.
By negative expressions and the like
All that is imaginary is refuted.
By apparition and other such similes
The dependent is correctly revealed.
'fi . 173 Through the fourfold pun lcatlOn
The absolute is well known.
Superiority ofGreat Madhyamaka 183
Other than the transcendental perfection Of discriminative awareness,
The buddhas have no teaching.
Similarly, in the master Nagamitra's Introduction to the Three Bodies
(Kayatrayavataramukha, T 3890), the three essential natures are also
summarised as the causal basis for the attainment of the three buddha-
bodies, and in the Commentary [on the Introduction to the Three Bodies . ,
Kayatrayavrttz, T 3891] composed by the proponent of the Great Madhyamaka, ]fianacandra, the same point is explained. Despite all the definitive structures of the three essential natures which have been set forth in all such texts of Great Madhyamaka, those who propound that they belong not to the Madhyamaka tradition but just to that of
Mind Only have not even seen these relevant texts. As the Siltra ofthe Descent to Lanka (Ch. 10, vv. 256-7) says:
One who relies on Mind Only,
Does not discern external objects.
Relying on the apparitionless,
Mind Only should be transcended.
Relying on the genuine object of reference,
The apparitionless should be transcended. A yogin who abides in the apparitionless Does not perceive the greater vehicle.
Accordingly, after Mind Only has been provisionally taught and then genuinely transcended, the apparitionless Madhyamaka is taught; and when that too has been transcended, the apparitional Madhyamaka is revealed. If that is not reached, it is said that the profound meaning of greater vehicle is not perceived. It is, in general, erroneous to everything expressed by the word mind as the Mind Only
doctnne; for there are occasions when the abiding nature free from all
extremes, [known] inclusively as the nature of just what is, the genuine
the natural nirval). a, the expanse of reality, the mind of inner
ra? lance, and the intellect of Samantabhadra, is indicated by the word mznd. The Long Mother says:
Subhuti, that mind is not the mind.
The nature of that mind is inner radiance.
One should not therefore mistake that which is spoken of as mind-as- SUch, the inner radiance transcending the mind of samsara and its events, for the Mind Only system which does transcend
The latter is characterised in the Satra of the Descent to anka (Ch. 3, v. 32 and Ch. 10, v. 486) as follows:
Conne. cted ,with propensities of conceptualising thought, The diVerSIty which arises from the mind
and in the compositions of
184 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
And appears externally to mankind, Is the mundane Mind Only [view].
There is indeed a distinction between the mundane and the supra- mundane Mind Only which is identical in meaning to the distinction between consciousness and pristine cognition, as previously explained. Similarly, those terms revealed in the most profound [sutras] of the greater vehicle which are synonyms of mind should be likewise
It would indeed be a grave error to equate the tenets of mundane Mmd Only with the Great Sage's buddha-body of reality and the mass of its inseparable enlightened attributes, exceeding all the sands of the River Ganges, which are inclusively known as the uncorrupted expanse, . the inconceivable expanse, ultimate virtue, unchanging and firm reahty, truth in the ultimate abiding nature of reality, the primordially liberated buddha-body, freedom from all conceptual elaborations of the four extremes, and renunciation of the two concepts of selfhood. These are spontaneously present, utterly transcending the phenomena of con- sciousness.
nd reahsation, for whlch reason they possess the same
3 The Greater Vehicle
which arouse corrupt states, in accordance with the quota- tion begmnmg:
All things originate interdependently.
They are compounded by the conditions of ignorance.
And continuing down to:
Thus only this great mass of suffering has arisen.
The latter includes the buddha-bodies, pristine cognitions and fields of the utterly pure The former are so called because they depend on extraneous COndItIOnS of deeds and propensities, and the latter because they originate from the condition of obscurationless power.
Then, the essential nature of the absolute is classified into both the unchanging and the incontrovertible. The former consists of the nucleus of inne. r radiance, the unchanging natural expression of the expanse of reahty, or the truth which is the abiding nature. As the Sutra of the Bounteous Array says:
This nucleus is well defined As the ground-of-all.
,the when the of the uncorrupted path has been reac. hed, It IS explamed that this same nucleus is incontrovertibly ac- tuahsed because the conflicting emotions which cover the genuine resultant ground-of-all are entirely purified. ' , This philosophical system of Mind Only (Cittamdtra) is classified mto ? oth those who hold sensa to be veridical (Sakaravada) and those to be false (Nirakaravada). The former profess that, to
The greater vehicle or the vehicle of the bodhisattvas has two divisions which are made also on the basis of its philosophical schools, namely,
the Vijfianavada and the Madhyamaka.
VIJNANA V ADA
[71a. 1-72b. 3] The Vijfianavadin merely confirms that objects are not perceived and indeed that substance is covert in accordance with the Sautrantika refutation which, on analysis, did not find the temporal parts of consciousness and the spatial parts of atoms postulated by the Vaibhasika. For this reason the Sutra of the King of Contemplation
(Samad'hirajasutra, T 127) says:161
o sons of the Conqueror, this threefold realm is only mind.
This philosophical school is therefore called the Vijfianavada of consciousness] because it maintains all, things to be merely the appan-
tiona1 aspect of mind.
The Vijfianavadin also admits, in conformity with the transmission
of the final turning of the doctrinal wheel, that all things are definitively
ordered according to three [essential natures] of reality, namely, the
imaginary, the dependent and the absolute.
