Kings, ministers, scholars and a whole class of
translators
worked unceasingly to render Sanskrit texts and their commentaries into Tibetan.
Bhavanakrama-Stages-of-Meditation-by-Kamalashila
?
KamalaSila is one of those distinguished acharyas who went to Tibet from India, stayed there and wrote scholarly treatises on Buddha dharma.
His historic debate with and victory over the Chinese monk, Hoshang, is considered as a landmark in
the annals of the spread of Buddhism in Bod. 'Bhavana-krama' is one of his more important writings and comprises three chapters. Fortified with extensive quotes from innumerable sutras, it delineates the
'krama' or sequence of meditational practice a seeker should undertake in order to attain 'sarvajnata', the true
knowledge of things.
The present work is the
first-ever English rendering from original Sanskrit done at the suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Rs. 150
"
BHAVANAKRAMA
/
'<,
OF KAMALASILA
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH ByPARMANANDASHARMA
WITH A FOREWORD
BYHIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA
ADIlY A PRAKASHAN
New Delhi
? (C) PARMANANDASHARMA First published, 1997
Reprint, 2004
<r(O,
f. . ~
? . .
THE DAlAI LAMA
FOREWORD
Tibetans will always remain grateful to such great Indian scholars and . adepts as Shantarakshita, Padmasambhava and Dipamkara Shrijnana, who brought the Buddha's teachings to the Land of Snows. Despite the difficulties they faced, they spent the best part of their lives propagating and explaining the teachings of Sutra and Tantra for the welfare of all . sentient beings. Kings, ministers, scholars and a whole class of translators worked unceasingly to render Sanskrit texts and their commentaries into Tibetan.
Acharya Kamalashila (9th century CE), a disciple of Shantarakshita, was the first Indian scholar to live and compose his writings in Tibet. Bhavana-krama (Stages of Meditation) is one such work. It comprises three parts which were probably written at different times. The focus of Bhavana-krama is the cultivation of meditative concentration and special insight. It details the sequence of meditational practices essential for understanding the true nature of phenomena.
While Tibetan and Sanskrit editions of Bhavana-krama have been in existence for centuries, no English translation of this remarkable classic was readily available. Therefore, in response to my own suggestion, Professor P. N. Sharma has undertaken the task of translating it into English. I am confident that whether they have an academic and historical view of the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet or a wish to put these teachings into actual practice, English readers will find this translation of great value. -:>>:':
. ISBN 81-86471-15-4
Published by P. K. Gael for Aditya Prakashan, F-14/65, Model Town II, Delhi - 110 009 and printed at Rajkamal Electric Press, Delhi - 110 033.
November 5,1996
. ,
I I
"
? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTENTS
? 1 . Introduction . 9
? ? 2. Bhavanakrama-I
13
? -3. Bhavanakrama-Il
51
? 4. Bhavanakrama-Ill
77
? 5. Glossary-I
101
? 6. Glossary-II
117
? 7. Glossary-III
123
My profoundest gratitude is due to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for assigning the work of translation to me and for gifting a copy of BHA. VANA-KRAMA from his personal library. Thanks are also due to my friend, Gyatsho Tshering, Director, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, for making available to me library facilities including xeroxing of the MS and to the staff of LTW A for their assistance and cooperation.
Thanks are also due to Mr. Pradeep Goel, Aditya Prakashan, publisher of this book.
Author
"
?
? TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
INTRODUCTION
Kamalasila is one of those distinguished acharyas who went to Tibet from India, stayed there and wrote scholarly treatises on Buddha dharma. His historic debate with and victory over the Chinese monk, Hoshang, is considered as a landmark in the annals of the spread of Buddhism in Bod. 'Bhavana-krama' is one of his more important writings and comprises three chapters. Fortified with extensive quotes from innumerable sutras, it delineates the 'krama. ' or se- quence of meditational practice a seeker should undertake in order to attain 'sarvajfiata ', the true knowledge of things.
Whereas the first and the third chapters had for long been extant in Sanskrit, the second chapter was available in Tibetan version alone. It was left to Prof. Gyaltsen Namdol of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varartasi to render the second chapter back into Sanskrit from Tibetan. The Institute brought out the complete version along with the Tibetan and Hindi translations. The present work is the first- ever English rendering from original Sanskrit done at the
suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the great Compassionate One, to whose gracious and constant blessings I can never adequately match my humble gratitude.
Padmasambhava, Santaraksita, Dipankara Srijfiana and Karnalasila together make the foursome of the great masters who made the Dharma what it came to be in Tibet. To Santaraksita and Kamalasila - the teacher-pupil duo - goes the credit of propagating, preaching and developing Buddhism in Bod in all its varied nuances, thus lending it purity, originality and authenticity.
Kamalasila wrote his 'Bhavanakrarna ' in Tibet itself, keeping in view the special requirements of his Tibetan audience. Hence, his style here is that of a lucid prose-writer who deliberately clothed his lofty and abstract theme in simple, intelligible Sanskrit which is quite different from his diction in other works.
'Bhavanakrama' is the first-ever Sanskrit text written by any Indian acharya on the soil srTibet. With the passage of time, copies of Bhavana-krama manuscripts dwindled in the monastic libraries of the country as the study of Sanskrit declined. The second chapter in original totally disappeared and whatever manuscripts remained became truncated. Of course, the Tibetan version continued to be extant in its entirety. Prof. Tucci retrieved Chapter I from Tibet and Chapter III from Russia in original Sanskrit and he published the two in Roman script.
Not much, by way of biographical information on Kamalasila, is on record. He appears to have visited Tibet during the reign of Trison-De-tsen, the 37th King (742-798 A. D. ), who invited, among others, Acharya Santaraksita of Nalanda and later Padmasambhava from Urgyan to Tibet. The latter succeeded where the former had failed; the Tibetans took readily to the teachings and practices of the 'rnahasiddha' rather than to the intellectual scholasticism of Santaraksita who went back to India only to return later and leave his mortal coil on the soil of Tibet after many years of missionary work. Before Santaraksita died, he had predicted, it is said, that a time would come when the Indian and
Dharamsala
Parmananda Sharma
? 10
Chinese schools would come into sharp conflict on the concepts of gradual and instant enlightenment as respectively advocated by the two sides. So he had instructed that when the exigency arose Kamalasila,? his able pupil from Nalanda, should be invited to defend the Indian point of view about the interpretation of Siitra. A religious debate was arranged between acharya Karnalasila and Hoshang, the Chinese monk. It was held at Samye and covered a period of two years 092-794 A. D. ). The Chinese Hoshang was defeated and the king, himself a great scholar, declared Kamalasila the victor. To mark the great Indian acharyas triumph, a royal proclamation was also issued in letters of gold inscribed on blue paper. This document was ordered to be preserved as a court document. The main features of the proclamation were as historic as the occasion that had led to it; the Three Gems Ctrl-ratna ') to be never abandoned; monasteries to be maintained and supported; all succeeding kings and members of royalty to uphold the Proclamation. Ministers and princes and army commanders took oaths of loyalty to the document of which thirteen copies were made for record. Feasting, singing and dancing festivities followed in which the royal family, including the king, cabinet members and other high dignitaries participated. The king even composed a poem to mark the occasion. -
With great toil have I gathered the treasure and I am happy to spend without measure in spreading the faith of the Buddha, gleaned from the land of India,
It was in Tho-tho-ri Nyantsen's reign that The Secret first here came; translated in Songtsen Gampo's time, it has become established in mine.
It is said that the Chinese circles felt extremely piqued over their defeat; it was a total loss of face for them. They were not
the ones to take their defeat sportingly; their hired assasins murdered the acharya in cold blood. The great teacher's tragic death broke the king's heart who too passed away soon after.
BHAVANAKRAMA
INTRODUCTION
11
? BHAVANAKRAMA - I
I shall briefly describe 'bhavanakrarna" or the sequence of meditation in accordance with the rules of conduct prescribed for an 'adikarmika" in the Mahayana Sutras.
