The perfection of
Emptiness
is irrefutable.
Aryadeva - Four Hundred Verses
Calling someone with good eyesight blind or someone with a short life long-lived does not make them so.
Besides, if things could be accomplished by words alone, it would be just as reasonable to accept that they lack true existence as to think they are truly existent.
)
.
L5: [3. If there were true existence because ordinary people use the verbal convention that things are truly existent, then being conventionally existent they could not exist as their own suchness]
.
\ ###
\ 393.
\ If everything is a convention
\ Because expressed by ordinary people,
\ How can anything which exists
\ As [its own] suchness be a convention?
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.
(i. e. They could exist conventionally : On the other hand, it is ok to accept them as existing conventionally if they are
so. But obviously this means that they do not exist on their own, inherently; they are mere conventions, like illusion. We do not deny that. )
.
(-- Another's assertion: Words do not reveal an object's entity. If they did, one's mouth would burn when saying "fire" or be full when saying "pot. " Therefore we assert that ordinary people all have means of expression and terms for that which is being expressed which do not touch an object's own entity.
-- Answer: Supposedly things all exist inherently and as conventions because ordinary people speak of them by means of words which do not touch their entity. But how can anything that exists inherently, existing as its own suchness, be a convention? It could only be ultimately existent. )
.
L4: [D. Refuting non-existence as the thesis]
L5: [1. Refuting that negation of truly existent things makes things utterly non-existent]
.
\ ###
\ 394.
\ If things are non-existent because
\ Things all do not exist,
\ In that case it is incorrect that all these
\ Concern the non-existence of things.
.
(i. e. Emptiness doesn't mean complete non-existence: that would be falling to the other extreme, nihilism. Even if everything is empty of inherent existence, they are still dependently arisen and functional. Everything is dependent on the mind labeling it, but still not from the mind only. Nothing is really existent, non-existent, both, neither. The duality existence vs non-existence has to be transcended by directly seeing the real nature of the duality itself - not taking one side and rejecting the other, nor accepting both, nor rejecting both. )
.
(-- Assertion: Since you deny that things have true existence, things are non-existent.
-- Answer: If even the slightest thing is non-existent because things are not truly existent, it is incorrect that all Madhyamika theses concern the non-existence of things through refutation of previously existent truly established things, for there has never been any true existence. )
.
L5: [2. As there are no truly existent things that which is non-functional cannot be truly existent either]
.
\ ###
\ 395.
\ Since a thing does not exist
\ A non-thing cannot exist.
\ Without a thing's existence,
\ How can a non-thing be established?
.
(i. e. Another reason - Because something that has never inherently existed cannot be completely non-existent later: If there is no inherent production of anything, if everything is empty of inherent existence, then there could be no inherent cessation or anything. So emptiness could not mean complete-non-existence. - Nirvana is not produced by dropping everything, since nothing was existent in the first place. It is just a matter of directly seeing this, which is like seeing luminous space. )
.
(-- Since truly existent functional things, the object of negation, do not exist, their non-functional negation cannot be truly existent. In the world a completely disintegrated thing is said to be non-functional. In keeping with this, a completely disintegrated pot would not be feasible if the pot had never existed. Thus how could the non-functional be truly existent, when there are no truly existent functional things? The existence of a dependent thing is not feasible without that on which it depends. )
.
L4: [E. Refuting that things are not empty because analogies and reasons to establish emptiness exist]
L5: [1. Showing the invalidity in the form of absurd consequences [of asserting that] there is true existence because there are reasons]
.
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\ ###
\ 396.
\ If things are not empty because
\ They are empty by virtue of reasons,
\ The thesis would not be distinct from the reasons,
\ And thus the reasons would not exist.
.
(i. e. Could emptiness be an effect of a certain type of logic - reasons? : Let's suppose that it is a series of reasons that makes things empty of inherent existence, that they were not like this before the reasoning. This would mean the emptiness depends on those reasons, depends on a certain type of logic. That makes those reasons the "causes" and emptiness the "effect". Again using the method described above we could observe that this production is not inherent because the causes and the effect cannot be different or separate in time, nor the same or simultaneous. In other words there is no absolute causes (reasons) that could produce the effect (emptiness), and no absolute effect. Both are interdependent, co-dependently arisen concepts, empty of inherent existence because dependently arisen. And all this only confirm that everything is already empty even before any reasoning. )
.
(-- It is a mistake to think that things were previously truly existent, but are rendered non-existent through refutation of their true existence. They never existed in this way in the first place.
-- Assertion: In order to prove emptiness you must adduce reasons. Thus since the reasons exist, things are not empty, for like the reasons everything else is also truly existent.
-- Answer: If things were not empty because emptiness of true existence is established through reasons, and the thesis and reasons were inherently distinct, they would be unrelated. If the thesis were not inherently distinct from the reason but inherently one with it, they would have to be one and therefore what is to be proved could not be understood by depending on the reason. Then it follows that there are no correct reasons, since the fallacy of there being no reasons arises when one asserts truly existent things. Therefore all phenomena are established as lacking inherent existence. )
.
L5: [2. Showing the invalidity in the form of absurd consequences [of asserting that] things are not empty because there
are analogies]
.
\ ###
\ 397.
\ If things are not empty because
\ There are analogies for emptiness,
\ Can one say, "Just like the crow,
\ So too the self is black"?
.
(i. e. Could emptiness be an effect of a certain type of logic - analogies? : Same reasoning as the previous verse in the case of "logical analogies", otherwise everything would be possible like the example in this verse. )
.
(About thesis and analogies:
-- Neither the existence of reasons nor analogies establishing emptiness can be used to support the thesis that things are truly existent, for the reasons and analogies themselves lack true existence.
-- Assertion: Since there are analogies for emptiness of inherent existence, such as the reflection and so forth, everything else, like those analogies, exists and is not empty.
-- Answer: Is the analogy related or unrelated to the reason's meaning? The first has already been precluded by the reasoning which refutes truly existent reasons. In the second case, if the meaning is established through an analogy unrelated to the reason, is one able to say, "Just as the crow is black, so too is the self," because they are alike in being functional things? One should be able to do so. Yet an analogy, merely by virtue of its existence, is not suitable as an analogy for true existence. )
.
L4: [F. Explaining the purpose of teaching emptiness]
.
\ ###
\ 398.
\ If things exist inherently
\ What good is it to perceive emptiness?
\ Perception by way of conception binds.
\ This is refuted here.
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.
(i. e. The Middle Way about logic: The fact that all logic - reasons, analogies, . . . - are empty of inherent existence doesn't mean that it is completely non-existent, useless, meaningless. We still can use illusions to help to go over other illusions - the important is that there is a progression toward reality. Even if emptiness and Dependent Origination are both empty of inherent existence, they are still dependently arisen and functional. They are efficient antidotes in their proper situation. - We have no choice, we cannot jump from here to Nirvana without a virtuous path, without a gradual deconditioning. A gradual path composed of more and more subtle methods and wisdom, of adapted skillful means, can help in gradually seeing through our conditioning / karma, and ultimately attain total Liberation. Using logic showing the absurdity of the illusions, of our conditioning, is part of this. -- It is not because everything is empty of inherent existence that everything is completely non-existent, useless, meaningless, or that we should drop everything, drop all paths, or kill ourselves. That would be jumping to the other extreme, and certainly not escaping samsara. )
.
