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V asubandhu.
[Abhidharmako$abhasya. English]
AbhidharmakoSabhasyam / [translated] by Louis de La Vallee Poussin; English
translation by Leo M. Pruden. -- Berkeley, Calif. : Asian Humanities Press, 1988- 1990.
4 v. ; 23 cm.
Translation of: AbhidharmakoSabhasya. Includes bibliographies.
ISBN 0-89581-913-9 (set).
1. Vasubandhu. AbhidharmakoSa.
Louis de, 1869-1938. BQ2682. E5P78 1988 294. 3'824--del 9
II. Title.
Copyright (C) 1991 by Asian Humanities Press. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the written permission of Asian Humanities Press except for brief passages quoted in a review.
2. Abhidharma.
I. La Vallee Poussin,
87-71231 AACR 2 MARC
? Translator's Introduction
A hisvolumeisthethirdintheprojectedfourvolumetranslationof Louis de La Vallee Poussin's translation of Vasubandhu's Abhidhar- makosabhdsyam. This present volume contains the translation of Chapter V (anusaya-nirdefa, "The Latent Defilements") and Chapter VI (marga-pudgala-nirdesa, "The Path and the Saints"), together with their footnotes.
Chapter V contains some interesting sections: a refutation of the idea of the creation of the world through the work of a deity, together with a refutation of non-Buddhist ascetical practices (kdrikd 8 and bhdsyam); an analysis of pride (10 and 11); a discussion of morally neutral error (20); a long discussion of the "undefined points", that is, the different types of responses that the Buddha made to different questions, and the significance of these responses (22); an interesting discussion on the question, Do past and future defilements actually exist? (25a); a definition of the word sarvdstivada, and a discussion of how the dharmas exist especially in the past and the future, leading in turn into a long discussion of "past" and "future", leading again to a discussion of whether something that does not absolutely exist can be an object of consciousness (25c-d to 27d). This Chapter concludes with a discussion of the order in which the defilements are produced (32c), and of the minor defilements (46). A number of the footnotes to this Chapter are of interest: footnote 22 gives an account of the abandoning of the defilements in Pali sources, footnote 27 gives the Sautrantika explanation of the updddnaskandhas from the Chinese sources of Hsiian-tsang, and footnotes 26 and 28 give a good analysis of satkdya and satkdyadrsti.
Chapter VI details the Path leading to perfect knowledge, a knowledge that cuts off the defilements. Sections of note in this Chapter are: a discussion of the Four Noble Truths, and the significance of their order {kdrikd 2 and bhdsyam); the question is asked and discussed: is all sensation painful? , and this leads to a discussion of the different types of suffering (3); a discussion of the
? two levels of truth, relative truth and absolute truth (4; see also footnote 43); the preliminary practice of meditation (5); a visualization of loathsome things (asubhabhdvand, 9) and the cultivation of mindfulness of breathing (dndpdnasmrti, 12), --practices leading to stilling (samatha), followed by the cultiva- tion of the foundations of mindfulness, -- a practice leading to insight (vipafyana); there is a presentation of the various states of attainments, Heat (17a),the Summits (or "Heads", 17c-d), Patience (18c), and the Supreme Worldly Dharmas (19c); the persons (pudgala) in whom the path arises (29a-b); the methods of obtaining Nirvana (37a-c); the religious life (54a-b); the Dharmacakra as the Path of Seeing(darsanamdrga, 54c); a discussion of "occasional" {sdmayiki) deliverance (56c and following); the concept of gotra (57b and 58c); a discussion as to whether the defilements have a non-existent thing for their object (58b); a discussion as to whether an Arhat can fall away from the state of Arhat; the thirty-seven adjutants of Bodhi (the bodhipd- ksikas, 67a-b); the four types of faith which accompany intelli- gence (73c); deliverance (yimukti, 75d); and the difference between right knowledge and right views (76d).
The Path to holiness was a subject of special interest to Louis de La Valle'e Poussin, and he wrote a long introductory note on the topic, and this "Summary Note on the Path" serves as an introduction to this volume.