Those desirous of attainingtsarvajfiata" speedily should, in essence, try to practise these three things: "karuna ',4 'bodhichitta'5 and 'pratipatti'. "
Knowing that 'karuna ' is the basic root of all dharma practices of Lord Buddha's teachings, it should be contemplated or meditated upon at the very outset. As has been said in Arya-dharma-sangeeti: "So the bodhisattva mahasattva Arya Avalokitesvara said this to Lord Buddha, '0 Lord! a bodhisattva should not receive instruction in various dharmas. If he thoroughly practises a single dharma with devotion, all other dharmas will be his. Now, what is that single dharma? It is 'rnaha-karuna'. Through 'rnaha-karuna' all other Buddha dharmas? are in the palm of a-bodhisattva's hand, o Lord! just as where-so-ever a 'chakravartin' ruler's chakra- jewel moves, there do his mighty armies, so also, 0 Lord! where-so-ever a bodhisattva's 'rnahakaruna' goes, thither do all Buddha dharmas follow. 0 Lord! just as all other senses function so long as life-breath stays so also as long as mahakaruna stays all other dharmas for the bodhisattvas are generated' . "
It has been said in Aryaksya-mati-nirdesa: "moreover, o bhadanta," Sharadavati's son! the bodhisattvas' 'mahakaruna' is inexhaustible. And, how is it so? Because, it is 'purvangama'," o bhadanta Sharadavati's son! just as breathing in and breathing out is the 'purvagami? ? or precursor of life-breath, so also in Mahayana, a bodhisattva's 'mahakaruna' is a pre-requisite for the collection of 'punya' or merit". Also, in the Arya-gaya- sirsa: "0 Manjusril What is the beginning of the conduct of bodhisattvas and what their adhisthana ? 1l""Manjusri replied '0 Deva-putra! the beginning of a bodhisattva's conduct is 'rnahakaruna' and its adhisthana the beings. "
By it, i. e. 'rnahakaruna ', inspired the bodhisattvas, with
? 14 BHA vANAKRAMA
little concern for themselves, work assiduously for collecting merit through long, arduous periods of time with the sole object of others' well-being. So it has been said in Arya- sraddhabaladhana: "For the well-being of sattvas through 'rnahakaruna', there is no joy which a bodhisattva does not
renounce. " In this manner, by engaging himself in the most difficult situations and by collecting Csambhara)" merit quickly, he attains 'sarvajfiata '. Therefore, the root of all Buddha-dharmas is 'mahakaruQ. a'. " It was through holding on to 'rnahakaruna' that Lord Buddha, after attaining 'sarva-
jfiata ', continued to work for the whole world. The Lord's 'mahakaruQ. a' is thus the very reason for the Lord not enter-
ing 'nirvana'.
It, i. e. 'rnahakaruna", is (born from and) augmented by constantly reflecting in the mind over the sufferings of beings. All 'sattvas ' are suffering from the three-fold pain" of dukhas rampant in the three worlds', 14 - (reflecting) like this one should fix one's thought on all beings. The Lord has
described how hell-beings continue to suffer for long periods from such tortures as fire-burning; so also 'pretas'," through suffering from dukha-fire with extreme hunger and thirst, get emaciated in body and suffer terribly for a hundred years even; such as these have not had even spittal to lick at. Thus has, stated the Lord. Beings born even as 'tiryakas'" are seen to experience great suffering through mutual anger, killings,
beatings and torturing etc. For example, some have their bodies made helpless through piercing of ears, beatings and lashing and they are made to suffer by all and sundry. Their bodies get exhausted and fatigued by their having to carry loads unwillingly. Some, living in the forest, may also be
searched out and killed even though they may be innocent. Some, out of mutual fear, are constantly running about here and there with minds disturbed.
Their sufferings too seem to be endless. Hell-tortures can be witnessed even during human existence, because here also things like the amputation of a thief's limbs, consignment to the scaffold and the tying down of hands and feet etc. are
BHA VANAKRAMA-I
15
nothing but hell-tortures. Those who suffer from penury are experiencing the dukhas of hunger and thirst like 'pretas'. Those who as servants have subordinated their thoughts to others and those who are tortured after being over-powered by the powerful suffer from the tortures of beating and tying like' tiraykas'. So also are immeasureable the dukhas of beings during journeys and from mutual deceit and beatings, and from union with and separation from the unloved and the loved ones respectively. The affluent ones who are considered to be happy are also liable to lose their property submerged as they are in the midst of extremely evil eyes, and owing to the accumulation of many 'klesas' and 'karmas' which are causal to the experiencing of hell-tortures, they are like trees on the edge of a waterfall and are, in the ultimate sense, unhappy being in the midst of the causes of dukha.
Even gods do not have mental composure" so long as they wander in the realm of 'kama' or desire because their minds, aflame with the raging fire of desires, are unclean and mad. What happiness can be there for these so poor in the joys of the wealth of tranquillity ? 18 What happiness can be there for them, i. e. gods, who are overcome by the constant fear of a fall (from their god-state) ? Those who, for some period (of their existence) move about jn visible and invisible states (that is, with form and without form) also, though free for a while from the tortures of suffering, ultimately suffer/ from the dukha of evil consequences leading to hell-tortures owing to their not having overcome the 'anusayas"? from a 'kamavachara? " conduct. Thus all human beings and gods owing to their subordination to 'karma klesas' ,~are suffering from the dukha of 'samskara-dukha'. "
In this way the whole world is wrapped around by a wreath of dukha-fire; so seeing and thinking 'just as I do not like suffering so also don't others', one should generate a feeling of compassion for all beings. First of all such 'bhavana' or contemplation should be cultivated towards friends, keeping in mind the aforesaid experiences of dukha or suffering.
? 16 BHAvANAKRAMA
BHAvANAKRAMA-I 17
Then, with a mind introvert and staid, one should contemplate like this: 'there is not a single 'sattva' in this beginning-less world who has not been related to me a hundred times'; in this manner contemplate on ordinary beings. When compassion similar to that for one's friends is also generated for common beings, one should through 'chitta-samata>'ormentalequalitycontemplateonone's enemies also. When one is as much concerned-" for one's enemies as for one's friends one should generate identical 'bhavana ' or feeling for all the beings in all the ten directions
one after the other. When the spontaneous desire to remove the dukha of all the sattvas like one would that of one's own dear child is generated, it (i. e. the desire) becomes 'nispanna" or staid and is designated as 'mahakaruna ' as has been described in Aksayamati-sutra. This sequence of 'kripa' bhavana or the contemplation of compassion has been described by the Lord in the Abhidharma sutras etc.
Through the force of the practising of such compassion and the vow of uplifting all 'sattvas ', bodhichitta 26 is
spontaneously born as importunate" for 'annuttar-samyaka- sambodhi' . 28
As has been said in Arya Dasa-dharma-sutra. "Seeing that the beings are unprotected, unsheltered and homeless one should fix one's mind in 'karuna' so that 'anuttara samyaka- sambodhi' is generated. " Even though 'bodhichitta is generated in a bodhisattva through another's adherence to 'samyaka '29still bodhichitta generated in a bodhisattva through the on-rush of compassion is far superior as stated in
Arya-Tathagata-jfiana-mudra. Samadhi by the Lord. He (the Lord) has said that such bodhichitta is highly beneficial in the world even without 'pratipatti'. 30As has been mentioned in Maitreya-Virnoksa. "0 kulputra! just as a broken 'Vajra- ratna'31 superimposes itself on the best of gold ornaments but still retains its identity and removes all want, similarly, 0 kulputra! the 'Vajra-ratna ' of the generation of mind for the attainment of 'sarvajnata ',32even if not accompanied by 'pratipatti', superimposes itself on the gold ornaments of the
'gunas'P of a 'sravaka" and a 'pratyeka-buddha'r" it does not abandon 'bodhichitta' and also removes the wants of the world. "
He who cannot be fully and in every manner educated in the 'paramitas-" should also cultivate bodhichitta, because by holding on to 'upayaya'j? great benefits accrue. As has beensaidinArya-rajavavadaka-sutra:"0king! asyouarea great doer and can do a lot, it is not possible to educate everyone in every way from 'dana-paramita-" to "prajfia- paramita"? so you should constantly re-capitulate', mentally visualise and contemplate on your desire for and faith in prayer and determination or vow" for 'samyaka sambodhi' while walking, stopping, sitting, sleeping, waking, eating, drinking, recollecting all the 'kusala-mulas" or root-merits of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka-buddhas, arya- sravakas, common people, your own of the past, of the present, of the future, and commend them (i. e. kusala miilas), After 'anumodana'P or commending, offer it again to the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka-buddhas, arya-sravakas through worship and, after offering, make them common= for the common people. Then transform into 'anuttara- samyaka-sambodhi' all 'kusalas' or merits practised thrice everyday for the attainment of 'sarvajfiata' by sattvas and for the fulfilment of all Buddha-dharmas. " Thus will you, 0 King! having becometpratipanna ' or realised, rule (your kingdom). You will/not have to abandon governance and you will also accomplish 'bodhi-sambhara" or accumulation of bodhi. " He further added: "as the fruit" of your root-merits of 'samyaka-sambodhi', many times you were born among gods, many times among men and during all your godly and human births you will be a ruler. " Thus said in detail.
Bodhichitta, which is the essence of 'pratipatti' or attainment, has been proved to be immensely fruitful. As has been said in Arya-veerdatta-pariprichha: "If the' punya' which is attained from bodhichitta is handsome, it will fill the entire 'akasa-dhatu" and overflow it. " "A person offers as many 'buddha-ksetras':" full of gems as the sands of the
?
Kings, ministers, scholars and a whole class of translators worked unceasingly to render Sanskrit texts and their commentaries into Tibetan.