(-- Question: If analogies, reasons and all things do not exist, what is the purpose of writing all the chapters of your treatise?
-- Answer: It is for the attainment of liberation and omniscience through understanding the meaning of suchness.
-- If things existed inherently, what good would there be in perceiving / emptiness, since it would be erroneous? Thinking of things as truly existent causes one to accumulate actions and thereby wander in cyclic existence, but through fully understanding that all phenomena lack inherent existence, one gains release from worldly existence Thus as long as one sees things as truly existent, because of conceptions which cling to their true existence, one is bound to cyclic existence. In this treatise, therefore, the truly existent person and aggregates, which are the referent objects of conceptions of true existence are refuted by an extensive collection of reasoning. Sutra says, "All phenomena are empty in that they do not exist inherently" and so forth. Accordingly, this was written to teach lack of inherent existence, which does not contradict the acceptance in our system of al dependently arising phenomena. )
.
L4: [G. Showing that conceptions of extremes of existence are erroneous]
.
\ ###
\ 399.
\ To say one exists and the other does not
\ Is neither reality nor the conventional.
\ Therefore it cannot be said
\ That this exists but that does not.
.
(i. e. About the Mind Only School - the duality world-mind: One of the extremes, or skillful means, consist of thinking that only the mind inherently exist, and that everything else are completely non-existent, total fabrications of the mind. But this theory doesn't make sense nor from an absolute point of view, neither from a conventional point of view. We have already shown that everything is empty of inherent existence because everything is dependently arisen, and that there is no exception at all, not even for the three gems, dependent origination or emptiness, causality space or time, parts or characteristics, . . . A consciousness cannot exist without being conscious of something; these are co-dependent. - This is about the duality world-mind. Taking one side as absolute and the other not is not transcending the problem; it is falling into one extreme. The solution is to see their interdependence, their emptiness of inherent existence. Staying away from the four extremes: taking one side and rejecting the other, taking both sides, rejecting both sides. This applies to all dualities. )
.
(-- Among our own sectarians, Vijnaptivadins and all those who have not understood the actual meaning of the scriptures assert that consciousness is truly existent, and that external objects do not even exist conventionally. This is therefore shown to be wrong, for both are alike in existing conventionally but not ultimately.
-- To say that one exists and the other does not is not a presentation of reality, since both do not exist ultimately and are not ultimate truths. Nor is it a presentation of the conventional, since both exist conventionally and are conventional truths. Therefore all five aggregates exist conventionally but not ultimately, and so it cannot be said that mind and mental factors exist truly while external objects do not even exist conventionally. Thus Madhyamikas, too, accept both external objects and consciousness as they are known in the world. )
.
L4: [H. Impossibility of refuting through reasoning that which is free from extremes]
.
\ ###
\ 400.
\ AGAINST ONE WHO HOLDS NO THESIS THAT [THINGS]
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\ EXIST, DO NOT, OR DO AND DO NOT EXIT,
\ COUNTER-ARGUMENTS CANNOT BE RAISED
\ NO MATTER HOW LONG [ONE TRIES].
.
(i. e. The perfection of wisdom is not refutable because it is not a thesis, not a view, not a system. This perfection consist of staying away from all four extreme (Tetralemma)s: existence, non-existence, both, neither. It consist of staying away from all four positions concerning any duality. It is the Middle Way: not accepting any view, not rejecting any view. And since there is no other conceptual possibility, it is a negation without affirming anything. It is like space, like true cessation. It depends on nothing. It is not produced. It is indestructible, and has incommensurable powers. Why? Because it is almost perfectly in accord with the real non-dual nature of everything which is beyond any conceptualization and seen only by a Buddha. )
.
(-- Though things do not exist in and of themselves, they nevertheless exist. Through understanding their true mode of existence, we can gain freedom.
-- When assertions regarding true existence of things and so forth have been thoroughly refuted in this way, it is impossible to state any refutation of the assertions regarding emptiness.
-- Assertion: Even though we are unable to answer you at present, you will receive an answer--there will be those who make great effort on behalf of the Tathagata's teaching.
-- Answer: That is a futile hope! If we held a faulty thesis, it could be refuted by proving its converse.
-- No Madhyamikas hold the erroneous theses that things are inherently existent, that even the slightest thing is non- existent, that non-things are inherently both existent and non-existent, or neither. No matter how long one tries, no counter-arguments can be raised. You should understand that refuting skilled proponents of emptiness is as impossible as drawing pictures in space or causing space pain by beating it with an iron bar.
-- The Master Dharmadasa gave one analogy for each stanza of the first eight chapters. Fearing an excess of words, they have merely been cited but not elaborated in detail. )
.
L3: [The summarizing stanza:]
.
\ ###
\ The sun's light dispels all darkness.
\ Darkness has no power to destroy the sun's light.
\ The correct view destroys all extreme conceptions,
\ Banishing any opportunity for controversy. .
(i. e.
The perfection of Emptiness is irrefutable. )
.
\ ###
\ This is the sixteenth chapter from the Four Hundred on the Yogic Deeds, showing how to meditate on settling [the procedure between] spiritual guides and students.
.
This concludes the commentary on the sixteenth chapter, showing how to meditate on settling [the procedure between] spiritual guides and students, from Essence of Good Explanations, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas".
.
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L1: [The Colophon - P. 301]
.
\ ###
\ This concludes the Treatise of Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas from the mouth of Aryadeva, the spiritual son at the Exalted Naga's feet. He was born miraculously from the heart of a lotus on the island of Sinhala. Having crossed the ocean of our own and others' tenets himself, he made the Middle Way most clear by distinguishing between correct and incorrect views.
.
\ It was translated and [the meaning] settled in the temple of Ratnaguptavihara in the center of the glorious Kasmicri city of Anupamapura by the Indian abbot Suksmajana and the Tibetan translator Ba-tsap Nyi-ma-rak.
.
(This concludes the explanation both of the great trailblazer and Bodhisattva, the Master Aryadeva's work Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas and its commentary by the Master Candrakirti.
.
It was translated from the Indian into the Tibetan Language in the temple of Ratnaguptavihara in the center of the glorious Kasmiri city of Anupamapura by the Indian abbot Suksmajana, son of the Bramhmin Sajjana from the paternal line of the Brahmin Ratnavajra and by the Tibetan translator Ba-tsap Nyi-ma-drak who had consummate understanding of all texts on sutra and tantra. The meaning of the text was properly settled by explaining and listening to it.
.
~ May the one predicted by the Conqueror who attained the supreme state,
~ As well as Aryadeva and the glorious Candrakirti,
~ Who most clearly elucidated Nagarjuna's good system,
~ Rest victoriously on the crown of our heads. .
~ May the one predicted by the Conqueror who attained the supreme state,
~ As well as Aryadeva and the glorious Candrakirti,
~ Who most clearly elucidated Nagarjuna's good system,
~ Rest victoriously on the crown of our heads. .
