Meditations on Chandrakirti's Supplement to (Nagarjuna's) "Treatise on the Middle"
UMA Institute for Tibetan Studies, Summer 1980
English translation by Jeffrey Hopkins
(Note: between file 6 and 7 there are two files missing)
Part 1 (45:36 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording provides an introduction to the study of the Madhyamakāvatāra, beginning with ritual recitations and an exploration of the unified nature of a Buddha's body, speech, and mind. The explanation moves into the essential qualities required of both teachers and students within the Mahāyāna tradition, emphasizing the importance of correct motivation and altruism. Finally, the recording begins to analyze the title and lineage of the text, setting the stage for a deeper investigation into the Middle Way teachings of Nāgārjuna and Cāṅkarakīrti.
Main Topics:
Recitation and the Nature of Enlightenment
The recording opens with the recitation of the Māṇi mantra and praises to Śākyamuni Buddha. This section provides an explanation regarding the profound meaning of Oṃ as the undifferentiated unity of exalted body, speech, and mind. It illustrates how, upon achieving enlightenment, these three aspects become inseparable, allowing a Buddha's presence and activities to permeate all phenomena.
Qualities of the Teacher and the Student
A significant portion of the explanation focuses on the relationship between the teacher and the student, who acts as a 'vessel.' A qualified teacher must possess learnedness, holiness (internalized practice), and goodness (altruistic thought). Conversely, a suitable student should be unbiased, possessing the wisdom to distinguish right from wrong and an aspirational attitude toward the Dharma.
Altruistic Motivation in the Mahāyāna
The recording emphasizes that the purpose of studying and teaching the doctrine must be rooted in the welfare of all sentient beings rather than personal gain or fame. By developing an altruistic intention, one aligns with the Mahāyāna path, aiming for the attainment of Buddhahood to effectively assist others through the realization of appropriate truths.
Introduction to the Madhyamakāvatāra
The explanation transitions into a detailed commentary on the text being studied, the Madhyamakāvatāra (Introduction to the Middle Way) by Cāṅkarakīrti. It clarifies that the 'Middle Way' refers to the view that avoids the extremes of eternalism (permanence) and nihilism (annihilation), as established by the profound teachings of Nāgārjuna.
The Role of the Text and the Accumulation of Merit
The recording explains that Cāṅkarakīrti's work serves as a guide to help practitioners navigate the complexities of Nāgārjuna's original treatise. Additionally, the explanation touches upon the importance of paying homage to enlightened beings to accumulate merit, which is essential for the successful completion of spiritual activities and the cultivation of great compassion, or mahākaruṇā.
Part 2 (45:37 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording provides an explanation of the central role that mahākaruṇā (great compassion) plays in the journey toward enlightenment. It explores how compassion serves as the essential foundation for the bodhisattva path, distinguishing between the various capacities of practitioners and highlighting why compassion is more crucial than the correct view of śūnyatā for achieving Buddhahood. The explanation further details the transition from fabricated to non-fabricated bodhicitta and uses an agricultural metaphor to demonstrate how compassion is required from the beginning, middle, and end of the spiritual process.
Main Topics:
The Primacy of Great Compassion
The recording begins by emphasizing the incomparable importance of mahākaruṇā (great compassion) within the mahāyāna path. It explains that while the three pillars of the great vehicle—the wish to escape saṃsāra, the altruistic mind of enlightenment (bodhicitta), and the correct view of śūnyatā (emptiness)—are all essential, compassion is the most vital for attaining Buddhahood. Even if a practitioner cultivates the correct view of emptiness for countless aeons, they cannot become a buddha without the foundation of great compassion.
The Causes of the Children of the Conqueror
The explanation describes the specific causes required to become a bodhisattva, who are referred to as the 'children of the conqueror.' These causes consist of three essential elements: the mind of compassion, non-dual awareness (realizing śūnyatā), and the altruistic mind of enlightenment. The recording clarifies that these factors serve as the necessary seeds for anyone following the path of the buddhas.