Acharya Kamalashila (9th century CE), a disciple of Shantarakshita, was the first Indian scholar to live and compose his writings in Tibet. Bhavana-krama (Stages of Meditation) is one such work. It comprises three parts which were probably written at different times. The focus of Bhavana-krama is the cultivation of meditative concentration and special insight. It details the sequence of meditational practices essential for understanding the true nature of phenomena.
While Tibetan and Sanskrit editions of Bhavana-krama have been in existence for centuries, no English translation of this remarkable classic was readily available. Therefore, in response to my own suggestion, Professor P. N. Sharma has undertaken the task of translating it into English. I am confident that whether they have an academic and historical view of the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet or a wish to put these teachings into actual practice, English readers will find this translation of great value. -:>>:':
. ISBN 81-86471-15-4
Published by P. K. Gael for Aditya Prakashan, F-14/65, Model Town II, Delhi - 110 009 and printed at Rajkamal Electric Press, Delhi - 110 033.
November 5,1996
. ,
I I
"
? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTENTS
? 1 . Introduction . 9
? ? 2. Bhavanakrama-I
13
? -3. Bhavanakrama-Il
51
? 4. Bhavanakrama-Ill
77
? 5. Glossary-I
101
? 6. Glossary-II
117
? 7. Glossary-III
123
My profoundest gratitude is due to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for assigning the work of translation to me and for gifting a copy of BHA. VANA-KRAMA from his personal library. Thanks are also due to my friend, Gyatsho Tshering, Director, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, for making available to me library facilities including xeroxing of the MS and to the staff of LTW A for their assistance and cooperation.
Thanks are also due to Mr. Pradeep Goel, Aditya Prakashan, publisher of this book.
Author
"
?
? TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
INTRODUCTION
Kamalasila is one of those distinguished acharyas who went to Tibet from India, stayed there and wrote scholarly treatises on Buddha dharma. His historic debate with and victory over the Chinese monk, Hoshang, is considered as a landmark in the annals of the spread of Buddhism in Bod. 'Bhavana-krama' is one of his more important writings and comprises three chapters. Fortified with extensive quotes from innumerable sutras, it delineates the 'krama. ' or se- quence of meditational practice a seeker should undertake in order to attain 'sarvajfiata ', the true knowledge of things.
Whereas the first and the third chapters had for long been extant in Sanskrit, the second chapter was available in Tibetan version alone. It was left to Prof. Gyaltsen Namdol of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varartasi to render the second chapter back into Sanskrit from Tibetan. The Institute brought out the complete version along with the Tibetan and Hindi translations. The present work is the first- ever English rendering from original Sanskrit done at the
suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the great Compassionate One, to whose gracious and constant blessings I can never adequately match my humble gratitude.
Padmasambhava, Santaraksita, Dipankara Srijfiana and Karnalasila together make the foursome of the great masters who made the Dharma what it came to be in Tibet. To Santaraksita and Kamalasila - the teacher-pupil duo - goes the credit of propagating, preaching and developing Buddhism in Bod in all its varied nuances, thus lending it purity, originality and authenticity.
Kamalasila wrote his 'Bhavanakrarna ' in Tibet itself, keeping in view the special requirements of his Tibetan audience. Hence, his style here is that of a lucid prose-writer who deliberately clothed his lofty and abstract theme in simple, intelligible Sanskrit which is quite different from his diction in other works.
'Bhavanakrama' is the first-ever Sanskrit text written by any Indian acharya on the soil srTibet. With the passage of time, copies of Bhavana-krama manuscripts dwindled in the monastic libraries of the country as the study of Sanskrit declined. The second chapter in original totally disappeared and whatever manuscripts remained became truncated. Of course, the Tibetan version continued to be extant in its entirety. Prof. Tucci retrieved Chapter I from Tibet and Chapter III from Russia in original Sanskrit and he published the two in Roman script.
Not much, by way of biographical information on Kamalasila, is on record. He appears to have visited Tibet during the reign of Trison-De-tsen, the 37th King (742-798 A. D. ), who invited, among others, Acharya Santaraksita of Nalanda and later Padmasambhava from Urgyan to Tibet. The latter succeeded where the former had failed; the Tibetans took readily to the teachings and practices of the 'rnahasiddha' rather than to the intellectual scholasticism of Santaraksita who went back to India only to return later and leave his mortal coil on the soil of Tibet after many years of missionary work. Before Santaraksita died, he had predicted, it is said, that a time would come when the Indian and
Dharamsala
Parmananda Sharma
? 10
Chinese schools would come into sharp conflict on the concepts of gradual and instant enlightenment as respectively advocated by the two sides. So he had instructed that when the exigency arose Kamalasila,? his able pupil from Nalanda, should be invited to defend the Indian point of view about the interpretation of Siitra. A religious debate was arranged between acharya Karnalasila and Hoshang, the Chinese monk. It was held at Samye and covered a period of two years 092-794 A. D. ). The Chinese Hoshang was defeated and the king, himself a great scholar, declared Kamalasila the victor. To mark the great Indian acharyas triumph, a royal proclamation was also issued in letters of gold inscribed on blue paper. This document was ordered to be preserved as a court document. The main features of the proclamation were as historic as the occasion that had led to it; the Three Gems Ctrl-ratna ') to be never abandoned; monasteries to be maintained and supported; all succeeding kings and members of royalty to uphold the Proclamation. Ministers and princes and army commanders took oaths of loyalty to the document of which thirteen copies were made for record. Feasting, singing and dancing festivities followed in which the royal family, including the king, cabinet members and other high dignitaries participated. The king even composed a poem to mark the occasion. -
With great toil have I gathered the treasure and I am happy to spend without measure in spreading the faith of the Buddha, gleaned from the land of India,
It was in Tho-tho-ri Nyantsen's reign that The Secret first here came; translated in Songtsen Gampo's time, it has become established in mine.
It is said that the Chinese circles felt extremely piqued over their defeat; it was a total loss of face for them. They were not
the ones to take their defeat sportingly; their hired assasins murdered the acharya in cold blood. The great teacher's tragic death broke the king's heart who too passed away soon after.
BHAVANAKRAMA
INTRODUCTION
11
? BHAVANAKRAMA - I
I shall briefly describe 'bhavanakrarna" or the sequence of meditation in accordance with the rules of conduct prescribed for an 'adikarmika" in the Mahayana Sutras.
Those desirous of attainingtsarvajfiata" speedily should, in essence, try to practise these three things: "karuna ',4 'bodhichitta'5 and 'pratipatti'. "
Knowing that 'karuna ' is the basic root of all dharma practices of Lord Buddha's teachings, it should be contemplated or meditated upon at the very outset. As has been said in Arya-dharma-sangeeti: "So the bodhisattva mahasattva Arya Avalokitesvara said this to Lord Buddha, '0 Lord! a bodhisattva should not receive instruction in various dharmas. If he thoroughly practises a single dharma with devotion, all other dharmas will be his. Now, what is that single dharma? It is 'rnaha-karuna'. Through 'rnaha-karuna' all other Buddha dharmas? are in the palm of a-bodhisattva's hand, o Lord! just as where-so-ever a 'chakravartin' ruler's chakra- jewel moves, there do his mighty armies, so also, 0 Lord! where-so-ever a bodhisattva's 'rnahakaruna' goes, thither do all Buddha dharmas follow. 0 Lord! just as all other senses function so long as life-breath stays so also as long as mahakaruna stays all other dharmas for the bodhisattvas are generated' . "
It has been said in Aryaksya-mati-nirdesa: "moreover, o bhadanta," Sharadavati's son! the bodhisattvas' 'mahakaruna' is inexhaustible. And, how is it so? Because, it is 'purvangama'," o bhadanta Sharadavati's son! just as breathing in and breathing out is the 'purvagami? ? or precursor of life-breath, so also in Mahayana, a bodhisattva's 'mahakaruna' is a pre-requisite for the collection of 'punya' or merit". Also, in the Arya-gaya- sirsa: "0 Manjusril What is the beginning of the conduct of bodhisattvas and what their adhisthana ? 1l""Manjusri replied '0 Deva-putra! the beginning of a bodhisattva's conduct is 'rnahakaruna' and its adhisthana the beings. "
By it, i. e. 'rnahakaruna ', inspired the bodhisattvas, with
? 14 BHA vANAKRAMA
little concern for themselves, work assiduously for collecting merit through long, arduous periods of time with the sole object of others' well-being. So it has been said in Arya- sraddhabaladhana: "For the well-being of sattvas through 'rnahakaruna', there is no joy which a bodhisattva does not
renounce. " In this manner, by engaging himself in the most difficult situations and by collecting Csambhara)" merit quickly, he attains 'sarvajfiata '. Therefore, the root of all Buddha-dharmas is 'mahakaruQ. a'. " It was through holding on to 'rnahakaruna' that Lord Buddha, after attaining 'sarva-
jfiata ', continued to work for the whole world. The Lord's 'mahakaruQ. a' is thus the very reason for the Lord not enter-
ing 'nirvana'.
