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Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra- A brief outline

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Tegpa Chenpo Gyü Lamey Tanchö

The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra
as taught by Arya Maitreya, transcribed by Arya Asanga

a brief outline
according to commentaries given by Jamgon Kongtrul,
Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche amd Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche


Homage to the Lama

Based on the Dharani-raja sutra as spoken by the Buddha to King Isvara, this was one of five teachings given by Maitreya to Asanga in Tushita heaven. Considered too profound to be passed on during Asanga's lifetime, the Gyü Lamaí was concealed in a stupa and rediscovered by Maitripa, Marpa's guru. Maitreya appeared to Maitripa to clarify difficult points and Maitripa spread these teachings widely. Essentially, this teaching consists of:

THE SEVEN VAJRA TOPICS

1. Buddha
2. Dharma
3. Sangha
4. Buddha-nature
5. Buddhahood
6. Buddha Qualities
7. Buddha Activities
Just as in autumn the form of the moon is seen
in a cloudless sky and in the deep blue water of a lake,
the form of the All-Embracing is seen by the Victor's heirs
in the perfect buddha-mandala [and in the world).
-Uttaratantra Shastra, BN p. 230

CHAPTER 1: TATHAGATAGARBHA

and the first Three Vajra Points
98-114=16 pages
301-327=26 pages KTGR (42)

I. Buddha

Truly liberated from all the obscurations,
You possess the knowledge that pervades all objects.
Mighty one, the tamer of everyone in the world,
I prostrate to you who are completely liberated.
-Asanga

enlightened or perfect in knowledge, sangye in Tibetan
sang : purified, cleared away gye : unfolded, fully developed

The 2 types of refuge


the first three qualities bring perfect benefit to oneself and relate to the dharmakaya

1. uncreated (du ma che) unborn (mi skyed pa)


2. peace and the spontaneous presence (lhun grub) of everything beneficial

3. not realized through external causes

the last three have supreme value for others

4. perfect knowledge

a. knowing how it is
b. knowing variety

5. compassionate love

6. power to remedy ~ The Great Physician

II. Dharma

consisting of

1. The Dharma of statements

1. the tripitaka teachings given by the Buddha

2. commentaries, shastras [further classified into Tibetan & Indian masters)

  • a. assemble scattered parts
  • b. clarify hidden meanings
  • c. reveal profound aspects not easily understood

2. The Dharma of realization

1. the truth of cessation ~is brought about by prajna

2. the truth of the path ~has supreme value for others

III. Sangha

consisting of

1. the sangha of causal refuge- fellow buddhists
2. the sangha of fruition- the realized sangha

the following six qualify sangha members

the first three benefit oneself and are aspects of knowledge;
1. jnana of how it is ~ dharmakaya, the absolute truth
2. jnana of variety ~ the relative truth of phenomena
3. inner jnana (nang gi yeshe)~ the actual basis of 1 & 2 optimized
the last three have value for others and are aspects of liberation
4. free of emotional defilements
5. free of conceptual dualism
6. free of inferior views

The following four vajra topics are known as The Four Inconceivable Points because ordinary beings cannot understand them.

THE FOURTH VAJRA POINT: THE ELEMENT

117-181=64 pages
327-358=31 pages KTGR (95)

IV. Buddha-nature

"The intention behind the following ten points is to determine the meaning of the dharmadhatu"
-Jamgon Kongtrul

1. the principle the Buddha-nature is inherently pure like

space~changeless -suchness not changing into something else: dharmakaya

"He is known as the one like the sky, because he has obtained omnicient understanding and knowledge of the sphere of action of the Dharmadatu - without center and without limits - boundless sphere of wisdom."
-Lalitavistara Sutra
"Because what is previous has no ending, it is indivisible. Rid of all error of conditions, causes, and conceptualization, it is difficult to reflect upon. Being the ultimate absolute, it can not be confused. Like space, it is everywhere."
-Lalitavistara Sutra
"He is called the one who dwells in complete deliverance and unhindered knowledge, because he has abandoned obscure teachings. He is called the one with the body which has completely entered the Dharmadhatu, because he has passed from sight and is the same as space."
-Lalitavistara Sutra

gem~wielding powers, wish-fulfilling: sambhogakaya

"Having perfected renunciation according to the Way, he is called cintamani, the king of precious gems."
-Lalitavistara Sutra

water~a nature that has a moistening quality, compassion that pervades all beings: nirmanakaya

"He is known as the one like water, because he is free from all conceptions, spotless in body and mind, and clear of all defilements."
-Lalitavistara Sutra

