Do livro: Buddha Nature
Snow Lion Publications
Ithaca, New York
The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra
by Arya Maitreya
written down by
Arya Asanga
commentary by Jamgön Kongtrül Lodrö Thayé
“The Unassailable Lion’s Roar”
explanations by Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche
translated by Rosemarie Fuchs
CHAPTER ONE
Tathagatagarbha
Introduction
I bow down to all buddhas and bodhisattvas.
If condensed, the body of the entire commentary
[consists of] the following seven vajra points:
Buddha, Dharma, the Assembly, the element,
enlightenment, qualities, and then buddha activity.
In the above order, which presents them in a logical sequence,
these [vajra points]
should be known to be derived from the Sutra Requested by King
Dharanishvara.
The [first] three stem from its introductory chapter and the [latter]
four from [its chapters]
on the properties of those who possess understanding and the Victorious One.
From the Buddha [stems] the Dharma, from the Dharma the
Assembly of noble ones,
from the Assembly the attainment of buddha nature, the element of
primordial wisdom.
This wisdom finally attained is supreme enlightenment, the powers
and so on,
[thus] possessing the properties that fulfill the benefit of all sentient
beings.
The First Three Vajra Points: The Three Jewels
Buddha
Buddha is without beginning, middle, or end. He is peace itself,
fully self-awakened and self-expanded in buddhahood.
Having reached this state, he shows the indestructible, permanent
path so that those who have no realization may realize.
Wielding the supreme sword and vajra of knowledge and
compassionate love, he cuts the seedling of suffering
and destroys the wall of doubts along with its surrounding thicket
of various views. I bow down to this Buddha.
Being uncreated and spontaneously present,
not a realization due to extraneous conditions,
wielding knowledge, compassionate love, and ability,
buddhahood has [the qualities of] the two benefits.
Its nature is without beginning, middle, or end;
hence [the state of a buddha] is uncreated.
Since it possesses the peaceful dharmakaya,
it is described as being “spontaneously present.”
Since it must be realized through self-awareness,
it is not a realization due to extraneous conditions.
These three aspects being realized, there is knowledge.
Since the path is shown, there is compassionate love.
There is ability since the mental poisons and suffering
are relinquished by primordial wisdom and compassion.
Through the first three there is benefit for oneself.
Through the latter three there is benefit for others.
Dharma
The Dharma is neither non-existent nor existent. It is not both existent and non-existent, nor is it other than existent and
non-existent.
It is inaccessible to such investigation and cannot be defined. It is
self-aware and peace.
The Dharma is without defilement. Holding the brilliant light rays
of primordial wisdom,
it fully defeats attachment, aversion, and dull indifference with
regard to all objects of perception. I bow down to this sun of the
sacred Dharma.
Inconceivable, free from the two [veils] and from thought,
being pure, clear, and playing the part of an antidote,
it is free from attachment and frees from attachment.
This is the Dharma with its features of the two truths.
Freedom from attachment [as fruit and means]
consists of the truths of cessation and path.
Accordingly these should also be known
by means of three qualities each.
Not being an object of conceptual investigation, being inexpressible,
and [only] to be known by noble ones, the Dharma is inconceivable.
Since it is peace, it is free from the two [veils] and free from thought.
In its three [aspects of] purity and so on it is similar to the sun.
Sangha
This mind being by nature clear light, they have seen the poisons to
be essenceless
and therefore truly realize [the nature of] every being as peace, the
ultimate non-existence of a self. They perceive that the Perfect
Buddha pervades them all.
They possess the understanding that is free from the veils. Thus
seeing that beings are utterly pure and that [this purity pervades]
their limitless number,
they are endowed with the vision of primordial wisdom. I bow
down to this [Sangha].
The assembly of those who have understanding
and thus do not fall back has unsurpassable qualities,
since their vision of inner primordial wisdom,
which knows correctly and knows completely, is pure.
Realizing beings in their state of peace
[the noble ones] know correctly,
for [the mind] is by nature utterly pure
and the poisons were always exhausted.
Their understanding, which realizes the knowable
as well as [its] ultimate condition, sees
that the state of omniscience is within all beings.
Thus the [noble ones] know completely.
Such realization is the vision of wisdom
that is self-aware. This wisdom is pure,
since it [sees] the undefiled expanse,
free from attachment and obstruction.
Their vision [of] primordial wisdom is pure
and [nears] unsurpassable buddha wisdom.
The noble ones who do not fall back
are therefore a refuge for all beings.
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