~ Unable to bear misinterpretations of this system
~ Through the misconceptions of those who follow their own presuppositions,
~ Who lack the flawless eye of reasoning
~ And ignore the textual systems of the great trailblazers, .
~ I have explained the words and meaning of this text simply,
~ Commenting in a clear, unconfused and complete way
~ On the paths that mature the mind and bring about release
~ For all people with a Mahayana disposition. .
~ Since Aryadeva's thought is hard to ascertain
~ And my mind is poor, my acquired knowledge weak,
~ May my spiritual guides and deities
~ Forgive whatever errors there may be. .
~ Through any immaculate virtue created by my efforts
~ To illuminate the good Madhyamika path free from extremes,
~ May all transmigrators, bound in the prison of worldly existence,
~ Attain the peerless happiness of liberation. .
~ May I, too, in all future lives never be separated
~ From a spiritual guide of the supreme vehicle,
~ And through fully entering this path by listening, thinking and meditation,
~ May I obtain the state of an omniscient Conqueror. .
This Essence of Good Explanations, Explanation of the "Four Hundred" was written at the insistence of La-ma Nam-ka- sang-bo-wa who cherishes his precious precepts and holds the three sets of vows, and of La-ma Drak-seng-wa, exceptionally tireless in bearing the responsibility of spreading the Subduer's teaching -- they urged me again and again
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from Upper Do-Kam with lavish and repeated flower-like offerings. It was written also at the insistence of Kun-ga Seng-ge of Dzay-tang, a great holder of the three sets of teachings who has heard the texts of sutra and tantra many times, and at the insistence of numerous other holders of the three sets of teaching.
.
It was written at Drok-ri-wo-che Gan-den-nam-bar-gyel-way-ling by the logician and fully ordained monk Dar-ma- rin-chen. This was made possible by the kind explanations received directly from the noble, venerable and holy Ren-da- wa Shon-nu-lo-dro, great follower of the Conqueror, with consummate understanding especially that all external and internal dependently arising things are like the reflection of the moon in water, and from the great omniscient one in this time of degeneration, whose prayer to holds the excellent teaching of the Conquerors is perfectly accomplished, the glorious and good foremost precious Lo-sang-drak-ba. They are the father and son, the dust beneath whose feet I have long and respectfully venerated.
.
The scribe was Rin-chen-cho-gyel, holder of the three sets of teaching and observant of his vows.
.
By virtue also of this, may the precious teaching of the Conquerors spread and flourish in all ways, and endure for a long time. )
.
L1: [Dedication]
.
May any merit resulting from this work help to keep alive the flame of the Buddha's teaching, protected and nourished by many centuries by the people of Tibet.
.
May it act as a cause for all living beings to enjoy peace and enlightenment.
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L1: [Abbreviations]
.
Can. Peking edition of Candrakirti's Commentary on the "Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas", P5266, Vol. 98.
.
Can. Candrakirti's Commentary on the "Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas", No. 3865 of thesDedge Tibetan Tripitaka - bsTan hgyur preserved at the Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo (Tokyo: Tokyo University Press, 1977-82). .
Bo. bod sprul bstan pa'i nyi ma, Naga King's Ornament for Thought, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Middle Way" (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1987).
.
Gah. kah thog mkhan po ngag dbang dpal bzang, Sea Spray, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Middle Way" (Bylakuppe: Nyingmapa Monastery, 1984).
.
Gyel. rgyal tsab dar ma rin chen, Essence of Good Explanations (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1971).
.
Ren. red mda' ba gzhon nu bio gros, Commentary to Aryadeva's "Four Hundred Verses" (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1974).
.
Since work on this translation was carried out entirely in Dharamsala, India, most books on Madhyamika philosophy by modern western scholars were not available. It is therefore not out of a lack of respect or appreciation that no reference is made to these works. On the other hand the writing of Tibetan scholars on this subject was easily accessible and relevant passages which serve to clarify issues arising in Gyel-tsap's commentary have therefore been translated from the works of Dzong-ka-ba and others.
.
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L1: [My Re? sume? s]
.
Note: In my re? sume? s I have tried to make the Middle Way, the need to combine method and wisdom together, to stay away from the four extremes, even more evident, because this is, I think, what makes any path a true Buddhist path, because only then is it IN ACCORD WITH THE REAL NON-DUAL NATURE OF EVERYTHING AS SEEN BY THE BUDDHA WHO HAS REALIZED THE PERFECT UNION OF THE TWO TRUTHS. I have also tried to make it evident that the discussion is about showing that dependent origination, and the virtuous methods based on it, are still valid if properly understood as including no inherently existing elements (cause, effect, particles, space, time, causality, production) whatsoever. I have also stressed non-duality as not two, not one; as the inseparability of opposites, as co- dependent concepts.
.
So, contrary to the usual western misunderstanding of the relation between dependent origination and emptiness, THEY ARE NOT ONE, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. Non-duality means: not two, not one; or not different, but still not the same. Transcending a duality doesn't mean to reject completely the difference between the two poles, to reject the duality. The two poles are interdependent, inseparable, not different but still not the same; not two, not one. The Middle Way consist of not accepting anything as absolute, not rejecting everything as completely non-existent, useless, meaningless. TO THINK THAT DEPENDENT ORIGINATION AND EMPTINESS ARE THE SAME IS TO FALL INTO ONE OF THE FOUR EXTREMES. It is a grave mistake that inhibits one from pursuing their real nature and progressing in more subtle wisdom; it is an easy trap for intellectual fools seeking absolute certainties. Their non- duality is more subtle than this; it is beyond all conceptualization. I hope my comments will help in realizing this.
.
Other complementary re? sume? presentations taken from the book are available in the Introduction, Preface and in each chapters.
.
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L2: [Re? sume? of all chapters together]
.
On the path, we need both virtuous methods (based on dependent origination) and wisdom (based on emptiness) together, the two accumulations, corresponding to the Two Inseparable Truths. Only then is it efficient because in accord with the real non-dual nature of everything.
.
PART I. ACCUMULATING MERIT WITH CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS AND VIRTUOUS METHODS
.
PART I. A. ACCUMULATING MERIT USING CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS BASED ON THE HINAYANA POINT OF VIEW : the law of karma, dependent origination as presented in the Abhidharma, the three marks (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, no-self), the Four Noble Truths.
.
-- 1) Meditation on death and impermanence.
-- 2) Meditation on unsatisfactoriness.
-- 3) Meditation on the foulness of the body.
-- 4) Meditation on no-self.
.
PART I. B. ACCUMULATING MERIT USING SKILLFUL MEANS BASED THE MAHAYANA POINT OF VIEW: THE MIDDLE WAY
.
-- 5) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT MORALITY: acting using more wisdom than following strict rules: the importance of the Bodhicitta motivation, relativity, interdependence, love, compassion, cooperation, exchanging self with others.
-- 6) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH DISTURBING EMOTIONS: using temporary antidotes, and wisdom in order to transcend them definitively, to transmute them into the five wisdoms.
-- 7) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH VIRTUES AND METHODS: perfecting them by combining their practice with the wisdom realizing the emptiness of the three: subject, object, action.