It, i. e. 'rnahakaruna", is (born from and) augmented by constantly reflecting in the mind over the sufferings of beings. All 'sattvas ' are suffering from the three-fold pain" of dukhas rampant in the three worlds', 14 - (reflecting) like this one should fix one's thought on all beings. The Lord has
described how hell-beings continue to suffer for long periods from such tortures as fire-burning; so also 'pretas'," through suffering from dukha-fire with extreme hunger and thirst, get emaciated in body and suffer terribly for a hundred years even; such as these have not had even spittal to lick at. Thus has, stated the Lord. Beings born even as 'tiryakas'" are seen to experience great suffering through mutual anger, killings,
beatings and torturing etc. For example, some have their bodies made helpless through piercing of ears, beatings and lashing and they are made to suffer by all and sundry. Their bodies get exhausted and fatigued by their having to carry loads unwillingly. Some, living in the forest, may also be
searched out and killed even though they may be innocent. Some, out of mutual fear, are constantly running about here and there with minds disturbed.
Their sufferings too seem to be endless. Hell-tortures can be witnessed even during human existence, because here also things like the amputation of a thief's limbs, consignment to the scaffold and the tying down of hands and feet etc. are
BHA VANAKRAMA-I
15
nothing but hell-tortures. Those who suffer from penury are experiencing the dukhas of hunger and thirst like 'pretas'. Those who as servants have subordinated their thoughts to others and those who are tortured after being over-powered by the powerful suffer from the tortures of beating and tying like' tiraykas'. So also are immeasureable the dukhas of beings during journeys and from mutual deceit and beatings, and from union with and separation from the unloved and the loved ones respectively. The affluent ones who are considered to be happy are also liable to lose their property submerged as they are in the midst of extremely evil eyes, and owing to the accumulation of many 'klesas' and 'karmas' which are causal to the experiencing of hell-tortures, they are like trees on the edge of a waterfall and are, in the ultimate sense, unhappy being in the midst of the causes of dukha.
Even gods do not have mental composure" so long as they wander in the realm of 'kama' or desire because their minds, aflame with the raging fire of desires, are unclean and mad. What happiness can be there for these so poor in the joys of the wealth of tranquillity ? 18 What happiness can be there for them, i. e. gods, who are overcome by the constant fear of a fall (from their god-state) ? Those who, for some period (of their existence) move about jn visible and invisible states (that is, with form and without form) also, though free for a while from the tortures of suffering, ultimately suffer/ from the dukha of evil consequences leading to hell-tortures owing to their not having overcome the 'anusayas"? from a 'kamavachara? " conduct. Thus all human beings and gods owing to their subordination to 'karma klesas' ,~are suffering from the dukha of 'samskara-dukha'. "
In this way the whole world is wrapped around by a wreath of dukha-fire; so seeing and thinking 'just as I do not like suffering so also don't others', one should generate a feeling of compassion for all beings. First of all such 'bhavana' or contemplation should be cultivated towards friends, keeping in mind the aforesaid experiences of dukha or suffering.
? 16 BHAvANAKRAMA
BHAvANAKRAMA-I 17
Then, with a mind introvert and staid, one should contemplate like this: 'there is not a single 'sattva' in this beginning-less world who has not been related to me a hundred times'; in this manner contemplate on ordinary beings. When compassion similar to that for one's friends is also generated for common beings, one should through 'chitta-samata>'ormentalequalitycontemplateonone's enemies also. When one is as much concerned-" for one's enemies as for one's friends one should generate identical 'bhavana ' or feeling for all the beings in all the ten directions
one after the other. When the spontaneous desire to remove the dukha of all the sattvas like one would that of one's own dear child is generated, it (i. e. the desire) becomes 'nispanna" or staid and is designated as 'mahakaruna ' as has been described in Aksayamati-sutra. This sequence of 'kripa' bhavana or the contemplation of compassion has been described by the Lord in the Abhidharma sutras etc.
Through the force of the practising of such compassion and the vow of uplifting all 'sattvas ', bodhichitta 26 is
spontaneously born as importunate" for 'annuttar-samyaka- sambodhi' . 28
As has been said in Arya Dasa-dharma-sutra. "Seeing that the beings are unprotected, unsheltered and homeless one should fix one's mind in 'karuna' so that 'anuttara samyaka- sambodhi' is generated. " Even though 'bodhichitta is generated in a bodhisattva through another's adherence to 'samyaka '29still bodhichitta generated in a bodhisattva through the on-rush of compassion is far superior as stated in
Arya-Tathagata-jfiana-mudra. Samadhi by the Lord. He (the Lord) has said that such bodhichitta is highly beneficial in the world even without 'pratipatti'. 30As has been mentioned in Maitreya-Virnoksa. "0 kulputra! just as a broken 'Vajra- ratna'31 superimposes itself on the best of gold ornaments but still retains its identity and removes all want, similarly, 0 kulputra! the 'Vajra-ratna ' of the generation of mind for the attainment of 'sarvajnata ',32even if not accompanied by 'pratipatti', superimposes itself on the gold ornaments of the
'gunas'P of a 'sravaka" and a 'pratyeka-buddha'r" it does not abandon 'bodhichitta' and also removes the wants of the world. "
He who cannot be fully and in every manner educated in the 'paramitas-" should also cultivate bodhichitta, because by holding on to 'upayaya'j? great benefits accrue. As has beensaidinArya-rajavavadaka-sutra:"0king! asyouarea great doer and can do a lot, it is not possible to educate everyone in every way from 'dana-paramita-" to "prajfia- paramita"? so you should constantly re-capitulate', mentally visualise and contemplate on your desire for and faith in prayer and determination or vow" for 'samyaka sambodhi' while walking, stopping, sitting, sleeping, waking, eating, drinking, recollecting all the 'kusala-mulas" or root-merits of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka-buddhas, arya- sravakas, common people, your own of the past, of the present, of the future, and commend them (i. e. kusala miilas), After 'anumodana'P or commending, offer it again to the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka-buddhas, arya-sravakas through worship and, after offering, make them common= for the common people. Then transform into 'anuttara- samyaka-sambodhi' all 'kusalas' or merits practised thrice everyday for the attainment of 'sarvajfiata' by sattvas and for the fulfilment of all Buddha-dharmas. " Thus will you, 0 King! having becometpratipanna ' or realised, rule (your kingdom). You will/not have to abandon governance and you will also accomplish 'bodhi-sambhara" or accumulation of bodhi. " He further added: "as the fruit" of your root-merits of 'samyaka-sambodhi', many times you were born among gods, many times among men and during all your godly and human births you will be a ruler. " Thus said in detail.
Bodhichitta, which is the essence of 'pratipatti' or attainment, has been proved to be immensely fruitful. As has been said in Arya-veerdatta-pariprichha: "If the' punya' which is attained from bodhichitta is handsome, it will fill the entire 'akasa-dhatu" and overflow it. " "A person offers as many 'buddha-ksetras':" full of gems as the sands of the
? 18
BHAVANAKRAMA
BHAVANAKRAMA-I Aksyamati-ratnamegha-sutra.
19
Ganga to the Lords, another with folded hands bows his mind (asking) for bodhi; the latter worship is superior because it has no end. " says Arya-gandavyliha: "0 Kulputra! bodhichitta is the seed of all Buddha-dharmas". This in detail. "That bodhichitta is of two kinds, "pran idhi t-ch itta r" and 'prasthana-chitta'i'" that is, the mind that is fixed on the goal and the mind that is actually treading the road to bodhi. o Kulaputre! such beings are rare in the world who fix their mind in 'anuttara-samyaka-sambodhi, rarer even are beings who have ventured on the path of 'anuttara-sarnyaka- sambodhi'. May I become a Buddha for the well-being of the whole world; - such a preliminary prayer by the practitioner is called 'pranidhi-chitta ' or fixing of the mind from the moment one holds the vow (,samvara')51 and enters 'sambhara '>' or accumulation (of bodhi), it is termed as 'prasthana-chitta' or the journeying mind.
,Samvara' has to be received from other powerful and learned and 'samvara'-attuned kalyan-mttras. >' In the absence of a favourable 'grahaka' or recepient (or giver? ), bodhichitta should be generated by visualizing the Buddhas and the bodhisattvas as did Arya Manjusri by becoming Arnbara-raja. >' A bodhisattva who has so generated bodhichitta himself practises "dana ' etc. by giving and engages in 'pratipatti' knowing that if one does not oneself give away one cannot (exercise) control (over) others. And, there is no attainment of bodhi without 'pratipatti' or the knowledge of the eight-fold path.