Leo M. Pruden
? Foreword
I. The Anusayas
A. B.
C D. E.
F. G.
Function of the Defilements The Six, and Seven Defilements
1. The meaning of Kamardganusaya a. A Sarvastivadin Response
2. Attachments to Existence The Ten Defilements
Ninety-eight Defilements Their Abandoning
1. The non-Buddhists The Five Views
1. The Esteeming of Morality and Ascetic The Four Errors
1. Their Nature
2. Errors with Regard to the Self
3. The Three Characteristics of Error 4. Discussion: The Definition of Error 5. Twelve Errors
CONTENTS
Chapter Five: The Latent Defilements
H. Pride
1. The Seven Types of Pride 2. The Nine Types of Pride 3. Their Abandoning
II. The Ninety-eight Anusayas
A. B. C
D. E.
The Universal Anusayas
Their Object
AnusayasThrouf^i Being an Objea Anusayas Through Association
1. A Variant Definition of Anusaya Their Moral Tone
Good, Bad, and Neutral Roots
? F. G.
H.
The Fourteen Undefined Points and
the Four Types of Questions 800
The Bonds of the Anusayas 804 1. Sautrantika Criticism 806 2. Vaibhasika Rejoinder 806
Discussion: Do the Dharmas Exist in the
Three Time Periods 806 1. The Four Types of Sarvastivadins 808 2. Vasubandhu's Refutation 810 3. A Sautrantika Criticism 810 4. Discussion:CanNon-Existent
Things be Cognized? 816 Disconnection versus Abandoning 820 J* The Object of Each Anusaya 821
I.
K. L
A Defiled Mind 825 The Order in which the Ten
Anufayas are Produced 826
M.
HI. Miscellaneous Discussions on the Defilements 829
A.
B.
Definition of the Cankers 829 1. The Floods and the Yokes 831 2. The Five Clingings 832 3. Definitions 833 The Five Categories of Defilements 835
1. The Nine Connections 835
a. Connections and Views 836 b. Connections and Wrappings 837 c. The Five Inferior Connections 838 d. The Four Higher Connections 840
2. The Three Bonds 840
3. The Minor Defilements 841
4. The Wrappings 841
a. Their Origin 843 b. "Filth of the Defilements" 843 c. Their Abandoning 844
Causes of the Defilements 828
? d Their Moral Tone 845
e. The Dhatus 847 5. The Five Hinderances 851
IV. The Abandoning of the Defilements 854 A. Four Abandonings 854 B. Fourfold Opposition 855 C Separation 856
1. The Four Types of Separation 857 The Sequence of Abandoning 858 Perfect Knowledge 859 1. The Nine Perfect Knowledges 860 2. The Stages of Absorption 862 3. Is Abandoning a Perfect Knowledge 864
4. How Many Perfect Knowledges
Gin One Possess? 866
5. The Anagamin and the Arhat 867 869
Chapter Six: The Path and the Saints
The Nature of the Path 895 The Four Noble Truths 896
Footnotes
I. II.
III.
The Truth of Suffering 899 1. The Three Types of Suffering 899 a. Discussion: Is the Path Suffering? 901 b. Discussion: Is there any Agreeable Sensation? 901 Argument from Scripture 903 Argument from Reason 907 The Truth of Origin 908 The Two Truths 910 The Path of Seeing: Preliminary Practices 911 A. The Three Wisdoms 912 a. Discussion: The Meaning of the Suffix -maya 913
D. E.
A.
B.
C D.
Their Order 897
1. The Meaning of abhisamaya 897
2. The Meaning of aryasatya 898
? IV. The A. B.
C. D.
E. F. G. H.
The Two Separations 913 The Four Aryavarhsas 915 Visualization of the Loathsome 916 Mindfulness of Breathing 921 The Foundations of Mindfulness 925 Heat ( Usmagata) 930 The Summits (Miirdhan) 930
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
F.
