The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra Outline

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

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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 refuge of causation
• the refuge of fruition
the first three qualities bring perfect benefit to oneself and relate to the dharmakaya

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

• eternal: changeless, permanent
• centerless: thingless, non-abiding, imageless, unlimited in space
• endless: non-interrupted, unlimited in time
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

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II.
Dharma consisting of

1. The Dharma of statements

1. the tripitaka teachings given by the Buddha

a. vinaya focusing on morality
b. sutra focusing on meditation
c. abhidharma focusing on wisdom

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

a. inconceivable- no thing, w/o substance, beyond the four conceptual extremes
b. non-dual- freedom from karma and defilement, empty and luminous
c. non-conceptual- pristine cognition, free from the limits of representational thinking

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

a. purity, stainless~ free of emotional and mental obstacles as the sky and sun are unaffected by clouds
b. clarity, brilliance~ the light of jnana illuminating both relative qualities and the true nature
c. remedial power eliminating the three poisons~

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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

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

• Buddha-nature
• Buddhahood
• Buddha Qualities
• Buddha Activities

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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

• aspiration: devotion to the three jewels of the mahayana dharma- overcoming dislike or disinterest
• prajna: highest discriminative wisdom realizing the non-existence of self in both persons and phenomena - overcoming belief in a self
• samadhi: limitless samadhi endowed with bliss- overcoming fear of samsara
• compassion: beginning with focus on beings- overcoming selfishness

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

true purity- counteracting karmic impurities

true self- counteracts suffering in life

true happiness- counters impermanent skandhas

true permanence- counters a belief in a separate self

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

• dharmakaya- vastness of ocean, the 'vessel of devotion'
• two-fold jnana- jewel-like wisdoms discovered in the ocean: discriminative wisdom and samadhi
• compassion- wetness of the ocean

"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):

• clear cognition- light of the lamp, clairvoyance
- divine sight, divine hearing, knowing the minds of others, knowing death and rebirth, remembrance of previous lives

stainless jnana- heat of the lamp, primordial wisdom

indivisibility of clarity and purity; color free of pollutants, abandonment free of defilement

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

• ordinary beings use the incorrect approach
• bodhisattvas go in the right direction
• Buddhas are unerring and non-conceptually right

7. the phases of Buddha-nature are

impure in ordinary beings- with faults, the two obscurations, corresponds to the tathagata in terms of the basis

mixed in bodhisattvas- with qualities, free of acquired sins, corresponds to the tathagata in terms of the path

pure in the tathagatas- with ultimate qualities, free of innate sins, corresponds to the tathagata in terms of the fruit

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

• earth- corresponds to the aggregates, elements and senses
• water- corresponds to karma and the defilements, mental poisons, improper conceptual activity
• air- incorrect understanding
• space- the nature of mind, uncreated clarity, tathagatagarbha, clear light (T. od gsal),unaffected by the three fires of death, sickness and aging corresponding to the fire at the destruction of the aeon, the firest of hell and ordinary fire.
~in the example of bodhisattvas:

• beyond birth- quality of permanence
• beyond ageing- quality of immutability
• beyond sickness- quality of non-duality
• beyond death- quality of being eternal
~in the example of Buddhas:

• permanent- changeless
• eternal- inexhaustible freedom from karma
• nondual- singularity of samsara and nirvana
• indestructible- unfabricated

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

• dharmakaya- true nature of all things
• tathagata- ultimate fruition
• highest truth- jnana of how-it-is
• supreme nirvana beyond suffering

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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

• perfect abandonment: purity like the sky; clear light, correct insight ~vimuktikaya rnam par grol ba'i sku: the kaya of complete liberation
• perfect realization: endowed with all good qualities, complete insight ~dharmakaya chos kyi ku: the kaya of qualities

four particularities by which enlightenment is free from incidental stains

lucid clarity like sun in the sky, the sun being essence of realization (yeshe) and sky being the nature, free of all obscurity (ka-dag)

purity: having relinquished all emotional and cognitive obscurations, the supreme goodness of uncreated clear light pervades

the possession of enlightened qualities is unchanged by incidental defilement: clouds

the possession of the causal condition of the absolute and relative jnanas

two kind of knowledge:

• how it is: the deep/non-conceptually destroying emotional obscurations during meditation and realizing the vimuktikakaya
• variety: the vast/ during post-meditation analytically destroying cognitive obscurations and realizing the dharmakaya

2. cause the practice of morality, meditation & wisdom

• absence of concepts: tranquility
• presence of discriminating wisdom: insight

3. fruition freedom from all emotional and mental impurities

• desire: a lake of pure water covered with lotuses
• anger: a full moon free of eclipse
• ignorance: the sun free of clouds

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

untainted by defilement or mental imprints

all embracing in its knowledge

indestructible and uncreated

• free of old age
• free of sickness
• free of birth
• deathless
• ground of all and everything

5. endowments

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)

• uninterrupted communication of the Dharma~the flow of pure ~ speech ~ unimpeded radiance
• unceasing and various in manifestation ~ body ~ the display of pure physical form ~ the 32 bodily signs, uninterrupted
• the mind of pure compassion ~ mind ~pure mental activity, brilliant with bodhicitta, ready to liberate mindstreams
• spontaneous responsiveness ~ qualities ~ like a cintamani, non deliberate, free of effort and thought
• supreme flexibility ~ activities ~ responsive and open, manifesting perfect play through various magic powers

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

• draws beings away from samsara via the path to nirvana
• helps beings purify defilements and awaken bodhicitta
• predicts the spiritual future of bodhisattvas as buddhas

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

• dharmakaya permanence of nature
• sambhogakaya permanence of uninterruptedness
• nirmanakaya permanence of continuity

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

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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. 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.

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. 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.

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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

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CHAPTER 5: BENEFIT
283-298=15 pages
388-389=1 page KTGR (16)

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these notes were based on

A Treatise on Buddha Nature, A Commentary on The Uttaratantra Shastra of Asanga by The Venerable Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche, Sri Satguru Publications, Delhi, 1994
Buddha Nature Ten Teachings on the Uttaratantra Shastra by Thrangu Rinpoche, Rangjung Yeshe Publications, Kathmandu, 1993
Buddha Nature The Mahayana Uttaratantra Shastra with Commentary Arya Maitreya, transcribed by Arya Asanga with commentaries by Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Thaye and Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso Rinpoche, Snowlion, 2000