2. the cause ~ 4 causes that allow Buddha-nature to manifest


the four veils
obscuring
antidote
analogy
enmity toward dharma
dharmakaya
as true purity
devotion
seed
a view
asserting self
dharmakaya
as true self
wisdom
mother
grasping at pleasure
dharmakaya
as true happiness
samadhi
womb
neglecting the welfare of beings
dharmakaya
as true permanence
compassion
nurse


3. the fruition of Buddha-nature beyond samsara and nirvana, has qualities of-

4. the function and influence of Buddha-nature: awakening beings

  • a. as one develops a weariness of samsara
  • b. one can see the benefits of nirvana

5. the endowments of the Buddha-nature are

THE CAUSE
example of the dharmadhatu as ocean at ground and on the first four paths

"He is known as the one like the ocean, because his depth cannot be fathomed. He is known as the source of the jewels of the Dharma, because he has perfected all the facets of enlightenment."
- Lalitavistara Sutra

THE EFFECT
example of the dharmadhatu as butter lamp at fruition (path of no more learning):

- divine sight, divine hearing, knowing the minds of others, knowing death and rebirth, remembrance of previous lives

6. the manifestation in approaching the Buddha-nature, suchness takes three forms

7. the phases of Buddha-nature are

8. all-pervasiveness of Buddha-nature is like space

  • pervades all but is itself unaffected
  • all arises and disintegrates within it with no effect
  • never affected by birth, old age, sickness or death

9. changelessness

~in the example of ordinary beings:

"Earth rests upon water and water upon wind. Wind rests fully on space. Space does not rest on any of the other elements of wind, water, or earth"
-Uttaratantra Shastra

~in the example of bodhisattvas:

~in the example of Buddhas:

10. indivisibility of Buddha-nature from its qualities manifest as

Nine Examples of Buddha Nature

Nine Examples of Buddha Nature

as found in ordinary beings
illustrating the fruition once cognitive obscurations have been removed

the three dormant tendencies: the karma of immovability

buddha
in a withering lotus
fleshy petals are attachment
buddha is
absolute dharmakaya
honeycomb
covered by bees
bees are aggression
relative dharmakaya as teaching
deep aspect, one taste of honey
unhusked rice
husk is ma-rigpa
mixed grains, variety of teachings
vast aspect, many flavors

active /innate

gold nugget
encrusted in filth
slime of the poisons
actively manifest as both
virtuous and nonvirtuous karma
suchness is the gold
treasure buried
under a pauper's floor
dark soil is remaining imprints of
latent, innate ignorance
buddha nature
lies there like a treasure,
the innate aspect of the causal ground

the last five [one above]
relate to the causal ground: the disposition

thick-skinned fruit
fruit skin is acquired obscurations
transcended on path of seeing
(via sprouting)
accumulations in causal ground
mature buddha seed into a great tree
precious rupa wrapped
in tattered rags
rags are innate obstacles
removed on path of meditation
superb rupa is svabhavikakaya
of dharmakaya
embryo of great king
in a poor wretch
impurities of bhumis 1 - 7
king is svabhavikakaya
of sambhogakaya
gold rupa covered in clay
impurities bhumis 8 -10
overcome by Vajra-like samadhi
new rupa is svabhavikakaya
of nirmanakaya

THE FIFTH VAJRA POINT: ENLIGHTENMENT

182-217=35 pages
358-385=27 pages KTGR (62)

V. Enlightenment or Buddhahood

"It is by nature clear light"
-The Buddha

1. nature, essence

possessing the two types of purity

four particularities by which enlightenment is free from incidental stains

two kind of knowledge:

2. cause the practice of morality, meditation & wisdom

3. fruition freedom from all emotional and mental impurities

4. the function spontaneous accomplishment of the two-fold benefit

5. endowments

the primary quality which pervades all others
1. inconceivable not an object of study, knowable only by jnana itself
the aspect of timelessness, endlessness
2. permanent free of birth, unborn and becoming
3. eternal free of aging, unconditionally present, steadfast, uncreated
4. at peace free of sickness, undisturbed by existence
5. changeless free of death, immutable, uncompounded
the fulfillment of purification and realization
6. perfectly at peace free of suffering, full of great bliss, cessation
7. all embracing free of cognitive limitations, pervasive clarity, complete insight
8. thought free not trapped by concepts, without ideation, correct understanding
9. uninvolved veil of mental poisons abandoned, free of clinging and attachment
10. unhindered veil of obstructions to knowledge destroyed,
free of cognitive obscurations
11. free of coarse sensations veil of obstructions to meditative equipoise removed,
free of sinking and agitation
the four qualities of purity
12. invisible free from features of visibility and ordinary cognition, formless
13. imperceptible free of solid characteristics, ungraspable by ordinary intellect
14. pure being by nature pure, wholesomeness
15. immaculate free of adventitious stains, unimpeded samadhi