Fabricated versus Non-fabricated Bodhicitta
A significant portion of the explanation is dedicated to the distinction between fabricated and non-fabricated bodhicitta. It describes how, through consistent meditation and intentional practice, a student initially 'fabricates' or consciously builds the altruistic mind. Eventually, through the power of this training, the mind of enlightenment becomes 'non-fabricated,' meaning it arises naturally and spontaneously in response to the suffering of sentient beings without the need for forced effort.
The Analogy of the Agricultural Harvest
To illustrate the necessity of compassion at every stage of the path, the explanation utilizes an agricultural analogy. Great compassion is likened to the seed required at the beginning, the water and fertilizer required during the middle stages of cultivation, and the ripened harvest itself. Just as a harvest is useless without the initial seed, the activities of a buddha in benefiting sentient beings are entirely dependent upon the presence of mahākaruṇā.
Part 3 (45:55 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording provides an explanation regarding the necessity of generating compassion and the importance of contemplating impermanence to navigate the cycle of saṃsāra. It discusses the uncontrollable nature of existence, the different levels of realization regarding death, and the proper way to establish a relationship with a teacher.
Main Topics:
The Cultivation of Compassion (kṛpā)
The explanation begins by emphasizing that compassion is a foundational quality for any spiritual progress. It notes that a Buddha’s virtues are only truly beneficial to sentient beings if they are accompanied by compassion. The recording suggests that one must cultivate this quality through meditation by reflecting on the suffering and uncontrollable conditions of all sentient beings.
The Lack of Autonomy in saṃsāra
The recording discusses how sentient beings are subject to birth, aging, sickness, and death without any personal control. Using the analogy of a scoop on a water wheel, the explanation describes how our lives are driven by previous actions rather than our own will. This realization is intended to highlight the fundamental difficulty of existence within the cycle of saṃsāra.
Levels of Realization Regarding Death
The explanation describes different grades of practitioners based on their experience of death. These ranges from those who die without regret to those who can die with joy because they understand their future rebirth and its capacity for continued practice. The highest level is reserved for those who have achieved mastery over the process of birth and death itself, allowing them to choose their timing.
Subtle Impermanence (anitya)
A significant portion of the recording is dedicated to the concept of subtle impermanence. Rather than focusing only on the coarse reality of death, the explanation posits that change occurs every moment, meaning that a person from one minute ago does not exist in the same way in the present. This constant flux is used to encourage deeper meditative focus on the non-existent nature of a permanent self.
The Guru-Student Relationship
The explanation addresses the importance of the relationship between a guru and a student. Through historical examples involving great masters, the recording advises students to carefully investigate a teacher's qualities rather than relying on superficial traits like appearance or wealth. This ensures a stable and beneficial path for spiritual development and prevents future obstacles in one's practice.
Part 4 (45:50 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording offers an explanation of various Buddhist philosophical and practical concepts, ranging from the technical categorization of elemental properties to the karmic influences on physical sensation. It further explores the profound nature of puja and the essential process of developing compassion through training and the recognition of the suffering of sentient beings.
Main Topics:
Elemental Properties and Definitions
The explanation begins with a technical analysis of elemental qualities, specifically focusing on the definition of water and its various states. By distinguishing between being damp and being non-viscous, the recording establishes how specific physical properties are categorized within a Buddhist framework, using these distinctions to understand the nature of objects.
Karma and Sensory Perception
The recording moves into a discussion on how karma shapes an individual's sensory experience, particularly regarding temperature. It explains that the perception of heat or cold—such as feeling the sun as cold during winter—is not merely a physical occurrence but is deeply rooted in the karmic imprints and previous actions of the individual, such as the act of giving appropriate clothing in a past life.
The Influence of the Buddha’s Amṛta
An explanation is provided regarding the concept of amṛta (ambrosia) descending from the body of Śākyamuni Buddha. It contrasts the harmful nature of certain worldly elements with the purifying and healing qualities of the Buddha's presence, suggesting that focusing on virtuous thoughts can lead to the clearing of disease and suffering through the descent of this divine essence.