Among these, the essential category of the imaginary is classified
into the nominal imaginary and the imaginary of delimited character- istics. The former, since it indicates the conventional, includes the essential features of, or the particular names and symbols applied to, all things, which are exaggerated by the intellect despite being non- existent in reality. The latter is exemplified by the'two [postulated]
selves [of individuals and phenomena]. The essential nature of the dependent is also divided into both impure dependence and pure de- pendence. The former includes everything subsumed by the five basic
he of the eye which apprehends the colour blue the blue eXIst b l ' , '
s as ue, Just as It appears, The latter are slightly superior
the former in holding that everything such as the appearance of
has no substantiality of either object or intellect and that nothm 'I' '
g matena eXIsts apart from consciousness through which the
pro ', f' '
penSItIes 0 Ignorance are exaggerated and appearances then vitiated
Or enhanced by the ignorance of the intellect.
d,:hen, further classified, [those holding sensa to be veridical] are
1 erentIated according to the categories of objects and consciousness
So that ther h I " ' b" e are t ose c aImmg perception has an equal number of
o )ectlVe and subjective factors, those claiming there is a diversity of
sensa but n t f ' , ,
, 0 0 conSCIOusness, and those claImmg that [sensa and
resemble the two halves of one egg. 162 Those holding
1:;sa,to be false, too, are divided between the maculate and the immacu-
b ehsmce,they hold that the essence of mind is either vitiated or not
yt estamsofig ,,
ent 'I norant prOpenSItIeS, Among those claiming perception
al s an equal number of objective and subjective factors, there are
The Greater Vehicle 161
162 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
The Greater Vehicle 163
adherents of the eight aggregates of consciousness, and adherents of the six aggregates of consciousness. And among those claiming there is diversity of sensa but not of consciousness, there are some who hold to the six aggregates of consciousness and others who hold to a single consciousness. Such classifications become limitless.
While this school is somewhat superior to the vehicles of the pious attendants and the self-centred buddhas, it does not correctly under- stand the nature of the absolute category which is the ultimate truth. This is because, although both those holding sensa to be veridical and those holding sensa to be false realise that the sensa of external objects are not true, they do admit the intrinsic awareness which is naturally radiant, non-dual perception to exist absolutely as the ultimate truth. 163
MADHY AMAKA
Secondly, the Madhyamika are divided into both adherents of the coarse, Outer Madhyamaka which claims there is no substantial exist- ence, and the subtle, inner Great Madhyamaka of the definitive mean- ing. The former includes both the Svatantrika-Madhyamaka and the Prasangika-Madhyamaka systems.
Outer Madhyamaka Svatantrika-Madhyamaka
[72b. 4-73b. 4] The philosophical systems of the Sautrantika and Mind Only (Cittamatra) fall into the extreme of clinging to substan- tial existence, and so do not depart from conceptual elaboration, which is subjectively oriented. However, the Svatantrika system occupies the centre (madhyama) because therein all things are held to be of the nature of the middle way which does not fall into either of the two extremes.
Moreover, the tenet that all things exist in the perceptual aspect of the bewildered intellect of relative appearance, but are ultimately non- existent in the awareness of the unbewildered intellect is claimed by the Svatantrika-Madhyamika.
'Vhen these [two truths] are classified, there is held to be both a correct relative (tathyasart7:vfti) in which appearances are causally effective, and an erroneous relative (mithyasan:zvfti) in which ances are not causally effective. On the ultimate level, too, there is held to be an ultimate truth which is referred to by synonyms (paryayaparamarthasatya) in order to cut through. a single aspect of conceptual elaboration, such as the view that a shoot is not self-pro- duced, and an ultimate truth without synonyms (aparyayaparamartha- satya) which cuts through conceptual elaboration of the four extremes,
beginning with the view that a shoot is produced neither from itself, nor from another source and so on. Their characteristic nature is that the relative [truth] does not resist scrutiny inasmuch as it can be refuted by the scrutinising intellect, and the ultimate truth does resist scrutiny inasmuch as it cannot be refuted by the intellect.
Nagarjuna
Accordingly, in order to realise that the relative or phenomenal ap- pearances which cannot be denied are not [inherently] existent one is made to perceive that they do not exist as veridical The substances of external objects and of consciousness are held to be empty
a. nd only a pristine cognition undifferentiated into any of the exaggera- tIonandde . . f[. o.
preciatlOn 0 VIews concermng] bemg and non-being is admItted. So it is that the Short Commentary (Sphu{artha, T 3793) begins:
By the pristine cognition which is individual, intrinsic awareness . . .
o•
. .
t at w IC IS to be refuted [I. e. the mherent existence
cue as the Valra Fragments (rdo-rje'i gzegs-ma) which scrutinises the Refutation of Production from Entities or Non-Entities od-med skye-'gog) which scrutinises results; the Refutation of the Four
The refutati
f .
OJ. relatIve s h
f h
hO h· ] . I
on 0
IS a so proven by reason and logical axioms,
164 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
The Greater Vehicle 165
Limits of Production (mu-bzhi skye-'gog) which scutinises [both causes and results]; the Supreme Relativity (rten-'brel chen-po), arranged in syllogisms of implicitly affirmative negation (ma-yin dgag); and the Absence of the Singular and the Multiple (gcig-dang du-bral) arranged in syllogisms of explicit negation (med-dgag). 164
As a result, illusion and so forth, which are the objects of proof [in this system], are not proven by means of implicitly affirmative nega- tion which delimits their scope,165 but they are adduced by means of explicit negation which excludes166 through mere negation [the possibil- ity of] genuine substantial existence. In this way, a hypothetically con- ceived unborn nature is claimed by the Svatantrika-Madhyamika to be a characteristic of ultimate truth, unelaborate as the sky.
In addition, by proving that which does not ultimately exist to be relatively existent, this system continues the flaws of the eternalist- nihilist dichotomy. Their understanding of mere explicit negation, a hypothetically conceived freedom from conceptual elaboration, abides not in the definitive meaning, and even the intellectual reasoning which refutes conceptual elaboration does not transcend the details of concep- tual elaboration.