H.
I. Patience (Ksdnti) 931
The Supreme Worldly Dharmas 933 The Four Roots of Good 933 1. Their Acquisition 934 The Four Nirvedhabhagiyas 935 Loss versus Falling Away 938 The Three Gotras 940 The Moksabhagiyas 942 The Arising of the Patience of Dharma Knowledge 943 1. The Definition of niyama, niyama, and samyaktva944 The Consecutive Knowledge of Suffering 945
Path of Seeing 945 The Sixteen Mental States 946 The Three Comprehensions 947 1. Discussion: Is Comprehension Single or Gradual? 947 The Irresistible Path 949 1. Disconnection 950 The Saints: Sraddhanusarin and Dharmanusarin 952 1. Discussion: The Meaning of sraddhanusarin 952 2. Discussion: The Meaning of dharmanusarin 952 The Srotaapanna 953 Sraddhadhimukta and Drstiprapta 954 The Nine Categories of Defilements 958 The Saptakrtparamah 958 1. The Vaibhasika Objection 959 2. Response 959 Why the Srotaapanna is Incapable of Falling 961 J. AKulamkula 962 K. The Sakrdagamin 964
J. K.
L. M. N. 0. P.
Q.
I.
? L.
1. TheEkavIcika 964 The Anagamin 965 1. The Five Types of Anagamin in Rupadhatu 966 2. The Three types of Akanisthaga 968 3. The Bhavagraga 969 4. The Four Types of Anagamin in Artipyadhatu 969 5. The Seven Types of Anagamin 970 6. The Nine Types of Anagamin 970 The Seven Realms of Rebirth for Good Persons 971
M.
1. Discussion: Do the Five Types of Anagamin
Exist in Kamadhatu? 973 2. The Saint and His Repeated Births 973 Combining the Dhyanas 975 1. Why are the Dhyanas Combined? 976 The Suddhavasas 977 P. Kayasaksins 977 1. The Three Learnings 978 Q. The Antaraparinirvayin 979
VI. The Asaiksa Path 980 A. Vajropamasamadhi 981
N. O.
B. C. D. E.
F. G.
The Knowledge of Destruction 983 Definition of the Word saiksa 983 The Eight Saints 985 Detachment and the Path 985 1. The Spheres of Detachment 988 The Consciousness of Non-Arising 991 Sramanya and the Four Sramanyaphalas 992 1. The Eighty-nine Sramanyaphalas 992 2. The Five Stages of the Path of Abandoning 993 Discussion: Sramanya and the Two Results 994 1. Synonyms of Sramanya 995 a. The Wheel of the Dharma 995
Discussion: Why is the Path of Seeing a Wheel? 995 b.
Threefold Revolution and the Twelve Aspects 996 2. Sramanyaphala and the Spheres 998
? A.
B. C
D. E.
F. Footnotes
H.
The Six Types of Arhats 999 1. Occasional Deliverance 1000 2. Can Arhat Fall Away? 1003 Discussion: Do Defilements Have Non-Existent Things for Their Objects? 1004 3. The Sautrantika Argument: Arhats
Cannot Fall Away 1006 a. Arguments from Scripture 1006 b. Arguments from Reason 1009 c. The Vaibhasika Position 1010
I. J.
K. L.
mi. The Various Paths 1020
The Six Gotras of Saiksas and Prthagjanas 1010 The Three Types of Falling Away 1011 Perfecting the Moral Faculties 1013 The Seven Aryans 1016 M. The Ubhayatobhagavimukta and the Prajnavimukta 1018 N. The Perfect or Complete Saiksa and Asaiksa 1019
The Four Paths 1020 1. The Meaning of the Word marga 1020 2. The Meaning of the Word pratipad 1021 The Four Routes 1021 The Thirty-seven Adjutants of Bodhi 1022 1. Their Natures 1023 2. Energy versus Exertion 1025 3. Their Order 1026
4. Their Purity or Impurity
5. Their Spheres 1029
The Four Avetyaprasadas 1031 1. Definition of the Term avetyaprasadas 1033
Perfect Deliverance and the
Knowledge of Perfect Deliverance 1034 1. Right Knowledge versus Right Views 1036
The Relationship between Disgust
and Detachment 1038
1041
1029
? Foreword
1. 1 am grateful for the generosity of the Foundation Universitaire which continues its indispensable goodwill towards Vasubandhu and his unworthy interpreter. My friend J. -B. Istas also deserves my thanks. Owing to his asammusta attention the errors of orthography are, I hope, very few.