-- 8) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT THE PATH: using a gradual path composed of both method and wisdom together all the time until we can directly realize the real non-dual nature of the source of all disturbing emotions and thus transcend all karma.
.
PART II. ACCUMULATING WISDOM BY GRADUALLY REALIZING THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
.
-- 9) NO ABSOLUTE DEPENDENT ORIGINATION, CAUSALITY, DETERMINISM, PATH (all causes, effects are empty of inherent existence because dependent on other causes and conditions, and interdependent). But there is conventional causality, causes and effect. Liberation is not a functional thing, not caused by an absolute path.
-- 10) THERE IS NO SELF AS A PRIMARY CAUSE (free will), nothing permanent that is having rebirths, or that is being Liberated. But there is still continuity in samsara, and possible Liberation.
-- 11) THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE TIME AS A PRIMARY CAUSE. Time, duration, impermanence, are relative to the existence of empty things.
-- 12) THERE IS NO FINAL ABSOLUTE VIEW, OR SYSTEM. All views are flawed. But this has to be realized through a gradual path combining more and more subtle virtuous methods and wisdom - emptiness
-- 13) THERE IS NO DIRECT PERCEPTION OF AN EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT REALITY BY OBJECTIVE SENSES AND INHERENT CONSCIOUSNESS. All perceptions are conditioned by accumulated karma. The world and the mind are both empty because interdependent, inseparable, non-dual.
-- 14) THE PERFECTION OF WISDOM: All objects of the three realms (body, speech & mind) are: not inherently existent, not completely non-existent, not both, not neither. All dualities can be transcended by examining the interdependence of the two poles, their inseparability. Everything is non-dual: not two, not one; even the dualities like whole & parts / characteristics, cause & effect, existence & non-existence, dependent origination & emptiness, the Two Truths, impure & pure, samsara & Nirvana. Everything is already pure in emptiness. There is no absolute basis for discrimination or non-discrimination.
-- 15) THE PERFECTION OF DEPENDENT ORIGINATION consists of uniting it with emptiness, transcending the duality.
-- 16) THE PERFECTION OF EMPTINESS consists of uniting it with dependent origination, transcending the duality. That is the realization of THE UNION OF THE TWO TRUTHS, realizing their inseparability, their non-duality. Those expressions point toward a realization which is beyond all conceptualization.
.
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L2: [Re? sume? of each chapter]
L3: [PART I - Explaining the Stages of the Paths dependent on CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS (accumulation of merit)] L4: [SECTION I - A : Showing how the aspiring altruistic intention is generated after training in the attitudes of a person of intermediate capacity by explaining elimination of the four errors. ]
.
CHAPTER 1 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN PERMANENCE (death & permanent) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT DEATH: Remembering death in order to abandon obsessions to worldly concerns, attachments, fears, and to have a strong motivation to practice the dharma. But not being obsessed by death either. On a more subtle level: everything is continually changing, impermanent.
.
CHAPTER 2 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN PLEASURE (pleasurable) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OUR BODY: not being slave to our insatiable body, not rejecting it completely as being useless; this precious human life is necessary to gain Enlightenment. Seeing the nature and relativity of pleasures. The three kinds of suffering: physical, mental, all- pervasive: everything that is impermanent is unsatisfactory. The five aggregates themselves are suffering if we cling to them. Developing compassion knowing everybody is in the same situation.
.
CHAPTER 3 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN CLEANNESS (attractive) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OTHERS. Not being slave to our insatiable sensual desires. Using the temporary antidote to sensual desire: foulness of the body. Seeing the relative or conventional nature of what we find attractive or not. On the other hand, not rejecting others completely; the reality is that we are interdependent. So we need to develop love, compassion, cooperation.
.
CHAPTER 4 - ABANDONING PRIDE (self) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OUR INDIVIDUALITY. There is no absolute basis for the "I" and "mine", or any status, or pride. Nothing that is impermanent, unsatisfactory and unclean can be the "self". But that doesn't means that the self is completely non-existent, or that we should reject self- confidence completely. We need to see the relativity of status, our interdependence and feel compassion for others.
.
L4: [SECTION I - B : Explaining how to train in the deeds, having generated the practical altruistic intention. ]
.
CHAPTER 5 - BODHISATTVA DEEDS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT MORAL LAWS, THE BEST EFFICIENT WAY TO ACT AND GAIN POWER - THE WAY TO ACT LIKE A BUDDHA: Not accepting absolute moral laws, not rejecting morality completely. Going beyond simple morality based on absolute right and wrong, strict rules as taught in the Hinayana, and the belief in individual liberation. What counts is a more realistic motivation in all actions, Bodhicitta, and using gradual adapted skilful means (relativity) and wisdom (seeing the emptiness of all elements). This brings incommensurable efficiency and power, because it is more in accord with the real nature of everything: relativity, interdependence, the need for cooperation, emptiness, non-duality). What counts is not to follow absolute rules, but to find the best way to get out of samsara definitively; and the ego is one of the biggest obstacles.
.
CHAPTER 6 - ABANDONING DISTURBING EMOTIONS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT CONTROLLING DISTURBING EMOTIONS: Not letting them go wild; but being able to recognize them and to use their specific temporary antidotes (based on the law of dependent origination) in order to diminish their negative consequences, otherwise we might get overwhelmed by negative karma. On the other hand, not getting obsessed by trying to control them all the time, because those antidotes are mere temporary solutions. The only final solution is to see their real nature (their dependence and emptiness of inherent existence) and to transmute them into the five wisdoms. So, in dealing with disturbing emotions, we need both methods (antidotes) and wisdom (emptiness) together all the time - the two accumulations; only then is it in accord with reality, with the two inseparable truths (not existence, not non- existence, not both, not neither).
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CHAPTER 7 - ABANDONING ATTACHMENT TO SENSE OBJECTS (THE WHOLE SAMSARA) - THE MIDDLE WAY IN VIRTUOUS ACTIONS AND HAPPY REBIRTHS / SENSE OBJECTS: not grasping at any path, virtuous methods or the sense objects of happy rebirths, as if inherently existing, and not rejecting completely all virtues, all paths, as if useless (falling into the other extreme, nihilism). All actions are contaminated; all methods, virtuous or not, are ultimately creating bad karma; all higher rebirths will eventually end up in the lower realms. But, without accumulating enough merit, we do not have the requires conditions to develop insights, to directly realize the real nature of everything, and be totally Liberated; so, we will end un in those lower realms. What we need is both virtuous methods and wisdom together, the two accumulations. We need to perfect all Bodhisattva virtues / paramitas
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by practicing them while realizing the emptiness of the three: subject, action, object. There is no absolute method, only adapted skillful means that need to be combined with wisdom.
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CHAPTER 8 - THOROUGHLY PREPARING THE STUDENT - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT TEACHING AND THE WAY TO GAIN LIBERATION: not grasping at any view or teaching, like dependent origination or emptiness, as if they were the absolute truth to be presented in all cases; and not rejecting all views completely as if useless (falling into the other extreme, nihilism). Liberation is not gained by getting to a final view, or by dropping all views and methods.