Candrakiīrti and the Concept of Puja
The recording discusses the structural nuances of Candrakiīrti’s commentary, particularly the function of connecting statements and the meaning of puja (worship). It clarifies that true worship is more than simple praise; it is an expression of profound happiness and respect for the qualities of the enlightened ones, involving mental, verbal, and physical homage.
The Cultivation of Compassion
The final segment focuses on the development of compassion, emphasizing that it is not an innate quality present from the beginning. Instead, the explanation highlights that compassion must be 'become' through intentional training and the recognition of the powerless and suffering state of sentient beings, who are compared to a bucket traveling in a well.
Part 5 (45:49 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording provides an explanation of the nature of saṃsāra through the metaphor of a water wheel, illustrating how sentient beings are driven by afflictions and karma. It explores the mechanics of pratītyasamutpāda, the distinction between the skandhas and the process of cyclic existence, and the specific ways in which self-grasping and karma propel beings through various rebirths.
Main Topics:
The Water Wheel Metaphor
The explanation begins with a detailed metaphor comparing sentient beings to the scoops of a water wheel. This analogy highlights several key characteristics of existence: the lack of autonomy, being bound by the ropes of affliction, the ease of falling into lower states through sin, the immense effort required for spiritual ascent toward Buddhahood, the suffering inherent in the movement of the aggregates, and the fact that the wheel is driven by the force of ignorance.
The Cycle of Dependent Arising
The recording then moves to an explanation of the branches of dependent arising, or pratītyasamutpāda, as depicted in the Wheel of Existence. It focuses on the cycle of birth, aging, sickness, and death, explaining that these processes are impelled by past actions rather than being matters of choice. The teacher notes that even within the womb, the conditions for suffering and the pervasive nature of impermanence, or anitya, are already present.
The Definition of Cyclic Existence and Liberation
A significant portion of the explanation is dedicated to a scholarly debate regarding the definition of saṃsāra and its relationship to the five skandhas. It explores different views from various monastic traditions, specifically discussing whether the aggregates themselves constitute cyclic existence or if saṃsāra is defined by the powerless process of birth, aging, sickness, and death driven by afflictions. This distinction clarifies how an Arhat can possess a physical body while being entirely liberated from the uncontrolled cycle of rebirth.
The Role of Self-Grasping and Karma
The recording concludes by identifying the 'turner' of the wheel of existence as the combination of ignorance and the conception of a self, or ātman. The explanation details how the initial adherence to an 'I' leads to the generation of attachment and hatred, which subsequently produces the karma that dictates one's future migrations. Through an anecdotal example of how verbal insults can lead to an animal rebirth, the teacher demonstrates the profound and often invisible impact of these mental states.
Part 6 (45:48 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording provides an explanation of the psychological and philosophical foundations required to cultivate genuine compassion. It explores the necessity of establishing equanimity as a prerequisite for altruistic intention, using metaphors of agriculture and logical debate to illustrate how one can level an uneven mind. The explanation also touches upon the nature of universal suffering and the distinctions between unreliable worldly relations and the stable refuge of the Three Jewels.
Main Topics:
Karma and the Influence of Divine Protection
The recording begins with an anecdote regarding the purification of karma and the way in which virtuous intentions influence one's future rebirth. It touches upon the relationship between the Fifth Dalai Lama and Avalokiteśvara, suggesting that one can be under the care of such a deity through the accumulation of merit. This section emphasizes how mental activity and ethical conduct serve as the primary drivers for being reborn in a happy migration or realm.
The Universality of Suffering
The explanation moves into a discussion on the nature of suffering, noting that even those in high worldly positions, such as kings or presidents, are not free from it. It argues that the root of all various types of suffering is the misconception of a permanent self. By recognizing the pathetic and vulnerable status of all sentient beings, the listener is encouraged to move toward the generation of genuine compassion.