As has been said in Arya-gayasiq;a, "The bodhisattvas with 'pratipatti' achieve bodhi and not those without "pratipatti". It has also been stated in Arya-samadhi-raja: "0 Kurnara! you should thus-wise instruct yourself: 'I shall possess the essence of 'pratipatti.
the annals of the spread of Buddhism in Bod. 'Bhavana-krama' is one of his more important writings and comprises three chapters. Fortified with extensive quotes from innumerable sutras, it delineates the
'krama' or sequence of meditational practice a seeker should undertake in order to attain 'sarvajnata', the true
knowledge of things.
The present work is the
first-ever English rendering from original Sanskrit done at the suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Rs. 150
"
BHAVANAKRAMA
/
'<,
OF KAMALASILA
TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH ByPARMANANDASHARMA
WITH A FOREWORD
BYHIS HOLINESS THE DALAI LAMA
ADIlY A PRAKASHAN
New Delhi
? (C) PARMANANDASHARMA First published, 1997
Reprint, 2004
<r(O,
f. . ~
? . .
THE DAlAI LAMA
FOREWORD
Tibetans will always remain grateful to such great Indian scholars and . adepts as Shantarakshita, Padmasambhava and Dipamkara Shrijnana, who brought the Buddha's teachings to the Land of Snows. Despite the difficulties they faced, they spent the best part of their lives propagating and explaining the teachings of Sutra and Tantra for the welfare of all . sentient beings. Kings, ministers, scholars and a whole class of translators worked unceasingly to render Sanskrit texts and their commentaries into Tibetan.
Acharya Kamalashila (9th century CE), a disciple of Shantarakshita, was the first Indian scholar to live and compose his writings in Tibet. Bhavana-krama (Stages of Meditation) is one such work. It comprises three parts which were probably written at different times. The focus of Bhavana-krama is the cultivation of meditative concentration and special insight. It details the sequence of meditational practices essential for understanding the true nature of phenomena.
While Tibetan and Sanskrit editions of Bhavana-krama have been in existence for centuries, no English translation of this remarkable classic was readily available. Therefore, in response to my own suggestion, Professor P. N. Sharma has undertaken the task of translating it into English. I am confident that whether they have an academic and historical view of the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet or a wish to put these teachings into actual practice, English readers will find this translation of great value. -:>>:':
. ISBN 81-86471-15-4
Published by P. K. Gael for Aditya Prakashan, F-14/65, Model Town II, Delhi - 110 009 and printed at Rajkamal Electric Press, Delhi - 110 033.
November 5,1996
. ,
I I
"
? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTENTS
? 1 . Introduction . 9
? ? 2. Bhavanakrama-I
13
? -3. Bhavanakrama-Il
51
? 4. Bhavanakrama-Ill
77
? 5. Glossary-I
101
? 6. Glossary-II
117
? 7. Glossary-III
123
My profoundest gratitude is due to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for assigning the work of translation to me and for gifting a copy of BHA. VANA-KRAMA from his personal library. Thanks are also due to my friend, Gyatsho Tshering, Director, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, for making available to me library facilities including xeroxing of the MS and to the staff of LTW A for their assistance and cooperation.
Thanks are also due to Mr. Pradeep Goel, Aditya Prakashan, publisher of this book.
Author
"
?
? TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
INTRODUCTION
Kamalasila is one of those distinguished acharyas who went to Tibet from India, stayed there and wrote scholarly treatises on Buddha dharma. His historic debate with and victory over the Chinese monk, Hoshang, is considered as a landmark in the annals of the spread of Buddhism in Bod. 'Bhavana-krama' is one of his more important writings and comprises three chapters. Fortified with extensive quotes from innumerable sutras, it delineates the 'krama. ' or se- quence of meditational practice a seeker should undertake in order to attain 'sarvajfiata ', the true knowledge of things.
Whereas the first and the third chapters had for long been extant in Sanskrit, the second chapter was available in Tibetan version alone. It was left to Prof. Gyaltsen Namdol of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varartasi to render the second chapter back into Sanskrit from Tibetan. The Institute brought out the complete version along with the Tibetan and Hindi translations. The present work is the first- ever English rendering from original Sanskrit done at the
suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the great Compassionate One, to whose gracious and constant blessings I can never adequately match my humble gratitude.
Padmasambhava, Santaraksita, Dipankara Srijfiana and Karnalasila together make the foursome of the great masters who made the Dharma what it came to be in Tibet. To Santaraksita and Kamalasila - the teacher-pupil duo - goes the credit of propagating, preaching and developing Buddhism in Bod in all its varied nuances, thus lending it purity, originality and authenticity.
Kamalasila wrote his 'Bhavanakrarna ' in Tibet itself, keeping in view the special requirements of his Tibetan audience. Hence, his style here is that of a lucid prose-writer who deliberately clothed his lofty and abstract theme in simple, intelligible Sanskrit which is quite different from his diction in other works.
'Bhavanakrama' is the first-ever Sanskrit text written by any Indian acharya on the soil srTibet. With the passage of time, copies of Bhavana-krama manuscripts dwindled in the monastic libraries of the country as the study of Sanskrit declined. The second chapter in original totally disappeared and whatever manuscripts remained became truncated. Of course, the Tibetan version continued to be extant in its entirety. Prof. Tucci retrieved Chapter I from Tibet and Chapter III from Russia in original Sanskrit and he published the two in Roman script.
Not much, by way of biographical information on Kamalasila, is on record. He appears to have visited Tibet during the reign of Trison-De-tsen, the 37th King (742-798 A. D. ), who invited, among others, Acharya Santaraksita of Nalanda and later Padmasambhava from Urgyan to Tibet. The latter succeeded where the former had failed; the Tibetans took readily to the teachings and practices of the 'rnahasiddha' rather than to the intellectual scholasticism of Santaraksita who went back to India only to return later and leave his mortal coil on the soil of Tibet after many years of missionary work. Before Santaraksita died, he had predicted, it is said, that a time would come when the Indian and
Dharamsala
Parmananda Sharma
? 10
Chinese schools would come into sharp conflict on the concepts of gradual and instant enlightenment as respectively advocated by the two sides. So he had instructed that when the exigency arose Kamalasila,? his able pupil from Nalanda, should be invited to defend the Indian point of view about the interpretation of Siitra. A religious debate was arranged between acharya Karnalasila and Hoshang, the Chinese monk. It was held at Samye and covered a period of two years 092-794 A. D. ). The Chinese Hoshang was defeated and the king, himself a great scholar, declared Kamalasila the victor. To mark the great Indian acharyas triumph, a royal proclamation was also issued in letters of gold inscribed on blue paper. This document was ordered to be preserved as a court document. The main features of the proclamation were as historic as the occasion that had led to it; the Three Gems Ctrl-ratna ') to be never abandoned; monasteries to be maintained and supported; all succeeding kings and members of royalty to uphold the Proclamation. Ministers and princes and army commanders took oaths of loyalty to the document of which thirteen copies were made for record. Feasting, singing and dancing festivities followed in which the royal family, including the king, cabinet members and other high dignitaries participated. The king even composed a poem to mark the occasion. -
With great toil have I gathered the treasure and I am happy to spend without measure in spreading the faith of the Buddha, gleaned from the land of India,
It was in Tho-tho-ri Nyantsen's reign that The Secret first here came; translated in Songtsen Gampo's time, it has become established in mine.
It is said that the Chinese circles felt extremely piqued over their defeat; it was a total loss of face for them. They were not
the ones to take their defeat sportingly; their hired assasins murdered the acharya in cold blood. The great teacher's tragic death broke the king's heart who too passed away soon after.
BHAVANAKRAMA
INTRODUCTION
11
? BHAVANAKRAMA - I
I shall briefly describe 'bhavanakrarna" or the sequence of meditation in accordance with the rules of conduct prescribed for an 'adikarmika" in the Mahayana Sutras.