Prasaitgika-M adhyamaka
[73b. 5-77a. 4. ] Secondly, the Prasangika-Madhyamika demarcate the two truths by distinguishing between the bewildered intellect and the unbewildered intellect. The dichotomy between subjective conscious- ness and objective data never appears within the range of the meditative absorptions of sublime bodhisattvas and the all-knowing pristine cogni- tion of the buddhas, just as dreams are not perceived when one is not asleep. As the master Nagarjuna says:
Just as, for example, on falling asleep,
A man sees by the power of dreams
His son, wife, mansion and lands,
But sees them not upon awakening,
So it is that when those who know relative
appearance
Open the eyes of intelligence,
Part from the sleep of unknowing,
And wake up, they no longer perceive it.
The subjective entry into pristine cognition is also called quies<;ence, and when all the conceptual elaborations of mind and mental events have been interrupted and obstructed, that which abides in the cessation of supreme quiescence, the expanse of reality free from all thoughts and expressions, is called the reality of unbewildered intelligence. As Candraklrti has explained [in his Introduction to the Madhyamaka,
Ch. ll, v. 13]:
Thus, because reality is uncreated,
Intellects too are uncreated.
Therefore the reality known within the contents
of these [intellects]
Is known conventionally, in the manner, For example, of the mind
Which correctly cognises its object
On the emergence of objective sensa.
Aryadeva
Andalso[Ch. 1l,v. 16]:
When the dry brushwood of all that is knowable is burnt,
The peace which results is the body of reality of the conquerors.
At that time there "is neither creation nor cessation, For the cessation of mind has been actualised by that
body.
So it is that this state is called the realisation of ultimate truth and the object of this [realisation] is the fundamental abiding nature, the natur- ally pure expanse of reality.
166 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
However the bewildered intellect of false perception vitiates [this reality] its propensities of common ignorance. In the manner of a person with a certain eye disease clinging to the ? f and the vision of combed-out hairs, the sensa of the subJect- object dichotomy which appear as the various of the SIX
of beings along with their experiences of happmess . and and low, and the different sensa which appear to bemgs dunng the aftermath of meditation, that is, the world and ItS contents as are generally known, are both assigned to the two of
appearance, according to whether are the sensa of ImpaIred or unimpaired faculties. As the Introductwn to Madhyamaka (Ch. 6, v. 24)
says:
There are two kinds of false perception, One endowed with clear sense faculties,
The other with impaired faculties.
The perception of the impaired faculties
Is deemed wrong observation by those of excellent
faculties.
By virtue of this, all the things of sarpsara, along :with mind, the events and their objective sensations, are relative also applies to the attainment of the levels associated the impure forms 167 which are within the . u. mmpeded range . of mmd and mental events and to other such appantIOnS among the SIX gates of consciousness. In short, all that is or IS
amassed on the side of relative appearance and estabhshed as ment. Relative appearances are also divided into the erroneous which appears to those of impaired faculties, the correct. relative which appears as the object ofunimpaired faculties. The former mcludes the perceptiort of two moons and dreams which are reputed to untrue even when they appear within the range of mundane perceptIOn. The latter includes the perception of one moon which is reputed to be true
when it appears within the range of mundane
Now, that which diversely appears to the
The Greater Vehicle 167 And in the Destruction of Bewilderment by Nagarjuna [Madhyamaka-
bhramaghtita by A. ryadeva, T 3850]:168
When genuiqe scholars have accordingly
Destroyed all the propensities of ignorance
By the sun of knowledge, without exception,
The objective mind and mental events are not seen.
In this way, the ultimate truth is characterised as the essence free from all conceptual elaborations of the subject-object dichotomy, in which all the stains of the mind and its mental events are quiescent in the expanse of reality, and which is not extraneously perceived because it is not discursive thought, or words, phrases and other such particular existents. Ultimate truth is also characterised as the abiding nature of reality which is beyond thought, free from all conceptual elaborations, and untouched by philosophical systems. As explained in the Root Stanzas on the Madhyamaka entitled Discriminative Awareness (cf. Ch. 25, v. 24):
It is characterised as quiescent
Without being extraneously perceived, Unelaborated by conceptual elaborations,
And not different from non-conceptualisation.
To sum up: The expanse that is characterised as the profound, calm mind of the sublimest of buddhas free from all obscurations, the all- knowing pristine cognition which realises that [expanse], the essence of the pristine cognition of sublime bodhisattvas' meditative equipoise, and the sensations of higher insight which appear during the aftermath [of meditation] are all the ultimate truth.
. Although the Prasarigika also appraise things to have no independent existence through the five logical axioms, they do not, in the manner of the Svatantrika, alternately prove relative appearances to be false once refuted them, or prove freedom from conceptual elabora- tion. having once refuted conceptual elaboration with respect to ultimate realIty and so forth. Rather, this unbewildered intention of the dialectic escorts the inexpressible, inconceivable abiding in which no things are differentiated according to theories of non-being, both being and non-being or neither being nor non- bemg. It has refuted all the philosophical systems which have been upheld. Accordingly, the Refutation of Disputed Topics (v. 29) says:
If I were to possess some proposition, I would at that time be at fault.
Since I am without propositions,
I am entirely without fault.
ibly true under the circumstances of t. he ,:hlc of
clings to duality, is never referred to m meditative eqmpOlSe 0 sublime beings or in a buddha whose has and whom bewildering appearances never appear, Just as the VISIon of com
ed-out hairs experienced by one of impaired eyesight never
n one of good eyesight. Accordingly it is scvid in the above [IntroductW
to the Madhyamaka, Ch. 6, v. 29]:
Having investigated any erroneous objects
Such as the vision of hairs in blindness,
One should know the [relative truth] also to include Anything seen by anyone of pure vision.
168 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
And in the Four Hundred Verses T 3846, Ch. 16, v. 25):
One who adheres to no standpoint,
Of being, non-being, both being and non-being, Or neither being nor non-being,
Over a very long period cannot be censured.
And also in the Jewel Lamp of the iVIadhyamaka (Madhyamakaratna- pradfpa, T 3854):
Substances which are postulated
Do not even subtly exist.
Since they have been uncreated from the beginning, They are as the son of a barren woman.