6. manifestation as the three kayas

dharmakaya qualities ~ PROFOUND/ NATURE (rang bzhin gyi rtag pa)

the svabhavikakaya of the dharmakaya ~

five intrinsic characteristics

1. uncreated and totally indivisible
2. free of excess and lack, no basis for nihilism or eternalism
3. free of emotional, cognitive and subtle karmas which stain ordinary meditation
4. free of all obscuration, not an object or field of experience for any thought or conceptualization
5. clarity, field of experience of self-aware primordial wisdom

five outward qualities

1. immeasurable, unfathomable, beyond signs, images, names
2. infinite, uncountable virtues, beyond number
3. inconceivable, beyond intellect, reasoning and dialectics
4. incomparable, peerless, unequalled, embraced by Buddhas alone
5. ultimate purity, immaculate, best possible abandonment, space of the tathagatas

sambhogakaya qualities ~ VAST/ UNINTERRUPTED (rgyun mi ' chad pa'i rtag pa)

nirmanakaya qualities ~ GREAT/ CONTINUITY (rgyun gyi rtag pa)

the twelve deeds of a tathagata

1. remaining in Tushita
2. descent and entry into a womb
3. taking birth
4. proficiency in the arts
5. enjoyment of consorts
6. renouncing the world
7. practicing asceticism
8. going to Bodhgaya
9. vanquishing Mara
10. attaining enlightenment
11. turning the wheel
12. passing into nirvana

Enlightenment can be described in seven ways

1. Spontaneously Present (rang byung)
2. Omniscience (shes bya thams cad mkhyen pa)
3. Buddhahood: perfect abandonment, perfect realization; correct and complete insight (sang rgyas nyid)
4. Supreme Nirvana, beyond torment (mchog tu mnya ngan las 'das)
5. Inconceivable (bsam du med pa)
6. Foe-destroyer, arhat (bgra bcom pa)
7. Self-cognizant Nature (so so rang gis rig pa'i bdag nyid)

7. permanence

reasons for the permanence of the rupa kayas

1. endless conditions ~ due to accumulations of bodhisattvas
2. infinite beings to liberate
3. great compassion ~ the heart of bodhicitta
4. miraculous cause ~ siddhi, the power to help
5. equality of samsara and nirvana ~ great equanimity
6. perfect happiness ~ the bliss of samadhi
7. mastery of all qualities ~ having destroyed all fetters

reasons for the permanence of the dharmakaya

1. deathless ~ transcendent to karma
2. unborn ~ at peace
3. protects and pervades the world ~ ultimate refuge

8. inconceivability ~ eight qualities

The first five show how both Dharmakaya and enlightenment are subtle and beyond the reach of thought

1. inconceivable, ineffable, beyond speech
2. inexpressible, ultimate truth
3. absolute, beyond the four extreme propositions
4. incomparable, inscrutable, beyond symbolic indication
5. peerless, unequalled, the highest of all

The sixth shows how the Form kayas are inconceivable

6. neither existence nor peace, not comprised of anything

Two characteristics of Buddhahood, the last mode of the Self-sprung Ones (rang-byung)

7. non-abiding in the extremes
8. without conceptions about the faults of samsara or peace as a quality

THE SIXTH VAJRA POINT: QUALITIES

218-237=19 pages
385-386=1 page KTGR (20)

VI. Enlightened Qualities freedoms of the ultimate kaya, of which there are 32

Ten aspects of the power of knowledge

'Power is like a vajra against the veil of unknowing.'
-Uttaratantra Shastra
These ten aspects of power vanquish everything that is to be abandoned, each in correspondence to its respective cause. Having directly revealed themselves, they overcome the Four Maras, or in other words, anything belonging to the part that is non-conducive to oneself and [all] others.
-Jamgon Kongtrul, The Unassailable Lion's Roar, BN p. 221
The ten powers are the quintessence of firmness, essentiality, steadfastness, and unchangeability. Since they possess these four qualities or properties, all ten powers of the Great Sages, of all perfect Buddhas, are similar to a vajra.
-Jamgon Kongtrul, The Unassailable Lion's Roar, BN -p. 223