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L5: [3. If there were true existence because ordinary people use the verbal convention that things are truly existent, then being conventionally existent they could not exist as their own suchness]
.
\ ###
\ 393.
\ If everything is a convention
\ Because expressed by ordinary people,
\ How can anything which exists
\ As [its own] suchness be a convention?
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.
(i. e. They could exist conventionally : On the other hand, it is ok to accept them as existing conventionally if they are
so. But obviously this means that they do not exist on their own, inherently; they are mere conventions, like illusion. We do not deny that. )
.
(-- Another's assertion: Words do not reveal an object's entity. If they did, one's mouth would burn when saying "fire" or be full when saying "pot. " Therefore we assert that ordinary people all have means of expression and terms for that which is being expressed which do not touch an object's own entity.
-- Answer: Supposedly things all exist inherently and as conventions because ordinary people speak of them by means of words which do not touch their entity. But how can anything that exists inherently, existing as its own suchness, be a convention? It could only be ultimately existent. )
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L4: [D. Refuting non-existence as the thesis]
L5: [1. Refuting that negation of truly existent things makes things utterly non-existent]
.
\ ###
\ 394.
\ If things are non-existent because
\ Things all do not exist,
\ In that case it is incorrect that all these
\ Concern the non-existence of things.
.
(i. e. Emptiness doesn't mean complete non-existence: that would be falling to the other extreme, nihilism. Even if everything is empty of inherent existence, they are still dependently arisen and functional. Everything is dependent on the mind labeling it, but still not from the mind only. Nothing is really existent, non-existent, both, neither. The duality existence vs non-existence has to be transcended by directly seeing the real nature of the duality itself - not taking one side and rejecting the other, nor accepting both, nor rejecting both. )
.
(-- Assertion: Since you deny that things have true existence, things are non-existent.
-- Answer: If even the slightest thing is non-existent because things are not truly existent, it is incorrect that all Madhyamika theses concern the non-existence of things through refutation of previously existent truly established things, for there has never been any true existence. )
.
L5: [2. As there are no truly existent things that which is non-functional cannot be truly existent either]
.
\ ###
\ 395.
\ Since a thing does not exist
\ A non-thing cannot exist.
\ Without a thing's existence,
\ How can a non-thing be established?
.
(i. e. Another reason - Because something that has never inherently existed cannot be completely non-existent later: If there is no inherent production of anything, if everything is empty of inherent existence, then there could be no inherent cessation or anything. So emptiness could not mean complete-non-existence. - Nirvana is not produced by dropping everything, since nothing was existent in the first place. It is just a matter of directly seeing this, which is like seeing luminous space. )
.
(-- Since truly existent functional things, the object of negation, do not exist, their non-functional negation cannot be truly existent. In the world a completely disintegrated thing is said to be non-functional. In keeping with this, a completely disintegrated pot would not be feasible if the pot had never existed. Thus how could the non-functional be truly existent, when there are no truly existent functional things? The existence of a dependent thing is not feasible without that on which it depends. )
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L4: [E. Refuting that things are not empty because analogies and reasons to establish emptiness exist]
L5: [1. Showing the invalidity in the form of absurd consequences [of asserting that] there is true existence because there are reasons]
.
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\ ###
\ 396.
\ If things are not empty because
\ They are empty by virtue of reasons,
\ The thesis would not be distinct from the reasons,
\ And thus the reasons would not exist.
.
(i. e. Could emptiness be an effect of a certain type of logic - reasons? : Let's suppose that it is a series of reasons that makes things empty of inherent existence, that they were not like this before the reasoning. This would mean the emptiness depends on those reasons, depends on a certain type of logic. That makes those reasons the "causes" and emptiness the "effect". Again using the method described above we could observe that this production is not inherent because the causes and the effect cannot be different or separate in time, nor the same or simultaneous. In other words there is no absolute causes (reasons) that could produce the effect (emptiness), and no absolute effect. Both are interdependent, co-dependently arisen concepts, empty of inherent existence because dependently arisen. And all this only confirm that everything is already empty even before any reasoning. )
.
(-- It is a mistake to think that things were previously truly existent, but are rendered non-existent through refutation of their true existence. They never existed in this way in the first place.
-- Assertion: In order to prove emptiness you must adduce reasons. Thus since the reasons exist, things are not empty, for like the reasons everything else is also truly existent.
-- Answer: If things were not empty because emptiness of true existence is established through reasons, and the thesis and reasons were inherently distinct, they would be unrelated. If the thesis were not inherently distinct from the reason but inherently one with it, they would have to be one and therefore what is to be proved could not be understood by depending on the reason. Then it follows that there are no correct reasons, since the fallacy of there being no reasons arises when one asserts truly existent things. Therefore all phenomena are established as lacking inherent existence. )
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L5: [2. Showing the invalidity in the form of absurd consequences [of asserting that] things are not empty because there
are analogies]
.
\ ###
\ 397.
\ If things are not empty because
\ There are analogies for emptiness,
\ Can one say, "Just like the crow,
\ So too the self is black"?
.
(i. e. Could emptiness be an effect of a certain type of logic - analogies? : Same reasoning as the previous verse in the case of "logical analogies", otherwise everything would be possible like the example in this verse. )
.
(About thesis and analogies:
-- Neither the existence of reasons nor analogies establishing emptiness can be used to support the thesis that things are truly existent, for the reasons and analogies themselves lack true existence.
-- Assertion: Since there are analogies for emptiness of inherent existence, such as the reflection and so forth, everything else, like those analogies, exists and is not empty.
-- Answer: Is the analogy related or unrelated to the reason's meaning? The first has already been precluded by the reasoning which refutes truly existent reasons. In the second case, if the meaning is established through an analogy unrelated to the reason, is one able to say, "Just as the crow is black, so too is the self," because they are alike in being functional things? One should be able to do so. Yet an analogy, merely by virtue of its existence, is not suitable as an analogy for true existence. )
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L4: [F. Explaining the purpose of teaching emptiness]
.
\ ###
\ 398.
\ If things exist inherently
\ What good is it to perceive emptiness?
\ Perception by way of conception binds.
\ This is refuted here.
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.
(i. e. The Middle Way about logic: The fact that all logic - reasons, analogies, . . . - are empty of inherent existence doesn't mean that it is completely non-existent, useless, meaningless. We still can use illusions to help to go over other illusions - the important is that there is a progression toward reality. Even if emptiness and Dependent Origination are both empty of inherent existence, they are still dependently arisen and functional. They are efficient antidotes in their proper situation. - We have no choice, we cannot jump from here to Nirvana without a virtuous path, without a gradual deconditioning. A gradual path composed of more and more subtle methods and wisdom, of adapted skillful means, can help in gradually seeing through our conditioning / karma, and ultimately attain total Liberation. Using logic showing the absurdity of the illusions, of our conditioning, is part of this. -- It is not because everything is empty of inherent existence that everything is completely non-existent, useless, meaningless, or that we should drop everything, drop all paths, or kill ourselves. That would be jumping to the other extreme, and certainly not escaping samsara. )
.
(-- Question: If analogies, reasons and all things do not exist, what is the purpose of writing all the chapters of your treatise?