If it is objected that [in the Prasailgika view] the very definitive structure of the two truths would become non-existent, it is the case that in the abiding nature of reality all dualistic doctrines such as the two truths are transcended. The Prasailgika do label the apparitional world according to its mere exaggerated status, but they do not adhere to it in the manner of those philosophical systems which cling to it as [inherently] true. As it is said in the Introduction to the Madhyamaka (Ch. 6 v. 18ab):
Just as you hold substances to have dependent existence,
I have not admitted even relative existence. And in the Sutra of the King of Contemplation:
As for the unwritten doctrines [of emptiness], Those which are heard and revealed
Are indeed heard and revealed
After the unchanging [reality] has been exaggerated.
Therefore, the provision of pristine cognition has been accumu- lated through meditation which coalesces meditative equipoise in ity, or discriminative awareness, and the great compassion of skIlful means and when the provision of merit has been accumulated by all things as an apparition during the aftermat. h of meditation, finally the buddha-body of reality and the two bodIes of form are obtained. As it is said in the Jewel Garland (Ratniivalf, T 4158, Ch. 3, v. 12):
This body of form of the buddhas Originated from the provision of merit.
The body of reality, to be brief,
Springs from the provision of kingly pristine
The Greater Vehicle 169
Thus the Madhyamaka of the ground refers to the two truths, the Madhyamaka of the path to the provisions, and the Madhyamaka of the result to the coalesence of the two buddha-bodies.
Great Madhyamaka
[77a. 4-84a. 4] Secondly, concerning the subtle, inner Great Madh- yamaka of definitive meaning, it is stated in the Jewel Lamp of the Madhyamaka by the master Bhavya (skal-Idan):
The Madhyamaka of the Prasailgika and the Svatantrika is the coarse, Outer Madhyamaka. It should indeed be expres- sed by those who profess well-informed intelligence during debates with [extremist] Outsiders, during the composition of great treatises, and while establishing texts which concern supreme reasoning. However, when the subtle, inner
Madhyamaka is experientially cultivated, one should medi- tate on the nature of Yogacara-Madhyamaka. 169
cognition.
Asanga
170 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
The Greater Vehicle 171
In this way, two Madhyamaka are spoken of, one outer and coarse,
the other inner and subtle.
Concerning the latter, the regent Ajita [Maitreya] has extensively
analysed the meaningful intention of the topics of vast significance which revealed all things in terms of the three essential natures. This he did by means of discourses connected with the irreversible intention of the final turning of the doctrinal wheel and with the utter purity of the three spheres [of subject, object and their interaction].
Whereas in the aforementioned tradition of Mind Only, the depend- ent nature is the ground of emptiness and is explained to be the absolute, empty of imaginary objects of refutation, here it is the absolute reality (chos-nyid yongs-grub) that is claimed to be empty of imaginary objects of refutation. Accordingly, the components, psychophysical bases and activity fields, which are dependently conceived, are said to be a ground which is empty of the imaginary self and its properties;
and the ground which is empty of that dependent ground of emptiness is absolute reality. This ground of emptiness never comes into existence because it is empty of the phenomena of sarpsara, which are charac- terised as suddenly arisen and which are divided according to essential stains and substantial faults. However this ground is not empty of the amassed enlightened attributes of nirvaI). a which spontaneously abide
from the beginning.
Accordingly, it is said in the Supreme Continuum ofthe Greater Vehicle
(Ch. 1, v. 1SS):
The seed which is empty of suddenly arisen
phenomena
Endowed with divisive characteristics
Is not empty of the unsurpassed reality "Endowed with indivisible characteristics.
1
And in the Commentary [on the Supreme Continuum ofthe Greater Vehicle,
Mahiiyiinottaratantrasiistravyiikhyii, T 402S, p. 76]:
If one asks what is revealed by this passage, the reason for there being no basis of all-conflicting emotions requiring t. o be clarified in this naturally pure seed of the tathagata IS that it is naturally free from suddenly arisen stains. It nothing at all which can be established as a basis for punfi- cation for its nature is reality, pure of divisive phenomena.
So it that the nucleus of the tathagata is empty of divisions . . which may be removed and of the entire nest of emotions, but it is not empty of the inconceivable of the buddhas which outnumber all the sands of the RIver
Ganges and are non-divisive and inalienable.
Now it is also said that the imaginary implies that attributes are without
substantial existence, the dependent that creation is without substantial existence and the absolute that ultimate reality is without substantial existence. The first two of these [indicate] that the conceptual aspects of the subject-object dichotomy, which are suddenly arising fictions, are empty of their own essence, and the latter refers to emptiness as the naturally expressed, fundamental essence itself which has no sub- stantiality. Since this [ultimate reality] is naturally pure, it abides, through its function of emptiness, as the enlightened attributes of the buddha-body of reality, and through its apparitional function as the ground on which the buddha-bodies, fields, celestial mansions and so forth arise. Through its function of awareness, it is spontaneously pres- , ent from the beginning, free from causes and free from results, because it is the supporting ground of the ten powers, the four fearlessnesses and the like. This natural expression of the buddhas, which is called the nucleus of the sugata, does not abide as the seed of creation, destruc- tion, transformation, change, increase or decrease, cause or condition, and so forth, and it is ever uncovered, without being an object of metaphor, thought or expression. It is said in the Play of Maiijusrf (Maiijusrfvikrftjitamahiiyiinasutra, T 96):
Sister, although suddenly arising conflicting emotions do emerge in relation to the natural inner radiance, the natural inner radiance cannot be defiled by those suddenly arisen all-conflicting emotions.
And the regent Ajita has said [in the Supreme Continuum ofthe Greater Vehicle, Ch. l, v. S]:
Uncompounded and spontaneously present, Unrealised through external conditions, Endowed with knowledge, love and power
Is the buddhahood possessing the two benefits.
