Āryadeva's four hundred stanzas on the middle way : with commentary by Gyel-tsap / Āryadeva and Gyel-tsap ; translated by Ruth Sonam ; with additional commentary by Sonam Rinchen.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Dar-ma-rin-chen, Rgyal-tshab-rje, 1364-1432.

Contributor:

Sonam Rinchen, 1933-2015.

Sonam, Ruth, 1943-

Āryadeva, active 3rd century.

Dar-ma-rin-chen, Rgyal-tshab-rje, 1364-1432.

Series:

Textual studies and translations in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism

Standardized Title:

Bźi brgya pa'i rnam bśad legś bśad sñiṅ po. English

Language:

English

Tibetan

Subjects (All):

Āryadeva, active 3rd century. Catuḥśataka.

Āryadeva.

Mādhyamika (Buddhism).

Physical Description:

398 pages ; 23 cm.

Other Title:

Four hundred stanzas on the middle way

Place of Publication:

Ithaca, N.Y. : Snow Lion Publications, 2008.

Summary:

Gyel-tsap Dar-ma-rin-chen states that Aryadeva's Four Hundred Stanzas was written to explain how, according to Nagarjuna, the practice of the stages of vogic deeds enables those with Mahayana motivation to attain Buddhahood. Both Nagarjuna and Aryadeva urge those who want to understand reality to induce direct experience of ultimate truth through philosophic inquiry and reasoning. Aryadeva's text is more than a commentary on Nagarjuna's Treatise on the Middle Way, because it also explains the extensive paths associated with conventional truths. The Four Hundred Stanzas is one of the fundamental works of Mahayana Buddhist philosophy, and Gyel-tsap's commentary is arguably the most complete and important of the Tibetan commentaries on it.

Mahayana practitioners must eliminate not only obstructions to liberation but also obstructions to the perfect knowledge of all phenomena. This requires a powerful understanding of selflessness coupled with a vast accumulation of merit or positive energy resulting from the kind of love, compassion, and altruistic intention cultivated by bodhisattvas. The first half of the text focuses on the development of merit by showing how to correct distorted ideas about conventional reality and how to overcome disturbing emotions. The second half explains the nature of ultimate reality, that all phenomena are empty of intrinsic existence.

Gyel-tsap's commentary on Aryadeva's text takes the form of a lively dialogue that uses the words of Aryadeva to answer hypothetical and actual assertions, questions, and objections. Geshe Sonam Rinchen has provided additional commentary to the sections on conventional reality, elucidating their relevance for contemporary life.

Contents:

Madhyamika and Its Implications 7

Aryadeva's Life 10

Aryadeva's Works 15

The Four Hundred Stanzas 17

Ba-tsap's Life 21

Candrakirti's Commentary 22

Tibetan Commentaries on The Four Hundred 23

Gyel-tsap's Life and Works 27

Gyel-tsap's Commentary 29

Summary of Gyel-tsap's Commentary on The Four Hundred 30

The Translation 48

Gyel-Tsap's Commentary on the Four Hundred Stanzas

I Abandoning Belief in Permanence 65

II Abandoning Belief in Pleasure 83

III Abandoning Belief in Cleanness 101

IV Abandoning Pride 117

V Bodhisattva Deeds 133

VI Abandoning Disturbing Emotions 151

VII Abandoning Attachment to Sense Objects 169

VIII Thoroughly Preparing the Student 185

IX Refuting Permanent Functional Phenomena 203

X Refuting Misconceptions of the Self 215

XI Refuting Truly Existent Time 227

XII Refuting Wrong Views 239

XIII Refuting Truly Existent Sense Organs and Objects 251

XIV Refuting Extreme Conceptions 265

XV Refuting Truly Existent Characteristics 277

XVI Refuting Remaining Counter-Arguments 289

The Colophon 301

Appendix Gyel-tsap's Topical Outline 305.

Notes:

Earlier published as: The yogic deeds of Bodhisattvas: Gyeltsap on Aryadeva's Four hundred, published by Ithaca, N.Y: Snow Lion Publications, 1994.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 379-388) and index.

Related Work:

Āryadeva, active 3rd century. Catuḥśataka. English

Dar-ma-rin-chen, Rgyal-tshab-rje, 1364-1432. Bzhi brgya paʼi rnam bshad Legs bshad snging po. English

ISBN:

9781559393027

1559393025

OCLC:

183258487