-- Answer: It is for the attainment of liberation and omniscience through understanding the meaning of suchness.
-- If things existed inherently, what good would there be in perceiving / emptiness, since it would be erroneous? Thinking of things as truly existent causes one to accumulate actions and thereby wander in cyclic existence, but through fully understanding that all phenomena lack inherent existence, one gains release from worldly existence Thus as long as one sees things as truly existent, because of conceptions which cling to their true existence, one is bound to cyclic existence. In this treatise, therefore, the truly existent person and aggregates, which are the referent objects of conceptions of true existence are refuted by an extensive collection of reasoning. Sutra says, "All phenomena are empty in that they do not exist inherently" and so forth. Accordingly, this was written to teach lack of inherent existence, which does not contradict the acceptance in our system of al dependently arising phenomena. )
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L4: [G. Showing that conceptions of extremes of existence are erroneous]
.
\ ###
\ 399.
\ To say one exists and the other does not
\ Is neither reality nor the conventional.
\ Therefore it cannot be said
\ That this exists but that does not.
.
(i. e. About the Mind Only School - the duality world-mind: One of the extremes, or skillful means, consist of thinking that only the mind inherently exist, and that everything else are completely non-existent, total fabrications of the mind. But this theory doesn't make sense nor from an absolute point of view, neither from a conventional point of view. We have already shown that everything is empty of inherent existence because everything is dependently arisen, and that there is no exception at all, not even for the three gems, dependent origination or emptiness, causality space or time, parts or characteristics, . . . A consciousness cannot exist without being conscious of something; these are co-dependent. - This is about the duality world-mind. Taking one side as absolute and the other not is not transcending the problem; it is falling into one extreme. The solution is to see their interdependence, their emptiness of inherent existence. Staying away from the four extremes: taking one side and rejecting the other, taking both sides, rejecting both sides. This applies to all dualities. )
.
(-- Among our own sectarians, Vijnaptivadins and all those who have not understood the actual meaning of the scriptures assert that consciousness is truly existent, and that external objects do not even exist conventionally. This is therefore shown to be wrong, for both are alike in existing conventionally but not ultimately.
-- To say that one exists and the other does not is not a presentation of reality, since both do not exist ultimately and are not ultimate truths. Nor is it a presentation of the conventional, since both exist conventionally and are conventional truths. Therefore all five aggregates exist conventionally but not ultimately, and so it cannot be said that mind and mental factors exist truly while external objects do not even exist conventionally. Thus Madhyamikas, too, accept both external objects and consciousness as they are known in the world. )
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L4: [H. Impossibility of refuting through reasoning that which is free from extremes]
.
\ ###
\ 400.
\ AGAINST ONE WHO HOLDS NO THESIS THAT [THINGS]
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\ EXIST, DO NOT, OR DO AND DO NOT EXIT,
\ COUNTER-ARGUMENTS CANNOT BE RAISED
\ NO MATTER HOW LONG [ONE TRIES].
.
(i. e. The perfection of wisdom is not refutable because it is not a thesis, not a view, not a system. This perfection consist of staying away from all four extreme (Tetralemma)s: existence, non-existence, both, neither. It consist of staying away from all four positions concerning any duality. It is the Middle Way: not accepting any view, not rejecting any view. And since there is no other conceptual possibility, it is a negation without affirming anything. It is like space, like true cessation. It depends on nothing. It is not produced. It is indestructible, and has incommensurable powers. Why? Because it is almost perfectly in accord with the real non-dual nature of everything which is beyond any conceptualization and seen only by a Buddha. )
.
(-- Though things do not exist in and of themselves, they nevertheless exist. Through understanding their true mode of existence, we can gain freedom.
-- When assertions regarding true existence of things and so forth have been thoroughly refuted in this way, it is impossible to state any refutation of the assertions regarding emptiness.
-- Assertion: Even though we are unable to answer you at present, you will receive an answer--there will be those who make great effort on behalf of the Tathagata's teaching.
-- Answer: That is a futile hope! If we held a faulty thesis, it could be refuted by proving its converse.
-- No Madhyamikas hold the erroneous theses that things are inherently existent, that even the slightest thing is non- existent, that non-things are inherently both existent and non-existent, or neither. No matter how long one tries, no counter-arguments can be raised. You should understand that refuting skilled proponents of emptiness is as impossible as drawing pictures in space or causing space pain by beating it with an iron bar.
-- The Master Dharmadasa gave one analogy for each stanza of the first eight chapters. Fearing an excess of words, they have merely been cited but not elaborated in detail. )
.
L3: [The summarizing stanza:]
.
\ ###
\ The sun's light dispels all darkness.
\ Darkness has no power to destroy the sun's light.
\ The correct view destroys all extreme conceptions,
\ Banishing any opportunity for controversy. .
(i. e.
The perfection of Emptiness is irrefutable. )
.
\ ###
\ This is the sixteenth chapter from the Four Hundred on the Yogic Deeds, showing how to meditate on settling [the procedure between] spiritual guides and students.
.
This concludes the commentary on the sixteenth chapter, showing how to meditate on settling [the procedure between] spiritual guides and students, from Essence of Good Explanations, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas".
.
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L1: [The Colophon - P. 301]
.
\ ###
\ This concludes the Treatise of Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas from the mouth of Aryadeva, the spiritual son at the Exalted Naga's feet. He was born miraculously from the heart of a lotus on the island of Sinhala. Having crossed the ocean of our own and others' tenets himself, he made the Middle Way most clear by distinguishing between correct and incorrect views.
.
\ It was translated and [the meaning] settled in the temple of Ratnaguptavihara in the center of the glorious Kasmicri city of Anupamapura by the Indian abbot Suksmajana and the Tibetan translator Ba-tsap Nyi-ma-rak.
.
(This concludes the explanation both of the great trailblazer and Bodhisattva, the Master Aryadeva's work Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas and its commentary by the Master Candrakirti.
.
It was translated from the Indian into the Tibetan Language in the temple of Ratnaguptavihara in the center of the glorious Kasmiri city of Anupamapura by the Indian abbot Suksmajana, son of the Bramhmin Sajjana from the paternal line of the Brahmin Ratnavajra and by the Tibetan translator Ba-tsap Nyi-ma-drak who had consummate understanding of all texts on sutra and tantra. The meaning of the text was properly settled by explaining and listening to it.
.
~ May the one predicted by the Conqueror who attained the supreme state,
~ As well as Aryadeva and the glorious Candrakirti,
~ Who most clearly elucidated Nagarjuna's good system,
~ Rest victoriously on the crown of our heads. .
~ May the one predicted by the Conqueror who attained the supreme state,
~ As well as Aryadeva and the glorious Candrakirti,
~ Who most clearly elucidated Nagarjuna's good system,
~ Rest victoriously on the crown of our heads. .
~ Unable to bear misinterpretations of this system
~ Through the misconceptions of those who follow their own presuppositions,
~ Who lack the flawless eye of reasoning
~ And ignore the textual systems of the great trailblazers, .
~ I have explained the words and meaning of this text simply,
~ Commenting in a clear, unconfused and complete way
~ On the paths that mature the mind and bring about release
~ For all people with a Mahayana disposition. .