If one were otherwise to apprehend all things as being exclusively empty of their own essence, in the manner ofthe proponents of intrinsic emptiness (rang-stong-pa), then it is said that according to the same [argument] the buddha-body of reality would also be empty of Itself. The buddha-bodies, pristine cognitions, fields and so forth be non-existent, the accumulation of the provisions and purifi- of obscurations, which depend upon these, would also be non- eXIstent, and indeed the teachings through which the causal and result- vehicles reveal all of purifying stains, whatever their
SIS or path, would be dImInIshed. The ground of purification being non-existent, there would be no need to effect purification. Being empty of pristine cognition, there would be no work on behalf of others and [enlightened] understanding. There being nothing existent, even WIth respect to the relative appearances of the impure dependent
172 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
nature, there would also be no enlightened attributes to impurities into the pure dependent nature. There would be no self to become the ground of bondage and liberation, and there would be no doctrine to be realised by each one individually. Many such faults would persist and by nature give rise to the source of unbearable views. This can be known from quotations such as the following from the Sutra o f the Dialogue with Kasyapa from the Sublime Pagoda o f Precious Jewels (Aryaratnakutakasyapaparivartas11tra, T 87):
o Ka§yapa, whoever, referring to emptiness, relies upon emptiness deviates from this discourse of mine; theirs is said to be a great deviation. 0 Kasyapa, it is better to abide in a view [which clings to] individual existence to the extent of Mount Sumeru, than with manifest egotism to adopt a view to emptiness. If you ask why, 0 Kasyapa, I have explained that although that which arises from all views is emptiness, Kasyapa, that which exclusively regards empti- ness is untenable.
If one were, on the other hand, to object that this would not be emptiness, it is not the case, as the Sublime Siitra ofthe Descent to Lanka says:
Ifyou ask what is the emptiness which is the ultimate reality of all things, the great pristine cognition of the sublime beings, it is as follows. The attainment of the pristine cogni- tion of the sublime beings, which is one's own intrinsic awareness, is empty of the propensities of all views and faults. This is called the emptiness which is the ultimate reality of all things, the great pristine cognition of sublime beings.
This ultimate reality that is empty of extraneous entities (gzhan-stong), is similarly found in siltras belonging to the intermediate promulgation of the doctrinal wheel. It is said in the Transcendental Perfection of Discriminative Awareness in Twenty-five Thousand Lines:
173
t rea er
The nature of, this expanse in the minds of sentient beings is like a treasure precIOUS gems within the earth, uncovered by stains in respect Its own essence, and yet it simultaneously assumes the sud- denly ansen of sarpsara, in the manner, for example, of water and Ice. It says m the Sutra of the King of Contemplation:
Pure, clear and inwardly radiant, Undisturbed and uncompounded Is the nucleus of the sugata.
It is the reality that abides from the beginning.
And in the master Nagarjuna's Eulogy to the Expanse ofReality (v. 23):
The water that lies within the earth Remains immaculately pure.
The pristine cognition within conflicting
emotions, too,
Remains similarly immaculate.
Such q,uotations that the status of the nucleus [of the tathagata] accor? mg to the defimtlve meaning is inconceivable.
ThIs nucleus of the tathagata, with respect to its own essence, is the throughout sarpsara and nirvat:la, without good or evil. As it is saId [m the Ornament ofthe Sutras ofthe Greater Vehicle, Ch. 9, v. 37]:
The nature of just what is, in all things, is undifferentiated.
When purified, it is the nature of the tathagata. Therefore all living beings possess that nucleus.
fUCh extensive quotations have an intention directed towards the abso- nature, which is unchanging reality. Therefore the Supreme Con-
tznuum of the Greater Vehicle (Ch. l, v. 51) says: Subsequently just as it was before
Is the unchanging reality.
In this context, if you ask what is the emptiness of other substances, it applies whether the tathagatas have appeared or not.
As the abiding nature of reality, as reality itself, the expanse of reality, the faultlessness of reality, the nature of just what is, the unmistakable nature of just what is, the unalterable nature of just what is, and as the genuine goal, it abides as just what is. Therefore, this reality, which is empty of extraneous entities, is called the emptiness of other substances. Subhl1ti, this is the greater vehicle of the bodhisattvas, great spiritual warriors.
. .
':Vhen beings are circumstantially classified in relation to the stains whlch suddenly' h [; 11 ' " ,
in t
.
ans:, t ey a mto three categones. As It IS explained he Supreme Contmuum of the Greater Vehicle eCh. l, v. 47):
to order of being impure, unfymg that IS Impure and being utterly pure,
They are called sentIent beings, bodhisattvas and tathagatas.
The Greater Vehicle And it is extensively mentioned in the Supreme Continuum o+the G
. I ' '}
Vehzc e, as CIted above in the passage eCh. l, v. lss) which begins:
The seed which is empty of suddenly arisen phenomena Endowed with divisive characteristics. . .
174 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
And in the Commentary [on the Supreme Continum ofthe Greater Vehicle,
p. 40]:
Therefore, those in the circumstance of being impure are called sentient beings, those in the circumstance of purifying that which is impure are called bodhisattvas and those in the circumstance of being utterly pure are called tathagatas.
Similarly, everything appears according to distinctions such as the three vehicles, to diffLfentiations based upon hierarchical classifications such as the ten levels and the five paths, and likewise to ethical hierar- chies such as good and evil sentient beings, pious attendants and self- centred buddhas, and sublime bodhisattvas and buddhas. However, the natural inner radiance, which is the expanse of reality and the ultimate truth, pervades everything without [distinctions between] good and evil or decrease and increase, just as, for example, vases appear to be distinguished according to their quality, there being clay vases, wooden vases, vases of precious gems and so on, while the space within these vases is identical in that it is without qualities. Accordingly, the Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle (Ch. 1, vv. 49-50) says:
Just as space is omnipresent,
Having a thoughtless nature,
So the natural expression of mind,
The immaculate expanse, is all-pervasive.