2. With this volume, I have finished the translation of two-thirds of the Kosa. There remain Chapters VII and VIII {the jndnas and the "qualities" which consist of jndnas, and the absorptions and the "qualities" which consist of absorption), and the short "Treatise on the Refutation of the Pudgala" which is customarily regarded as the Ninth Chapter: this will be the contents of a volume which will appear in 1925. Finally we must take up again the Third Chapter whose translation in "Cosmologie bouddhique" (Kegan Paul, Trench, etc. , 1918) leaves much to be desired. And finally I shall have to fill this long work with introductions, notes, and indices which will facilitate their use.
3. In 1913-1914 I translated the Fifth Chapter from the Tibetan and J. -B. Istas has partially printed my translation. Here it is taken up again and improved
The Sixth Chapter has benefited from favorable circumstances. I made use of the Cambridge MSS--which Miss Ridding and myself copied in 1915--and from the xylograph in the India Office. Close collaboration with Miss Ridding and with E. J. Thomas led to the appearance of an English version very carefully researched from the point of view of English equivalents. A study of Paramartha, Hsiian-tsang, and the notes by Kyokuga Saeki, much though it may have enriched the commentary, has not notably changed the work that we did in Cambridge.
I considered that, without the aid of an outline which would elucidate uncertain points, the Sixth Chapter would be truly awkward
? . xiv Foreword
to read. A note on the Path will therefore be found here. ***
A Summary Note on the Path.
1. There is acquisition of the "roots of good which produce deliverance" (moksabhdgtya kusalamula, iii. 44c, iv. 124, vi. 24c, vii. 30, 34)--which are thoughts or actions inspired by the desire for deliverance (Nirvana)--in an existence preceding the immediate preparation of the Path (vi. 24d).
2. There is acquisition of the dryavamsas, vi. 5-8), moral qualities which make a perfect monk. In principle, it is considered that entry to the Path presupposes the quality of a monk, certainly the Pratimoksasamvara, the quality of Upasaka (iv, English translation p. 598, 680).
3. There is then the cultivation of the contemplation or visualization of loathsome things (asubhdbhdvand) and the application of the mindfulness of breathing (dndpdnasmrti)
(vi. 9-13), through which one triumphs over desire and distraction, and through which one becomes capable of entering into bhdvand or samddhiy absorption.
4. There is "application of mindfulness" or "application of the prajnd, the speculative consciousness, due to mindfulness" (smrtyupasthdna, vi. 14-16). The ascetic understands, in a still imperfect manner, the specific and general characteristics of the
body, of sensation, of the mind, and of dharmas in general.
5. Then there takes place the acquisition of the four "roots of good" {kusalamula) which are called "leading to penetration," nirvedhabhdgiya (vi. 17-25). These are smrtyupasthdnas of a higher nature, the highest of which, the laukikdgradharmas, "the Supreme Worldly Dharmas/' or meditation, leads directly to the pure seeing of the truths, to abhisamaya.
The nirvedhabhdgiyas are the preparatory path (prayogamdrga)
? par excellence; all of the exercises which precede it are the distant preparatory path. There now comes the Path properly so-called, the path of the abandoning of the klesas or defilements (the prahdnamdrga).