Those desirous of attainingtsarvajfiata" speedily should, in essence, try to practise these three things: "karuna ',4 'bodhichitta'5 and 'pratipatti'. "
Knowing that 'karuna ' is the basic root of all dharma practices of Lord Buddha's teachings, it should be contemplated or meditated upon at the very outset. As has been said in Arya-dharma-sangeeti: "So the bodhisattva mahasattva Arya Avalokitesvara said this to Lord Buddha, '0 Lord! a bodhisattva should not receive instruction in various dharmas. If he thoroughly practises a single dharma with devotion, all other dharmas will be his. Now, what is that single dharma? It is 'rnaha-karuna'. Through 'rnaha-karuna' all other Buddha dharmas? are in the palm of a-bodhisattva's hand, o Lord! just as where-so-ever a 'chakravartin' ruler's chakra- jewel moves, there do his mighty armies, so also, 0 Lord! where-so-ever a bodhisattva's 'rnahakaruna' goes, thither do all Buddha dharmas follow. 0 Lord! just as all other senses function so long as life-breath stays so also as long as mahakaruna stays all other dharmas for the bodhisattvas are generated' . "
It has been said in Aryaksya-mati-nirdesa: "moreover, o bhadanta," Sharadavati's son! the bodhisattvas' 'mahakaruna' is inexhaustible. And, how is it so? Because, it is 'purvangama'," o bhadanta Sharadavati's son! just as breathing in and breathing out is the 'purvagami? ? or precursor of life-breath, so also in Mahayana, a bodhisattva's 'mahakaruna' is a pre-requisite for the collection of 'punya' or merit". Also, in the Arya-gaya- sirsa: "0 Manjusril What is the beginning of the conduct of bodhisattvas and what their adhisthana ? 1l""Manjusri replied '0 Deva-putra! the beginning of a bodhisattva's conduct is 'rnahakaruna' and its adhisthana the beings. "
By it, i. e. 'rnahakaruna ', inspired the bodhisattvas, with
? 14 BHA vANAKRAMA
little concern for themselves, work assiduously for collecting merit through long, arduous periods of time with the sole object of others' well-being. So it has been said in Arya- sraddhabaladhana: "For the well-being of sattvas through 'rnahakaruna', there is no joy which a bodhisattva does not
renounce. " In this manner, by engaging himself in the most difficult situations and by collecting Csambhara)" merit quickly, he attains 'sarvajfiata '. Therefore, the root of all Buddha-dharmas is 'mahakaruQ. a'. " It was through holding on to 'rnahakaruna' that Lord Buddha, after attaining 'sarva-
jfiata ', continued to work for the whole world. The Lord's 'mahakaruQ. a' is thus the very reason for the Lord not enter-
ing 'nirvana'.
It, i. e. 'rnahakaruna", is (born from and) augmented by constantly reflecting in the mind over the sufferings of beings. All 'sattvas ' are suffering from the three-fold pain" of dukhas rampant in the three worlds', 14 - (reflecting) like this one should fix one's thought on all beings. The Lord has
described how hell-beings continue to suffer for long periods from such tortures as fire-burning; so also 'pretas'," through suffering from dukha-fire with extreme hunger and thirst, get emaciated in body and suffer terribly for a hundred years even; such as these have not had even spittal to lick at. Thus has, stated the Lord. Beings born even as 'tiryakas'" are seen to experience great suffering through mutual anger, killings,
beatings and torturing etc. For example, some have their bodies made helpless through piercing of ears, beatings and lashing and they are made to suffer by all and sundry. Their bodies get exhausted and fatigued by their having to carry loads unwillingly. Some, living in the forest, may also be
searched out and killed even though they may be innocent. Some, out of mutual fear, are constantly running about here and there with minds disturbed.
Their sufferings too seem to be endless. Hell-tortures can be witnessed even during human existence, because here also things like the amputation of a thief's limbs, consignment to the scaffold and the tying down of hands and feet etc. are
BHA VANAKRAMA-I
15
nothing but hell-tortures. Those who suffer from penury are experiencing the dukhas of hunger and thirst like 'pretas'. Those who as servants have subordinated their thoughts to others and those who are tortured after being over-powered by the powerful suffer from the tortures of beating and tying like' tiraykas'. So also are immeasureable the dukhas of beings during journeys and from mutual deceit and beatings, and from union with and separation from the unloved and the loved ones respectively. The affluent ones who are considered to be happy are also liable to lose their property submerged as they are in the midst of extremely evil eyes, and owing to the accumulation of many 'klesas' and 'karmas' which are causal to the experiencing of hell-tortures, they are like trees on the edge of a waterfall and are, in the ultimate sense, unhappy being in the midst of the causes of dukha.
Even gods do not have mental composure" so long as they wander in the realm of 'kama' or desire because their minds, aflame with the raging fire of desires, are unclean and mad. What happiness can be there for these so poor in the joys of the wealth of tranquillity ? 18 What happiness can be there for them, i. e. gods, who are overcome by the constant fear of a fall (from their god-state) ? Those who, for some period (of their existence) move about jn visible and invisible states (that is, with form and without form) also, though free for a while from the tortures of suffering, ultimately suffer/ from the dukha of evil consequences leading to hell-tortures owing to their not having overcome the 'anusayas"? from a 'kamavachara? " conduct. Thus all human beings and gods owing to their subordination to 'karma klesas' ,~are suffering from the dukha of 'samskara-dukha'. "
In this way the whole world is wrapped around by a wreath of dukha-fire; so seeing and thinking 'just as I do not like suffering so also don't others', one should generate a feeling of compassion for all beings. First of all such 'bhavana' or contemplation should be cultivated towards friends, keeping in mind the aforesaid experiences of dukha or suffering.
? 16 BHAvANAKRAMA
BHAvANAKRAMA-I 17
Then, with a mind introvert and staid, one should contemplate like this: 'there is not a single 'sattva' in this beginning-less world who has not been related to me a hundred times'; in this manner contemplate on ordinary beings. When compassion similar to that for one's friends is also generated for common beings, one should through 'chitta-samata>'ormentalequalitycontemplateonone's enemies also. When one is as much concerned-" for one's enemies as for one's friends one should generate identical 'bhavana ' or feeling for all the beings in all the ten directions
one after the other. When the spontaneous desire to remove the dukha of all the sattvas like one would that of one's own dear child is generated, it (i. e. the desire) becomes 'nispanna" or staid and is designated as 'mahakaruna ' as has been described in Aksayamati-sutra. This sequence of 'kripa' bhavana or the contemplation of compassion has been described by the Lord in the Abhidharma sutras etc.
Through the force of the practising of such compassion and the vow of uplifting all 'sattvas ', bodhichitta 26 is
spontaneously born as importunate" for 'annuttar-samyaka- sambodhi' . 28
As has been said in Arya Dasa-dharma-sutra. "Seeing that the beings are unprotected, unsheltered and homeless one should fix one's mind in 'karuna' so that 'anuttara samyaka- sambodhi' is generated. " Even though 'bodhichitta is generated in a bodhisattva through another's adherence to 'samyaka '29still bodhichitta generated in a bodhisattva through the on-rush of compassion is far superior as stated in
Arya-Tathagata-jfiana-mudra. Samadhi by the Lord. He (the Lord) has said that such bodhichitta is highly beneficial in the world even without 'pratipatti'. 30As has been mentioned in Maitreya-Virnoksa. "0 kulputra! just as a broken 'Vajra- ratna'31 superimposes itself on the best of gold ornaments but still retains its identity and removes all want, similarly, 0 kulputra! the 'Vajra-ratna ' of the generation of mind for the attainment of 'sarvajnata ',32even if not accompanied by 'pratipatti', superimposes itself on the gold ornaments of the
'gunas'P of a 'sravaka" and a 'pratyeka-buddha'r" it does not abandon 'bodhichitta' and also removes the wants of the world. "
He who cannot be fully and in every manner educated in the 'paramitas-" should also cultivate bodhichitta, because by holding on to 'upayaya'j? great benefits accrue. As has beensaidinArya-rajavavadaka-sutra:"0king! asyouarea great doer and can do a lot, it is not possible to educate everyone in every way from 'dana-paramita-" to "prajfia- paramita"? so you should constantly re-capitulate', mentally visualise and contemplate on your desire for and faith in prayer and determination or vow" for 'samyaka sambodhi' while walking, stopping, sitting, sleeping, waking, eating, drinking, recollecting all the 'kusala-mulas" or root-merits of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka-buddhas, arya- sravakas, common people, your own of the past, of the present, of the future, and commend them (i. e. kusala miilas), After 'anumodana'P or commending, offer it again to the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka-buddhas, arya-sravakas through worship and, after offering, make them common= for the common people. Then transform into 'anuttara- samyaka-sambodhi' all 'kusalas' or merits practised thrice everyday for the attainment of 'sarvajfiata' by sattvas and for the fulfilment of all Buddha-dharmas. " Thus will you, 0 King! having becometpratipanna ' or realised, rule (your kingdom). You will/not have to abandon governance and you will also accomplish 'bodhi-sambhara" or accumulation of bodhi. " He further added: "as the fruit" of your root-merits of 'samyaka-sambodhi', many times you were born among gods, many times among men and during all your godly and human births you will be a ruler. " Thus said in detail.
Bodhichitta, which is the essence of 'pratipatti' or attainment, has been proved to be immensely fruitful. As has been said in Arya-veerdatta-pariprichha: "If the' punya' which is attained from bodhichitta is handsome, it will fill the entire 'akasa-dhatu" and overflow it. " "A person offers as many 'buddha-ksetras':" full of gems as the sands of the
?
Kings, ministers, scholars and a whole class of translators worked unceasingly to render Sanskrit texts and their commentaries into Tibetan.
Acharya Kamalashila (9th century CE), a disciple of Shantarakshita, was the first Indian scholar to live and compose his writings in Tibet. Bhavana-krama (Stages of Meditation) is one such work. It comprises three parts which were probably written at different times. The focus of Bhavana-krama is the cultivation of meditative concentration and special insight. It details the sequence of meditational practices essential for understanding the true nature of phenomena.