~ Since Aryadeva's thought is hard to ascertain
~ And my mind is poor, my acquired knowledge weak,
~ May my spiritual guides and deities
~ Forgive whatever errors there may be. .
~ Through any immaculate virtue created by my efforts
~ To illuminate the good Madhyamika path free from extremes,
~ May all transmigrators, bound in the prison of worldly existence,
~ Attain the peerless happiness of liberation. .
~ May I, too, in all future lives never be separated
~ From a spiritual guide of the supreme vehicle,
~ And through fully entering this path by listening, thinking and meditation,
~ May I obtain the state of an omniscient Conqueror. .
This Essence of Good Explanations, Explanation of the "Four Hundred" was written at the insistence of La-ma Nam-ka- sang-bo-wa who cherishes his precious precepts and holds the three sets of vows, and of La-ma Drak-seng-wa, exceptionally tireless in bearing the responsibility of spreading the Subduer's teaching -- they urged me again and again
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from Upper Do-Kam with lavish and repeated flower-like offerings. It was written also at the insistence of Kun-ga Seng-ge of Dzay-tang, a great holder of the three sets of teachings who has heard the texts of sutra and tantra many times, and at the insistence of numerous other holders of the three sets of teaching.
.
It was written at Drok-ri-wo-che Gan-den-nam-bar-gyel-way-ling by the logician and fully ordained monk Dar-ma- rin-chen. This was made possible by the kind explanations received directly from the noble, venerable and holy Ren-da- wa Shon-nu-lo-dro, great follower of the Conqueror, with consummate understanding especially that all external and internal dependently arising things are like the reflection of the moon in water, and from the great omniscient one in this time of degeneration, whose prayer to holds the excellent teaching of the Conquerors is perfectly accomplished, the glorious and good foremost precious Lo-sang-drak-ba. They are the father and son, the dust beneath whose feet I have long and respectfully venerated.
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The scribe was Rin-chen-cho-gyel, holder of the three sets of teaching and observant of his vows.
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By virtue also of this, may the precious teaching of the Conquerors spread and flourish in all ways, and endure for a long time. )
.
L1: [Dedication]
.
May any merit resulting from this work help to keep alive the flame of the Buddha's teaching, protected and nourished by many centuries by the people of Tibet.
.
May it act as a cause for all living beings to enjoy peace and enlightenment.
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L1: [Abbreviations]
.
Can. Peking edition of Candrakirti's Commentary on the "Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas", P5266, Vol. 98.
.
Can. Candrakirti's Commentary on the "Four Hundred Stanzas on the Yogic Deeds of Bodhisattvas", No. 3865 of thesDedge Tibetan Tripitaka - bsTan hgyur preserved at the Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo (Tokyo: Tokyo University Press, 1977-82). .
Bo. bod sprul bstan pa'i nyi ma, Naga King's Ornament for Thought, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Middle Way" (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1987).
.
Gah. kah thog mkhan po ngag dbang dpal bzang, Sea Spray, Explanation of the "Four Hundred on the Middle Way" (Bylakuppe: Nyingmapa Monastery, 1984).
.
Gyel. rgyal tsab dar ma rin chen, Essence of Good Explanations (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1971).
.
Ren. red mda' ba gzhon nu bio gros, Commentary to Aryadeva's "Four Hundred Verses" (Varanasi: Pleasure of Elegant Sayings Printing Press, 1974).
.
Since work on this translation was carried out entirely in Dharamsala, India, most books on Madhyamika philosophy by modern western scholars were not available. It is therefore not out of a lack of respect or appreciation that no reference is made to these works. On the other hand the writing of Tibetan scholars on this subject was easily accessible and relevant passages which serve to clarify issues arising in Gyel-tsap's commentary have therefore been translated from the works of Dzong-ka-ba and others.
.
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L1: [My Re? sume? s]
.
Note: In my re? sume? s I have tried to make the Middle Way, the need to combine method and wisdom together, to stay away from the four extremes, even more evident, because this is, I think, what makes any path a true Buddhist path, because only then is it IN ACCORD WITH THE REAL NON-DUAL NATURE OF EVERYTHING AS SEEN BY THE BUDDHA WHO HAS REALIZED THE PERFECT UNION OF THE TWO TRUTHS. I have also tried to make it evident that the discussion is about showing that dependent origination, and the virtuous methods based on it, are still valid if properly understood as including no inherently existing elements (cause, effect, particles, space, time, causality, production) whatsoever. I have also stressed non-duality as not two, not one; as the inseparability of opposites, as co- dependent concepts.
.
So, contrary to the usual western misunderstanding of the relation between dependent origination and emptiness, THEY ARE NOT ONE, THEY ARE NOT THE SAME. Non-duality means: not two, not one; or not different, but still not the same. Transcending a duality doesn't mean to reject completely the difference between the two poles, to reject the duality. The two poles are interdependent, inseparable, not different but still not the same; not two, not one. The Middle Way consist of not accepting anything as absolute, not rejecting everything as completely non-existent, useless, meaningless. TO THINK THAT DEPENDENT ORIGINATION AND EMPTINESS ARE THE SAME IS TO FALL INTO ONE OF THE FOUR EXTREMES. It is a grave mistake that inhibits one from pursuing their real nature and progressing in more subtle wisdom; it is an easy trap for intellectual fools seeking absolute certainties. Their non- duality is more subtle than this; it is beyond all conceptualization. I hope my comments will help in realizing this.
.
Other complementary re? sume? presentations taken from the book are available in the Introduction, Preface and in each chapters.
.
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L2: [Re? sume? of all chapters together]
.
On the path, we need both virtuous methods (based on dependent origination) and wisdom (based on emptiness) together, the two accumulations, corresponding to the Two Inseparable Truths. Only then is it efficient because in accord with the real non-dual nature of everything.
.
PART I. ACCUMULATING MERIT WITH CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS AND VIRTUOUS METHODS
.
PART I. A. ACCUMULATING MERIT USING CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS BASED ON THE HINAYANA POINT OF VIEW : the law of karma, dependent origination as presented in the Abhidharma, the three marks (impermanence, unsatisfactoriness, no-self), the Four Noble Truths.
.
-- 1) Meditation on death and impermanence.
-- 2) Meditation on unsatisfactoriness.
-- 3) Meditation on the foulness of the body.
-- 4) Meditation on no-self.
.
PART I. B. ACCUMULATING MERIT USING SKILLFUL MEANS BASED THE MAHAYANA POINT OF VIEW: THE MIDDLE WAY
.
-- 5) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT MORALITY: acting using more wisdom than following strict rules: the importance of the Bodhicitta motivation, relativity, interdependence, love, compassion, cooperation, exchanging self with others.
-- 6) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH DISTURBING EMOTIONS: using temporary antidotes, and wisdom in order to transcend them definitively, to transmute them into the five wisdoms.
-- 7) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT HOW TO DEAL WITH VIRTUES AND METHODS: perfecting them by combining their practice with the wisdom realizing the emptiness of the three: subject, object, action.
-- 8) THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT THE PATH: using a gradual path composed of both method and wisdom together all the time until we can directly realize the real non-dual nature of the source of all disturbing emotions and thus transcend all karma.