6. There is abhisamaya (vi. English translation p. 897, 946) or satyabhisamaya, "comprehension of the Truths. " This is a pure or andsrava prajnd, that is to say a prajfld free from any error (viparydsa, v. 9) and any defilement (rdga, etc. ), which grasps the general characteristics (sdmdnyalaksana, ii, English translation p. 240) of the Truths. The Truths are defined, vi. 2, 3; each one is made up of four "aspects" (dkdras) vii. 13; "comprehension" is therefore gradual (anupurva), vi. 27.
Abhisamaya is made up of sixteen thoughts, or sixteen moments of thought.
The ascetic first sees the Truth of Suffering relating to Kamadhatu. This seeing consists of two moments. In the first, duhkhe dharmajndnaksdnti (vi. 26a), the ascetic destroys any doubt that may remain relating to the suffering of Kamadhatu: this first moment is a "patience" (ksdnti), which expels a certain category of klesa; this is a path of abandoning (prahdnamdrga) or an "irresistible" path (dnantaryamdrga), v. 6l, vi. 28,65. This first moment is samayktvaniyamdvakranti (vi. English translation p. 896) and makes the ascetic an Aryan, a candidate for the first result.
The second moment, all doubt having disappeared relating to suffering of Kamadhatu, is called duhkhe dharmajndna: this is a perfect "knowledge/' The difference between a "patience", ksanti, and "knowledge," jndna, is explained vii. l. In the second moment, the ascetic who, in the first moment, cut off the "possession" (prdpti, ii. 36c) of a certain category or group of klesas, takes possession of the "destruction" relating to these kiefas (destruc- tion = nirodha, pratisamkhyanirodha, nirvana, ii. English transla- tion p. 207, 280). The ascetic is therefore delivered from these klesas: the second moment is thus a path of deliverance (vimukti- mdrga) (vi. 28, 61, 65).
foreword xv
? xvi Foreword
In the third and fourth moments, the ascetic sees the Truth of Suffering relating to the suffering of the two higher spheres. There are the same four moments for each Truth: in all sixteen moments, eight moments of ksdnti, eight moments oijndna. The four moments of jfidna relating to Kamadhatu are dharmajnana; the four moments relating to the higher spheres are anvayajndna (vii. 3,6,8).
7. The first fifteen moments of abhisamaya make: up the "path of seeing," satyadarsanamdrga or darsanamarga, because they are the first (pure) seeing of the Truths (vi. 28c). This is the dharmacakra (vi. 54), very rapid, of such a type that it is difficult for a saint capable of reading the thoughts of others to follow the progress of an ascetic who has entered darsanamarga (vii. 6b).
The eight ksdntis or "paths of abandoning'* (prahdnamarga) which are found here bring about the abandoning (v. English translation p. 775, 854, 861), in a definitive manner, of a certain category of klesa-the klesa which is "wrong seeing" (drsti) by its nature (satkdyadrsti, etc. , i. 40c, iv. ll, v. 4, vi. 58, vii. 36), the so-called avastuka klesa--\Ax3& a certain attachment, rdgaf the rdga which is in direct relationship with the drsti (v. 33).
In the sixteenth moment, which is the first moment of the path of meditation (bhdvandmdrga), the ascetic acquires the first result, the result of Srotaapanna (on the results or "fruits," see v. 70, vi. 51),andof the sixth parijnd (v. 54). His deliverance is assured and rapid: he will obtain Nirvana after seven (or after fourteen) rebirths at the most, vi. 34a. Nevertheless, if the ascetic, before having entered the path of darfana, has not got rid of, through a worldly path of meditation {laukika bhavanamdrga) (see Para. 8 below), the klesas which can only be abandoned by the path of meditation (bhavanamdrga), he will remain, upon leaving the path of seeing, bound by innumerable klesas: the path of darsana, in sum, cuts off only the drstis, the idea of self, etc. ; it does not cut off the rdga or attachment which one experiences through agreeable sensations, which, as opposed to the idea of self, are real; it also leaves intact hatred (dvesa), etc. (v. 5a, i. 40), which only the
? path of meditation can cut off.