While Tibetan and Sanskrit editions of Bhavana-krama have been in existence for centuries, no English translation of this remarkable classic was readily available. Therefore, in response to my own suggestion, Professor P. N. Sharma has undertaken the task of translating it into English. I am confident that whether they have an academic and historical view of the transmission of Buddhism to Tibet or a wish to put these teachings into actual practice, English readers will find this translation of great value. -:>>:':
. ISBN 81-86471-15-4
Published by P. K. Gael for Aditya Prakashan, F-14/65, Model Town II, Delhi - 110 009 and printed at Rajkamal Electric Press, Delhi - 110 033.
November 5,1996
. ,
I I
"
? ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
CONTENTS
? 1 . Introduction . 9
? ? 2. Bhavanakrama-I
13
? -3. Bhavanakrama-Il
51
? 4. Bhavanakrama-Ill
77
? 5. Glossary-I
101
? 6. Glossary-II
117
? 7. Glossary-III
123
My profoundest gratitude is due to His Holiness the Dalai Lama for assigning the work of translation to me and for gifting a copy of BHA. VANA-KRAMA from his personal library. Thanks are also due to my friend, Gyatsho Tshering, Director, Library of Tibetan Works and Archives, Dharamsala, for making available to me library facilities including xeroxing of the MS and to the staff of LTW A for their assistance and cooperation.
Thanks are also due to Mr. Pradeep Goel, Aditya Prakashan, publisher of this book.
Author
"
?
? TRANSLATOR'S NOTE
INTRODUCTION
Kamalasila is one of those distinguished acharyas who went to Tibet from India, stayed there and wrote scholarly treatises on Buddha dharma. His historic debate with and victory over the Chinese monk, Hoshang, is considered as a landmark in the annals of the spread of Buddhism in Bod. 'Bhavana-krama' is one of his more important writings and comprises three chapters. Fortified with extensive quotes from innumerable sutras, it delineates the 'krama. ' or se- quence of meditational practice a seeker should undertake in order to attain 'sarvajfiata ', the true knowledge of things.
Whereas the first and the third chapters had for long been extant in Sanskrit, the second chapter was available in Tibetan version alone. It was left to Prof. Gyaltsen Namdol of the Central Institute of Higher Tibetan Studies, Varartasi to render the second chapter back into Sanskrit from Tibetan. The Institute brought out the complete version along with the Tibetan and Hindi translations. The present work is the first- ever English rendering from original Sanskrit done at the
suggestion of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the great Compassionate One, to whose gracious and constant blessings I can never adequately match my humble gratitude.
Padmasambhava, Santaraksita, Dipankara Srijfiana and Karnalasila together make the foursome of the great masters who made the Dharma what it came to be in Tibet. To Santaraksita and Kamalasila - the teacher-pupil duo - goes the credit of propagating, preaching and developing Buddhism in Bod in all its varied nuances, thus lending it purity, originality and authenticity.
Kamalasila wrote his 'Bhavanakrarna ' in Tibet itself, keeping in view the special requirements of his Tibetan audience. Hence, his style here is that of a lucid prose-writer who deliberately clothed his lofty and abstract theme in simple, intelligible Sanskrit which is quite different from his diction in other works.
'Bhavanakrama' is the first-ever Sanskrit text written by any Indian acharya on the soil srTibet. With the passage of time, copies of Bhavana-krama manuscripts dwindled in the monastic libraries of the country as the study of Sanskrit declined. The second chapter in original totally disappeared and whatever manuscripts remained became truncated. Of course, the Tibetan version continued to be extant in its entirety. Prof. Tucci retrieved Chapter I from Tibet and Chapter III from Russia in original Sanskrit and he published the two in Roman script.
Not much, by way of biographical information on Kamalasila, is on record. He appears to have visited Tibet during the reign of Trison-De-tsen, the 37th King (742-798 A. D. ), who invited, among others, Acharya Santaraksita of Nalanda and later Padmasambhava from Urgyan to Tibet. The latter succeeded where the former had failed; the Tibetans took readily to the teachings and practices of the 'rnahasiddha' rather than to the intellectual scholasticism of Santaraksita who went back to India only to return later and leave his mortal coil on the soil of Tibet after many years of missionary work. Before Santaraksita died, he had predicted, it is said, that a time would come when the Indian and
Dharamsala
Parmananda Sharma
? 10
Chinese schools would come into sharp conflict on the concepts of gradual and instant enlightenment as respectively advocated by the two sides. So he had instructed that when the exigency arose Kamalasila,? his able pupil from Nalanda, should be invited to defend the Indian point of view about the interpretation of Siitra. A religious debate was arranged between acharya Karnalasila and Hoshang, the Chinese monk. It was held at Samye and covered a period of two years 092-794 A. D. ). The Chinese Hoshang was defeated and the king, himself a great scholar, declared Kamalasila the victor. To mark the great Indian acharyas triumph, a royal proclamation was also issued in letters of gold inscribed on blue paper. This document was ordered to be preserved as a court document. The main features of the proclamation were as historic as the occasion that had led to it; the Three Gems Ctrl-ratna ') to be never abandoned; monasteries to be maintained and supported; all succeeding kings and members of royalty to uphold the Proclamation. Ministers and princes and army commanders took oaths of loyalty to the document of which thirteen copies were made for record. Feasting, singing and dancing festivities followed in which the royal family, including the king, cabinet members and other high dignitaries participated. The king even composed a poem to mark the occasion. -
With great toil have I gathered the treasure and I am happy to spend without measure in spreading the faith of the Buddha, gleaned from the land of India,
It was in Tho-tho-ri Nyantsen's reign that The Secret first here came; translated in Songtsen Gampo's time, it has become established in mine.
It is said that the Chinese circles felt extremely piqued over their defeat; it was a total loss of face for them. They were not
the ones to take their defeat sportingly; their hired assasins murdered the acharya in cold blood. The great teacher's tragic death broke the king's heart who too passed away soon after.
BHAVANAKRAMA
INTRODUCTION
11
? BHAVANAKRAMA - I
I shall briefly describe 'bhavanakrarna" or the sequence of meditation in accordance with the rules of conduct prescribed for an 'adikarmika" in the Mahayana Sutras.
Those desirous of attainingtsarvajfiata" speedily should, in essence, try to practise these three things: "karuna ',4 'bodhichitta'5 and 'pratipatti'. "
Knowing that 'karuna ' is the basic root of all dharma practices of Lord Buddha's teachings, it should be contemplated or meditated upon at the very outset. As has been said in Arya-dharma-sangeeti: "So the bodhisattva mahasattva Arya Avalokitesvara said this to Lord Buddha, '0 Lord! a bodhisattva should not receive instruction in various dharmas. If he thoroughly practises a single dharma with devotion, all other dharmas will be his. Now, what is that single dharma? It is 'rnaha-karuna'. Through 'rnaha-karuna' all other Buddha dharmas? are in the palm of a-bodhisattva's hand, o Lord! just as where-so-ever a 'chakravartin' ruler's chakra- jewel moves, there do his mighty armies, so also, 0 Lord! where-so-ever a bodhisattva's 'rnahakaruna' goes, thither do all Buddha dharmas follow. 0 Lord! just as all other senses function so long as life-breath stays so also as long as mahakaruna stays all other dharmas for the bodhisattvas are generated' . "
It has been said in Aryaksya-mati-nirdesa: "moreover, o bhadanta," Sharadavati's son! the bodhisattvas' 'mahakaruna' is inexhaustible. And, how is it so? Because, it is 'purvangama'," o bhadanta Sharadavati's son! just as breathing in and breathing out is the 'purvagami? ? or precursor of life-breath, so also in Mahayana, a bodhisattva's 'mahakaruna' is a pre-requisite for the collection of 'punya' or merit". Also, in the Arya-gaya- sirsa: "0 Manjusril What is the beginning of the conduct of bodhisattvas and what their adhisthana ? 1l""Manjusri replied '0 Deva-putra! the beginning of a bodhisattva's conduct is 'rnahakaruna' and its adhisthana the beings. "
By it, i. e. 'rnahakaruna ', inspired the bodhisattvas, with
? 14 BHA vANAKRAMA
little concern for themselves, work assiduously for collecting merit through long, arduous periods of time with the sole object of others' well-being. So it has been said in Arya- sraddhabaladhana: "For the well-being of sattvas through 'rnahakaruna', there is no joy which a bodhisattva does not
renounce. " In this manner, by engaging himself in the most difficult situations and by collecting Csambhara)" merit quickly, he attains 'sarvajfiata '. Therefore, the root of all Buddha-dharmas is 'mahakaruQ. a'. " It was through holding on to 'rnahakaruna' that Lord Buddha, after attaining 'sarva-
jfiata ', continued to work for the whole world. The Lord's 'mahakaruQ. a' is thus the very reason for the Lord not enter-
ing 'nirvana'.