Its general characteristic pervades the limits
Of negative and positive attributes,
In the manner of the space
Within inferior, mediocre and superior material forms.
If one then asks what exactly the three circumstances just mentioned are, beings are separated between sarpsara and nirval). a according to the distinction of whether they are liberated or not liberated from the stains that obscure the nucleus. As the same text says:
One covered by the net of conflicting emotions Is truly called a sentient being.
On becoming free from conflicting emotions One is called a buddha.
Regarding this threefold circumstance, ordinary persons who are obscured by the great darkness of obscuration have nothing but_a portion of enlightened attributes. By contrast, the among the pious attendants and self-centred buddhas are more subhme than in enlightened attributes since they have gradually reduced the stamS covering the nucleus by the greater or lesser potency of the antidotes which have power to remove them. Then, the bodhisattvas appear to be even more sublime, having attained the levels, and surpassed those
The Greater Vehicle 175
who have not renounced all aspects of ignorance. Beyond that, the buddhas free from all obscurations appear yet more sublime.
Therefore, this ultimate truth which is the expanse [of reality] is not qualitatively perceived according to its abiding nature by the three lower kinds of sublime being, namely, the pious attendants, self-centred buddhas and bodhisattvas. It is not manifestly perceived by one who abides on the paths of provision and connection except as a mere volition of the scrutinising intellect. Again, although it is partially perceived on the paths of insight and meditation, the expanse cannot be perfectly perceived through these paths, apart from a mere proportion of its
enlightened attributes, just as a small child does not perceive the all-en- compassing sun apart from the mere glimpse of its rays through an aperture.
As has previously been cited [from the Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle, Ch. 2, v. 68]:
Because it is not an object of speech, Is subsumed by ultimate reality,
Is not within reason's domain,
Is beyond exemplification,
Is unsurpassed and is subsumed neither by existence nor quiescence,
The objective range of the Conqueror is inconceivable Even to sublime beings.
It is on the buddha level that the natural expression [of reality] is directly and perfectly perceived. As explained in the Commentary on the Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle (p. 77):
Just as the sun in the sky appears
Through an aperture in the clouds,
In this situation you are not fully perceived
Even by sublime beings endowed with pure eyes of Intelligence; for their intelligence is partial. However, Transcendent Lord, you who are the pure
body of reality,
Pervading the spacious expanse of limitless knowledge Are totally perceived by those whose intelligence is
limitless.
Would it then be, one ·might object, that sentient beings become bUddhas who have accumulated the two provisions and renounced the two obscurations by means of this naturally radiant expanse, which is effortlessly present in the nature of sentient beings? That is not so, because there are two kinds of renunciation, one that is naturally pure
and the other that becomes free from the suddenly arisen stains. The former is the reality which, in respect of its own essence, abides without
176 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
changing in the fundamental nature of great primordial purity. It is said in the Sutra of the Adornment of Pristine Cognition's Appearance which Penetrates the Scope of All Buddhas jiiiiniilokiilarrzkiirasutra, T 100):
MafijusrI, since the mind is naturally radiant, it is naturally undefiled by all-conflicting emotions, and is only [provision- ally] defiled by all the subsidiary conflicting emotions which suddenly arise. That which is naturally radiant is the very absence of all-conflicting emotions. For one who is without all-conflicting emotions, there is no antidote through which all-conflicting emotions should be renounced.
And in the Transcendental Pelfection of Discriminative Awareness m Twenty-five Thousand Lines:
"Kausika, what do you think of this? Are sentient beings created or do they expire? " He replied, "Venerable Subhiiti, that is not the case. If you ask why, it is because sentient beings are pure from the beginning. "
And also in the same text:
Since form is naturally radiant, it is pure without all-conflict- ing emotions. Since feeling, perception, habitual tendencies and consciousness are naturally radiant, they are pure with- out all-conflicting emotions. Since all manifestations up to omniscience are naturally radiant, they are pure and without all-conflicting emotions.
According to such extensive quotations, natural renunciation is that which transcends the phenomena of consciousness and is a genuine liberation from all obscurations. It is complete from the beginning in ultimate truth because absolute reality is naturally pure.
The second kind of renunciation is the removal of the suddenly arising obscurations by an appropriate antidote. Although, as previously explained, the unactualised enlightened attributes which exist in the· ground unrefined by the path are present in the situation of sentient beings, no defect is thereby introduced to this philosophical system because it is not claimed that sentient beings are buddhas free from all obscurations. •
In the same way, there are also two kinds of realisation, namely, the naturally present pristine cognition realised through the intrinsic aware- ness of primordial reality, and the dependently produced pristine cog- nition realised through the power of meditating on the path. The former is characterised as supramundane, being the naturally present pristine cognition or discernment through individual intuitive awareness which
The Greater Vehicle 177 realises the ultimate reality. Thus [the Litany ofthe Names ofMaiijusrf,
v. 155ab] says:
It is awareness of itself, awareness of others, And awareness of all.
It is the all-knowing sacred total awareness.
The two fundamental kinds of renunciation and realisation are complete in their own essence, which is the abiding nature of ultimate reality. As the venerable Maitreya [in the Supreme Continuum of the Greater Vehicle, Ch. l, v. 154]17o says:
Therein there is nothing to be clarified And nothing to be minutely established. Genuinely regarding that genuine reality, Genuinely perceiving it, one will be free.
The second kind of realisation is that pattern of realisation which is
expanded by the power of meditating on the path. It is called the
absolute which is incontrovertible because enlightened attributes of
obscurationless power are actualised once the two provisions of pristine
cognition have been accumulated through meditative equipoise and merit
during the aftermath. As the Ornament of the Satras of the Greater Vehicle , (Ch. 9, v. 22abd) says:
Though there is no distinction Between the former and the latter, It is the nature of just what is, Untainted by all obscurations, That is held to be the buddha.