8. The path of meditation, bhdvand, is by nature punah punardmukhtkarana, abhydsa, repeated contemplation, or "medita- tion" (On the different definitions of bhdvand, bhdvayati, see ii. 59, iv. l23c, v. 29, 60d, vi. 5a, 70, vii. ll, 20, 27).
This path is pure or impure; as pure, it can only be cultivate by an ascetic who has trodden the path of darsana.
Let us now consider the ascetic who, although bound by all of the bonds to be abandoned through meditation {bhdvandheyak- lesa), leaves the path of seeing and enters the pure path of meditation.
This path consists of the repeated contemplation of the Truths. Through this contemplation, the ascetic will abandon, in sequence, the nine categories (strong-strong, strong-medium, strong-weak, medium-strong . . . vi. 33) of the klesas relating to Kamadhatu, relating to each of the Four Dhyanas (stages or heavens of Rupadhatu), and relating to each of the four states or four existences {upapatti) of the so-called "formless" or nonmaterial absorptions which make up Arupyadhatu (on the distinction between samapattidhyana and upapattidhyana, see viii. l); for example, he abandons all rdga (attachment or craving) first with respect to the sense pleasures, and then with respect to the delight or satisfaction that he experiences in the First Dhyana.
The abandoning of each of these categories (nine for each of the nine spheres) makes up a "moment" of abandoning or of relinquishment (prahdna or dnantaryamdrga) and a moment of deliverance (vimuktimdrga): in which moment the ascetic takes possession of the destruction of this category. In distinction to the path of seeing, these two moments are moments of "knowledge,"
jndna; there are no "patiences," ksdnti, in the path of meditation (v. 65d).
The ascetic who obtains the abandoning of the sixteenth category of the klesas of Kamadhatu (avarabhdgiya, v. 43) becomes a Sakrdagamin (vii. 35c); he will be reborn no more than once in
Foreword xvii
? xviii Foreword
Kamadhatu; he who has obtained the abandoning of the nine categories of the same defilements becomes an Anagamin (vi. 34); he will not be reborn again in Kamadhatu.
The path of abandoning through which the ascetic abandons the ninth category (weak-weak) of the klesas which are attached to the highest sphere of existence--the fourth Arupya, naivasamjndnd- samjndyatana, or simply Bhavagra-bears the name of Vajropama- samadhi (vi. 44d). It is followed by a "path of deliverance" in which the ascetic takes possession of the destruction of all the klesas or dsravas. The ascetic, endowed with the highest of the parijnds (v. 69c), is henceforth an Arhat, an Asaiksa. He possesses ksayajndna (vi. 44d) and, since he is "immovable," anutpddajndna (vi. 50) [On the different types of Arhat, the falling away of an Arhat, see vi. 56-60].
9. The name visesamdrga, the path of excellence or the excellent path, or the path of the progress, is given to the "paths" (that is to say to the moments of thought) which are better (visispa) than the result already obtained (v. 6l, vi. 32, 65).
The theory of the four paths, prayoga, dnantarya, vimukti, and visesa, is applied to many spiritual processes, for example to the acquisition of the visesas (that is to say of the spiritual qualities, guna, whose acquisition depends on the Dhyanas): acquisition of the divine eye and of the abhijnas (vii. 42), acquisition of the abhibhvdyatanas (viii. 35), etc. One process particularly worthy of notice is indriyasamcdra (vi. 4lc, 57c, 58b, 60), through which the ascetic "transforms" or "perfects" the moral faculties (indriya) of faith, etc. , making them sharp {tiksna). The classification of the Saints (Sraddhanusarin, etc. , vi. 29, 63) rests on the distinction between sharp and blunt or weak (mrdu) faculties.
10. Nevertheless, without having "seen" the Truths through a pure prajnd, without having "uprooted" the "wrong views" (satkdyadrspi, the idea of a self, etc. ), in other words, by completely remaining a Prthagjana (vi. 26a, p. 944), an ascetic can become detached (vairagya) from Kamadhatu, from Rupadhatu, and from the first three stages of Arupyadhatu.