It, i. e. 'rnahakaruna", is (born from and) augmented by constantly reflecting in the mind over the sufferings of beings. All 'sattvas ' are suffering from the three-fold pain" of dukhas rampant in the three worlds', 14 - (reflecting) like this one should fix one's thought on all beings. The Lord has
described how hell-beings continue to suffer for long periods from such tortures as fire-burning; so also 'pretas'," through suffering from dukha-fire with extreme hunger and thirst, get emaciated in body and suffer terribly for a hundred years even; such as these have not had even spittal to lick at. Thus has, stated the Lord. Beings born even as 'tiryakas'" are seen to experience great suffering through mutual anger, killings,
beatings and torturing etc. For example, some have their bodies made helpless through piercing of ears, beatings and lashing and they are made to suffer by all and sundry. Their bodies get exhausted and fatigued by their having to carry loads unwillingly. Some, living in the forest, may also be
searched out and killed even though they may be innocent. Some, out of mutual fear, are constantly running about here and there with minds disturbed.
Their sufferings too seem to be endless. Hell-tortures can be witnessed even during human existence, because here also things like the amputation of a thief's limbs, consignment to the scaffold and the tying down of hands and feet etc. are
BHA VANAKRAMA-I
15
nothing but hell-tortures. Those who suffer from penury are experiencing the dukhas of hunger and thirst like 'pretas'. Those who as servants have subordinated their thoughts to others and those who are tortured after being over-powered by the powerful suffer from the tortures of beating and tying like' tiraykas'. So also are immeasureable the dukhas of beings during journeys and from mutual deceit and beatings, and from union with and separation from the unloved and the loved ones respectively. The affluent ones who are considered to be happy are also liable to lose their property submerged as they are in the midst of extremely evil eyes, and owing to the accumulation of many 'klesas' and 'karmas' which are causal to the experiencing of hell-tortures, they are like trees on the edge of a waterfall and are, in the ultimate sense, unhappy being in the midst of the causes of dukha.
Even gods do not have mental composure" so long as they wander in the realm of 'kama' or desire because their minds, aflame with the raging fire of desires, are unclean and mad. What happiness can be there for these so poor in the joys of the wealth of tranquillity ? 18 What happiness can be there for them, i. e. gods, who are overcome by the constant fear of a fall (from their god-state) ? Those who, for some period (of their existence) move about jn visible and invisible states (that is, with form and without form) also, though free for a while from the tortures of suffering, ultimately suffer/ from the dukha of evil consequences leading to hell-tortures owing to their not having overcome the 'anusayas"? from a 'kamavachara? " conduct. Thus all human beings and gods owing to their subordination to 'karma klesas' ,~are suffering from the dukha of 'samskara-dukha'. "
In this way the whole world is wrapped around by a wreath of dukha-fire; so seeing and thinking 'just as I do not like suffering so also don't others', one should generate a feeling of compassion for all beings. First of all such 'bhavana' or contemplation should be cultivated towards friends, keeping in mind the aforesaid experiences of dukha or suffering.
? 16 BHAvANAKRAMA
BHAvANAKRAMA-I 17
Then, with a mind introvert and staid, one should contemplate like this: 'there is not a single 'sattva' in this beginning-less world who has not been related to me a hundred times'; in this manner contemplate on ordinary beings. When compassion similar to that for one's friends is also generated for common beings, one should through 'chitta-samata>'ormentalequalitycontemplateonone's enemies also. When one is as much concerned-" for one's enemies as for one's friends one should generate identical 'bhavana ' or feeling for all the beings in all the ten directions
one after the other. When the spontaneous desire to remove the dukha of all the sattvas like one would that of one's own dear child is generated, it (i. e. the desire) becomes 'nispanna" or staid and is designated as 'mahakaruna ' as has been described in Aksayamati-sutra. This sequence of 'kripa' bhavana or the contemplation of compassion has been described by the Lord in the Abhidharma sutras etc.
Through the force of the practising of such compassion and the vow of uplifting all 'sattvas ', bodhichitta 26 is
spontaneously born as importunate" for 'annuttar-samyaka- sambodhi' . 28
As has been said in Arya Dasa-dharma-sutra. "Seeing that the beings are unprotected, unsheltered and homeless one should fix one's mind in 'karuna' so that 'anuttara samyaka- sambodhi' is generated. " Even though 'bodhichitta is generated in a bodhisattva through another's adherence to 'samyaka '29still bodhichitta generated in a bodhisattva through the on-rush of compassion is far superior as stated in
Arya-Tathagata-jfiana-mudra. Samadhi by the Lord. He (the Lord) has said that such bodhichitta is highly beneficial in the world even without 'pratipatti'. 30As has been mentioned in Maitreya-Virnoksa. "0 kulputra! just as a broken 'Vajra- ratna'31 superimposes itself on the best of gold ornaments but still retains its identity and removes all want, similarly, 0 kulputra! the 'Vajra-ratna ' of the generation of mind for the attainment of 'sarvajnata ',32even if not accompanied by 'pratipatti', superimposes itself on the gold ornaments of the
'gunas'P of a 'sravaka" and a 'pratyeka-buddha'r" it does not abandon 'bodhichitta' and also removes the wants of the world. "
He who cannot be fully and in every manner educated in the 'paramitas-" should also cultivate bodhichitta, because by holding on to 'upayaya'j? great benefits accrue. As has beensaidinArya-rajavavadaka-sutra:"0king! asyouarea great doer and can do a lot, it is not possible to educate everyone in every way from 'dana-paramita-" to "prajfia- paramita"? so you should constantly re-capitulate', mentally visualise and contemplate on your desire for and faith in prayer and determination or vow" for 'samyaka sambodhi' while walking, stopping, sitting, sleeping, waking, eating, drinking, recollecting all the 'kusala-mulas" or root-merits of the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka-buddhas, arya- sravakas, common people, your own of the past, of the present, of the future, and commend them (i. e. kusala miilas), After 'anumodana'P or commending, offer it again to the Buddhas, bodhisattvas, pratyeka-buddhas, arya-sravakas through worship and, after offering, make them common= for the common people. Then transform into 'anuttara- samyaka-sambodhi' all 'kusalas' or merits practised thrice everyday for the attainment of 'sarvajfiata' by sattvas and for the fulfilment of all Buddha-dharmas. " Thus will you, 0 King! having becometpratipanna ' or realised, rule (your kingdom). You will/not have to abandon governance and you will also accomplish 'bodhi-sambhara" or accumulation of bodhi. " He further added: "as the fruit" of your root-merits of 'samyaka-sambodhi', many times you were born among gods, many times among men and during all your godly and human births you will be a ruler. " Thus said in detail.
Bodhichitta, which is the essence of 'pratipatti' or attainment, has been proved to be immensely fruitful. As has been said in Arya-veerdatta-pariprichha: "If the' punya' which is attained from bodhichitta is handsome, it will fill the entire 'akasa-dhatu" and overflow it. " "A person offers as many 'buddha-ksetras':" full of gems as the sands of the
? 18
BHAVANAKRAMA
BHAVANAKRAMA-I Aksyamati-ratnamegha-sutra.
19
Ganga to the Lords, another with folded hands bows his mind (asking) for bodhi; the latter worship is superior because it has no end. " says Arya-gandavyliha: "0 Kulputra! bodhichitta is the seed of all Buddha-dharmas". This in detail. "That bodhichitta is of two kinds, "pran idhi t-ch itta r" and 'prasthana-chitta'i'" that is, the mind that is fixed on the goal and the mind that is actually treading the road to bodhi. o Kulaputre! such beings are rare in the world who fix their mind in 'anuttara-samyaka-sambodhi, rarer even are beings who have ventured on the path of 'anuttara-sarnyaka- sambodhi'. May I become a Buddha for the well-being of the whole world; - such a preliminary prayer by the practitioner is called 'pranidhi-chitta ' or fixing of the mind from the moment one holds the vow (,samvara')51 and enters 'sambhara '>' or accumulation (of bodhi), it is termed as 'prasthana-chitta' or the journeying mind.
,Samvara' has to be received from other powerful and learned and 'samvara'-attuned kalyan-mttras. >' In the absence of a favourable 'grahaka' or recepient (or giver? ), bodhichitta should be generated by visualizing the Buddhas and the bodhisattvas as did Arya Manjusri by becoming Arnbara-raja. >' A bodhisattva who has so generated bodhichitta himself practises "dana ' etc. by giving and engages in 'pratipatti' knowing that if one does not oneself give away one cannot (exercise) control (over) others. And, there is no attainment of bodhi without 'pratipatti' or the knowledge of the eight-fold path.
As has been said in Arya-gayasiq;a, "The bodhisattvas with 'pratipatti' achieve bodhi and not those without "pratipatti". It has also been stated in Arya-samadhi-raja: "0 Kurnara! you should thus-wise instruct yourself: 'I shall possess the essence of 'pratipatti.