4 The Superiority of Great Madhyamaka to Mind Only
aspects of consciousness is revealed in the ultimate truth A d' 1 . ' 'd' h . . ccormgy, It IS sal m t e Sublzme Siitra of the Descent to Lanka:
One who become without mind, intellect, the conscious- of . the mtellect, conceptualising thoughts and percep- tIOn,_wIll. receptive to the uncreated doctrine. 0 0ahamatl, smce the doctrine which is apparitionless and fr. om. con. ceptualising thoughts is revealed, this ul-
tImate reahty IS WIthout order or orderly intervals.
[84a. 4-92a. 6] This system, according to which the relative is. ,empty of its own essence and the ultimate empty of other entities, is variously revealed in both the intermediate and final promulgations. However, in particular, the presence of profound, radiant and non-dual pristine cognition, the nucleus of the sugata, as the ground of emptiness is extensively taught in the piIaka of the final transmitted precepts, and in those which speak ofall things as merely apparitional aspects ofmind.
Derived from these [precepts], certain masters of the past have been obliged to admit that the mind is ultimately real and thereby originated the school of the VijfUinavada [proponents of consciousness], which is one of those known at the present day as the four philosophical systems. While not reaching the genuine intention, that mind described as the mind of which all things are merely apparitional aspects partakes of two circumstances, one under which its intention is directed to the consciousness of the ground-of-all, and the other under which its inten- tion is directed to the absolute reality (chos-nyid yongs-gnlb).
When the former is intended, it is said not to be the ultimate truth because it is impermanent, the bewildered subject and object being relative appearances. For example, the Siitra ofthe Adornment ofPristine Cognition's Appearance which Penetrates the Scope of All Buddhas says:
SaradvatIputra, that which is called mind includes the con- sciousness of mind and intellect, the mental body, the faculty of the intellect and the base of the intellect. This is what is called the mind. If you ask how emptiness relates with it, SaradvatIputra, the mind is empty of the mind. In it there is no actor. If there were some actor, then its actions would be experienced as such by others. The mind is not manifestly conditioned even by the mind.
Though it is taught that all things are merely apparitional aspects of mind, there is no occasion so to speak in connection with the ultimate truth, for the pristine cognition transcending mind, intellect and all
Maitreya
And also [Ch. 3, vv. 40-1]:
Having renounced the mind and intellect
Consciousness, perception and thoughts ' Th . ,
e pIOUS attendants who have obtained the conceptualising doctrine
Become the sons of the Conqueror. Through the distinctions of [buddha-]field
and [bodhisattvas'] receptiveness [Th . ]. ,
eygam theVIrtuouspristinecognitionoftheTathagata.
Superiority ofGreat Madhyamaka 179
180 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
Superiority ofGreat Madhyamaka 181
There are, in addition, proponents of the Mind system who hold that consciousness is not the ultimate truth. But this is simply a subjective perception of sarp. sara, unable to sublimate the world. The ultimate truth is as. t. he unc? r-
rupted expanse, and as the WhICh realises it, namely, the supramundane, indIVIdual, mtUitIVe awareness of the sublime beings.
The distinction between these two [views] has been extensively taught in passages such as the following from that [same] sutra of the greater vehicle [Descent to Lanka, p. 64]:
In this context, Mahamati, pristine cognition is of three kinds: mundane, supramundane and most 0 Of these, that which having been created is destroyed IS consciousness; and that which is neither created de- stroyed is pristine cognition. Moreover, MahamatI, that which falls into the dichotomy of being symbolic or non-sym- bolic that which falls into the dichotomy of being and non- and that which is created from caus. es diverse character, is consciousness; whereas that WhICh IS terised as utterly transcending the dichotomy of symbol. Ic and non-symbolic is pristine cognition. And agam Mahamati that which is characterised as accumulatmg them is and that which is characterised as diminish- ing them is pristine cognition. . . .
Now these three kinds [of pristine cogmtIon respectIvely] generate the realisation of individual and general characteris- tics, the realisation of that which is created and destroyed and the realisation of that which is neither created nor ceases. The mundane pristine cognition is that of the extremists who manifestly cling to theses of being or non-being of all ordinary childish persons. The supramundane pnstme cognition is that of all pious attendants and . bud- dhas who openly cling to thoughts which fall mto and general characteristics. The most supramundane pnstme cognition is the analytical insight of the buddhas bodhisattvas into apparitionless reality. It is seen to be WIth- out creation or cessation, for they comprehend the level of the Tathagata who is free from theses concernmg being and non-being. .
Furthermore, Mahamati, that which is charactensed as unattached is pristine cognition, and that is charac- teristically attached to various objects is And again, Mahamati, that which is as pro- duced from the triple combination [of subject, object and
their interaction]l? l is consciousness and that characterised as the essential nature which is not so produced is pristine cognition. Then again, Mahamati, that which is charac- terised as not to be attained is pristine cognition, since
each one's own sublime pristine cognition does not emerge
as a perceptual object of realisation, [but is present] in the
manner of the moon's reflection in water. On this it must be said [Ch. 3, vv. 38-9]:
The mind accrues deeds and so forth)
But pristine cognition breaks them down)·
By discriminative awareness) too) the apparitionless Reality and powers are well obtained.
It is the mind which objectifies.
And similarly it is said in the Sublime Sutra of Clouds of Precious Jewels
(Aryaratnameghasutra, T 231):
.
This doctrine genuinely transcends all written and spoken words. It genuinely transcends the entire range of expres- sions. It genuinely transcends all verbalisation. It is free from all conceptual elaboration and free from all that is accepted or rejected. It is free from all opening and closing, and free from all sophistry. It is not to be analysed and is
not within the range of sophistry. It genuinely transcends the range of sophistry. It is non-symbolic, free from sym-. bolism and genuinely transcends the range of symbolism. It genuinely transcends the range of the childish. It genuinely transcends the range ofall demons, and genuinely transcends
the range of all conflicting emotions. It genuinely transcends the range of consciousness. It does, however, lie within the range of the indetermin'ate, dynamic, quiescent and sublime pristine cognition. The individual, intrinsic awareness of these attributes is a topic which is taintless, uncovered, pure,
bountiful, supreme, sacred, perfect, permanent, firm, en- during and imperishable. Whether the tathagatas have ap- peared or not, this expanse of reality is exclusively present.