.
PART II. ACCUMULATING WISDOM BY GRADUALLY REALIZING THE ULTIMATE TRUTH
.
-- 9) NO ABSOLUTE DEPENDENT ORIGINATION, CAUSALITY, DETERMINISM, PATH (all causes, effects are empty of inherent existence because dependent on other causes and conditions, and interdependent). But there is conventional causality, causes and effect. Liberation is not a functional thing, not caused by an absolute path.
-- 10) THERE IS NO SELF AS A PRIMARY CAUSE (free will), nothing permanent that is having rebirths, or that is being Liberated. But there is still continuity in samsara, and possible Liberation.
-- 11) THERE IS NO ABSOLUTE TIME AS A PRIMARY CAUSE. Time, duration, impermanence, are relative to the existence of empty things.
-- 12) THERE IS NO FINAL ABSOLUTE VIEW, OR SYSTEM. All views are flawed. But this has to be realized through a gradual path combining more and more subtle virtuous methods and wisdom - emptiness
-- 13) THERE IS NO DIRECT PERCEPTION OF AN EXTERNAL INDEPENDENT REALITY BY OBJECTIVE SENSES AND INHERENT CONSCIOUSNESS. All perceptions are conditioned by accumulated karma. The world and the mind are both empty because interdependent, inseparable, non-dual.
-- 14) THE PERFECTION OF WISDOM: All objects of the three realms (body, speech & mind) are: not inherently existent, not completely non-existent, not both, not neither. All dualities can be transcended by examining the interdependence of the two poles, their inseparability. Everything is non-dual: not two, not one; even the dualities like whole & parts / characteristics, cause & effect, existence & non-existence, dependent origination & emptiness, the Two Truths, impure & pure, samsara & Nirvana. Everything is already pure in emptiness. There is no absolute basis for discrimination or non-discrimination.
-- 15) THE PERFECTION OF DEPENDENT ORIGINATION consists of uniting it with emptiness, transcending the duality.
-- 16) THE PERFECTION OF EMPTINESS consists of uniting it with dependent origination, transcending the duality. That is the realization of THE UNION OF THE TWO TRUTHS, realizing their inseparability, their non-duality. Those expressions point toward a realization which is beyond all conceptualization.
.
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L2: [Re? sume? of each chapter]
L3: [PART I - Explaining the Stages of the Paths dependent on CONVENTIONAL TRUTHS (accumulation of merit)] L4: [SECTION I - A : Showing how the aspiring altruistic intention is generated after training in the attitudes of a person of intermediate capacity by explaining elimination of the four errors. ]
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CHAPTER 1 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN PERMANENCE (death & permanent) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT DEATH: Remembering death in order to abandon obsessions to worldly concerns, attachments, fears, and to have a strong motivation to practice the dharma. But not being obsessed by death either. On a more subtle level: everything is continually changing, impermanent.
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CHAPTER 2 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN PLEASURE (pleasurable) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OUR BODY: not being slave to our insatiable body, not rejecting it completely as being useless; this precious human life is necessary to gain Enlightenment. Seeing the nature and relativity of pleasures. The three kinds of suffering: physical, mental, all- pervasive: everything that is impermanent is unsatisfactory. The five aggregates themselves are suffering if we cling to them. Developing compassion knowing everybody is in the same situation.
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CHAPTER 3 - ABANDONING BELIEF IN CLEANNESS (attractive) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OTHERS. Not being slave to our insatiable sensual desires. Using the temporary antidote to sensual desire: foulness of the body. Seeing the relative or conventional nature of what we find attractive or not. On the other hand, not rejecting others completely; the reality is that we are interdependent. So we need to develop love, compassion, cooperation.
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CHAPTER 4 - ABANDONING PRIDE (self) - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT OUR INDIVIDUALITY. There is no absolute basis for the "I" and "mine", or any status, or pride. Nothing that is impermanent, unsatisfactory and unclean can be the "self". But that doesn't means that the self is completely non-existent, or that we should reject self- confidence completely. We need to see the relativity of status, our interdependence and feel compassion for others.
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L4: [SECTION I - B : Explaining how to train in the deeds, having generated the practical altruistic intention. ]
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CHAPTER 5 - BODHISATTVA DEEDS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT MORAL LAWS, THE BEST EFFICIENT WAY TO ACT AND GAIN POWER - THE WAY TO ACT LIKE A BUDDHA: Not accepting absolute moral laws, not rejecting morality completely. Going beyond simple morality based on absolute right and wrong, strict rules as taught in the Hinayana, and the belief in individual liberation. What counts is a more realistic motivation in all actions, Bodhicitta, and using gradual adapted skilful means (relativity) and wisdom (seeing the emptiness of all elements). This brings incommensurable efficiency and power, because it is more in accord with the real nature of everything: relativity, interdependence, the need for cooperation, emptiness, non-duality). What counts is not to follow absolute rules, but to find the best way to get out of samsara definitively; and the ego is one of the biggest obstacles.
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CHAPTER 6 - ABANDONING DISTURBING EMOTIONS - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT CONTROLLING DISTURBING EMOTIONS: Not letting them go wild; but being able to recognize them and to use their specific temporary antidotes (based on the law of dependent origination) in order to diminish their negative consequences, otherwise we might get overwhelmed by negative karma. On the other hand, not getting obsessed by trying to control them all the time, because those antidotes are mere temporary solutions. The only final solution is to see their real nature (their dependence and emptiness of inherent existence) and to transmute them into the five wisdoms. So, in dealing with disturbing emotions, we need both methods (antidotes) and wisdom (emptiness) together all the time - the two accumulations; only then is it in accord with reality, with the two inseparable truths (not existence, not non- existence, not both, not neither).
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CHAPTER 7 - ABANDONING ATTACHMENT TO SENSE OBJECTS (THE WHOLE SAMSARA) - THE MIDDLE WAY IN VIRTUOUS ACTIONS AND HAPPY REBIRTHS / SENSE OBJECTS: not grasping at any path, virtuous methods or the sense objects of happy rebirths, as if inherently existing, and not rejecting completely all virtues, all paths, as if useless (falling into the other extreme, nihilism). All actions are contaminated; all methods, virtuous or not, are ultimately creating bad karma; all higher rebirths will eventually end up in the lower realms. But, without accumulating enough merit, we do not have the requires conditions to develop insights, to directly realize the real nature of everything, and be totally Liberated; so, we will end un in those lower realms. What we need is both virtuous methods and wisdom together, the two accumulations. We need to perfect all Bodhisattva virtues / paramitas
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by practicing them while realizing the emptiness of the three: subject, action, object. There is no absolute method, only adapted skillful means that need to be combined with wisdom.
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CHAPTER 8 - THOROUGHLY PREPARING THE STUDENT - THE MIDDLE WAY ABOUT TEACHING AND THE WAY TO GAIN LIBERATION: not grasping at any view or teaching, like dependent origination or emptiness, as if they were the absolute truth to be presented in all cases; and not rejecting all views completely as if useless (falling into the other extreme, nihilism). Liberation is not gained by getting to a final view, or by dropping all views and methods.