six powers vanquish cognitive obscurations

1. knowing what is appropriate and worthless
2. knowing how actions will ripen
3. knowing the faculties of sentient beings
4. knowing their dispositions, temperaments
5. knowing the inclinations, aspirations and wishes of beings
6. knowing where the various paths lead

three powers destroy meditative obscurations

7. knowing meditative stability, the concentrations
8. recollecting former states
9. superknowledge of the divine eye

one power destroys fine subconscious traces

10. knowing peace, the extinction of defilements

Four types of Fearlessness

'Fearlessness acts like a lion amidst [any] assembly.'
-Uttaratantra Shastra

the first two relate to self, the latter to others

1. in proclaiming mastery of perfect abandonment
2. in proclaiming mastery of perfect realization
3. in showing the path
4. in revealing hindrances on the path

Eighteen qualities unique to Buddhas

'Like space are the unmixed features of the Tathagata.'
-Uttaratantra Shastra

body~

1. perfection of physical behavior
2. perfection of speech
3. presence of mind is unimpaired
4. always abiding in meditative equanimity
5. beyond clinging to ideas
6. freedom from indifference or carelessness

understanding~

7. unwavering intention
8. unflagging exertion
9. unfailing intelligence and memory
10. no decline in understanding
11. no change in liberation
12. perfect jnana

actions~

13. physical actions preceded and followed by jnana
14. speech preceded and followed by jnana
15. mental events preceded and followed by jnana
16. perceives the past exactly as it was
17. perceives the future exactly as it will be
18. perceives the present exactly as it is


Such are the eighteen features; in addition to these there are further ones: His physical body is beyond measure and [the height of] his ushnisha cannot be perceived. At first sight and merely through being seen he pacifies the faults of sentient beings.
-Jamgon Kongtrul, The Unassailable Lion's Roar, BN p. 225

In the shastra, this enumeration of the qualities of the Dharmakaya is followed by a listing of the traditional 32 marks possessed by the Supreme Nirmanakaya of a Buddha.

THE SEVENTH VAJRA POINT: ACTIVITY

238-282=44 pages 386-387=1 page KTGR (45)

VII. Enlightened Activity

The Buddha's regent Maitreya says in the Abhisamayalankara: Whoever has the authentic truth, has the omniscience of the sages and can teach all their different kinds of teaching.

the pathways of Buddha-activity are described in six ways

1. release from samsara: consists of mastery on the ten bhumis, symbolized by an ocean full of jewels
2. freedom through the practice of the two accumulations: symbolized by the sun which is vital for spiritual life
3. the fruition of this freedom in Buddhahood: the vast and profound, symbolized by space
4. that all beings can achieve this fruition by transcending the dual obstructions: symbolized by a buried treasure
5. the achievement of this fruition is enlightenment: like clouds, obscurations are not a permanent feature of the sky
6. that the Buddha provides all things necessary to destroy obscurations: just as great wind drives away all clouds

Nine examples of Buddha activity

1. body: like Indra who is always present but the perception of his reflection in the lapis lazuli of the mind determines the quality of his influence
2. speech: like the drum of the gods, spontaneously sounding words such as impermanence, sufferng, no-self, and peace without anyone being there
3. mind: like monsoon clouds which bring the rain of the teachings allowing beings to transcend themselves
4. emanation: like Brahma who never leaves the first rupadevaloka but is perceived in all other realms, the Buddha manifests in many ways without leaving the dharmakaya
5. wisdom: like the sun which shines without thinking, the Buddhas radiate the light of Dharma on the minds of beings, some of whom grow while others wither or hide in the shade... the sun cannot be blamed
6. the mystery of Buddha's mind: like a wish-fulfilling gem spontaneously fulfilling the needs of various beings
7. the mystery of Buddha's speech: like an echo, empty in itself and dependent on the mind who hears it, abiding neither outside nor inside
8. the mystery of Buddha's form: like space, without substance it accomodates and liberates all beings
9. like the earth, Buddha activities are full of wisdom and virtues providing the basis for all growth and spiritual freedom

Five reasons why teachings on the enlightened essence were given to sentient beings:

1. to counteract discouragement or faintness of heart
2. to counteract the idea that we might already be great bodhisattvas
3. to counteract more limited views
4. to dispel faults which arise from failing to understand the entire scope of the Dharma
5. to vanquish self-cherishing

CHAPTER 5: BENEFIT

283-298=15 pages
388-389=1 page KTGR (16)


these notes were based on

Source

turtlehill.org

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