The inconceivability of the ultimate, sublime pristine cognition, ex- tensively revealed by such quotations, does not lie within the path [followed] by the proponents of the Mind Only system. It is admitted that this naturally radiant, intuitive awareness, the perception free from the subject-object dichotomy, is itself the true basis of buddhahood and it is held that the subject is dependently real. It is therefore
for anyone holding consciousness to exist substantially in ultimate reality to understand literally the selflessness of phenomena. In the same vein the Sutra of the Descent to Lanka (Ch. 10, vv. 359 and 358) also says:
182
Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
Being mind only, it is apparitionless.
Being apparitionless, it is uncreated.
These middle paths
Have been explained by myself, and others too. Realising that there is only mind,
External substances are clarified.
By reversing the pattern of conceptualising thought, That path becomes the middle one.
So it is that this intention of the final transmitted precepts, abiding in the Great Madhyamaka of definitive meaning, is clearly revealed in
172
the commentaries of great bodhisattvas
the two promulgators who were masters of the greater [Nagar- juna and Asailga] along with their followers. Although certam masters may well have developed other systems and tenets e. lsewhere of necessity, it is difficult to estimate whether they are ordmary or sublIme beings. There may well be occasion to speak in the manner [of these masters] owing to various basic intentions once one has reached the level of the sublime ones, but childish persons like ourselves should understand the importance of not accumulating evil deeds which re- nounce the doctrine, having clung to a single extreme [view].
If this system [of Great Madhyamaka] were also to be as Mind Only because the three essential natures are taught then the three essential natures are extensively revealed, too, m the mter- mediate transmitted precepts such as the Intermediate Mother:
Maitreya, regard any imaginary form as not substantially existent. One might regard any conceptualised form as sub- stantially existent because thoughts exist substantially, but do not confer independent status upon it. Then you should regard the very form of reality as being disclosed by ultimate reality, for it is neither substantially existent nor not substan- tially existent.
And again in the Epitome ofthe Transcendental Perfection ofDiscriminative Awareness in Eight Thousand Lines (AHasahasrikapirJ,qartha, T 3809, vv. 27-9):
The transcendental perfection of discriminative awareness Genuinely depends on three teachings:
The imaginary, dependent and absolute alone.
By negative expressions and the like
All that is imaginary is refuted.
By apparition and other such similes
The dependent is correctly revealed.
'fi . 173 Through the fourfold pun lcatlOn
The absolute is well known.
Superiority ofGreat Madhyamaka 183
Other than the transcendental perfection Of discriminative awareness,
The buddhas have no teaching.
Similarly, in the master Nagamitra's Introduction to the Three Bodies
(Kayatrayavataramukha, T 3890), the three essential natures are also
summarised as the causal basis for the attainment of the three buddha-
bodies, and in the Commentary [on the Introduction to the Three Bodies . ,
Kayatrayavrttz, T 3891] composed by the proponent of the Great Madhyamaka, ]fianacandra, the same point is explained. Despite all the definitive structures of the three essential natures which have been set forth in all such texts of Great Madhyamaka, those who propound that they belong not to the Madhyamaka tradition but just to that of
Mind Only have not even seen these relevant texts. As the Siltra ofthe Descent to Lanka (Ch. 10, vv. 256-7) says:
One who relies on Mind Only,
Does not discern external objects.
Relying on the apparitionless,
Mind Only should be transcended.
Relying on the genuine object of reference,
The apparitionless should be transcended. A yogin who abides in the apparitionless Does not perceive the greater vehicle.
Accordingly, after Mind Only has been provisionally taught and then genuinely transcended, the apparitionless Madhyamaka is taught; and when that too has been transcended, the apparitional Madhyamaka is revealed. If that is not reached, it is said that the profound meaning of greater vehicle is not perceived. It is, in general, erroneous to everything expressed by the word mind as the Mind Only
doctnne; for there are occasions when the abiding nature free from all
extremes, [known] inclusively as the nature of just what is, the genuine
the natural nirval). a, the expanse of reality, the mind of inner
ra? lance, and the intellect of Samantabhadra, is indicated by the word mznd. The Long Mother says:
Subhuti, that mind is not the mind.
The nature of that mind is inner radiance.
One should not therefore mistake that which is spoken of as mind-as- SUch, the inner radiance transcending the mind of samsara and its events, for the Mind Only system which does transcend
The latter is characterised in the Satra of the Descent to anka (Ch. 3, v. 32 and Ch. 10, v. 486) as follows:
Conne. cted ,with propensities of conceptualising thought, The diVerSIty which arises from the mind
and in the compositions of
184 Fundamentals: Vehicles ofDialectics
And appears externally to mankind, Is the mundane Mind Only [view].
There is indeed a distinction between the mundane and the supra- mundane Mind Only which is identical in meaning to the distinction between consciousness and pristine cognition, as previously explained. Similarly, those terms revealed in the most profound [sutras] of the greater vehicle which are synonyms of mind should be likewise
It would indeed be a grave error to equate the tenets of mundane Mmd Only with the Great Sage's buddha-body of reality and the mass of its inseparable enlightened attributes, exceeding all the sands of the River Ganges, which are inclusively known as the uncorrupted expanse, . the inconceivable expanse, ultimate virtue, unchanging and firm reahty, truth in the ultimate abiding nature of reality, the primordially liberated buddha-body, freedom from all conceptual elaborations of the four extremes, and renunciation of the two concepts of selfhood. These are spontaneously present, utterly transcending the phenomena of con- sciousness.