Cultivating Equanimity as a Foundation
A significant portion of the recording is dedicated to the necessity of equanimity (upekṣā) as a prerequisite for compassion. Using the metaphor of smoothing out uneven ground to prepare a field for planting, the explanation describes how one must level the mind's natural tendency to favor friends and hate enemies. This process involves analytical meditation to recognize the kindness of all beings, including perceived enemies, based on their historical roles in one's past lives.
Worldly Relations versus the Three Jewels
The explanation distinguishes between the instability of worldly friendships and the reliability of the Triratna. It notes that worldly relations are often governed by attachment and hatred, meaning friends may abandon one during times of hardship. In contrast, the Three Jewels are described as constant friends whose fundamental nature is compassion, providing a stable refuge regardless of one's changing circumstances.
Logical Dialectics and Causality
Finally, the recording explores the use of logical debate to clarify philosophical truths, specifically regarding the principles of causality. Through the example of the "horn of a rabbit," the explanation examines how things are produced from their substantial causes. The discussion concludes with a dialectical look at the relationship between objects and the space (ākāśa) they inhabit, noting that space allows for movement but does not act as a producer of objects.
Part 7 (45:45 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording provides a detailed explanation of the logical and philosophical connections between Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Śrāvakas, and Pratyekabuddhas. Through the lens of formal debate, the teaching explores how these beings are linked through the transmission of the Dharma and resolves apparent contradictions regarding their paths to realization. Furthermore, the recording delves into the core principles of karma, explaining the certainty of karmic fruition and how individual actions shape one's future experiences across multiple lifetimes.
Main Topics:
Linguistic Foundations and the Origins of Realizers
The recording begins with a brief examination of the etymological meanings behind terms such as Muni and Svāhā. This leads into a complex discussion regarding the relationship between Buddhas and various types of realizers, specifically debating whether Śrāvakas and Pratyekabuddhas can be said to be 'born from the Buddha' through the medium of the Dharma.
The Logical Distinction Between Bodhisattvas and Trainees
A significant portion of the explanation addresses the logical paradox regarding whether Buddhas teach Bodhisattvas. The teacher clarifies a necessary distinction: while a Buddha may not teach all Bodhisattvas in a general sense, they do provide the profound doctrine to specific Bodhisattvas who are their trainees. This distinction is crucial to avoid the logical contradiction that a being is simultaneously the cause and the effect of a Buddha.
Resolving the Paradox of the Pratyekabuddha
The explanation addresses the tension between the definition of a Pratyekabuddha as a 'solitary realizer' and the idea that they are born from the speech of a Buddha. It is explained that this contradiction is resolved by understanding that a Pratyekabuddha may hear the doctrine and accompany a Buddha in one lifetime, but achieves their final realization in a subsequent lifetime characterized by solitude.
The Fundamental Principles of Karma
The recording transitions into an exploration of the mechanics of karma, emphasizing that actions are definite and are never wasted. The explanation details how virtuous mental and physical actions create an imprint upon one's mental continuum, acting as a guarantee that the resulting happiness or realization will eventually manifest, even if it does not occur in the present lifetime.
Karma and the Influence of External Conditions
Finally, the explanation clarifies the relationship between personal karma and environmental circumstances. While the teacher asserts that individuals primarily encounter the fruits of their own past actions, they also note that karma does not operate in a vacuum; other conditions and the presence of teachers or specific circumstances play a role in how those karmic seeds are cultivated and realized.
Part 8 (45:48 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording provides an explanation regarding the central role of compassion within the Mahāyāna tradition and introduces the characteristics of the first Bodhisattva-bhūmi. It explores the nature of a Bodhisattva as a 'child of a conqueror' who is driven by altruistic intention rather than affliction, specifically focusing on the perfection of generosity (dāna-pāramitā) and the mental imprints left by spiritual practice.
Main Topics:
The Importance of Study and Mental Imprints
The recording begins by emphasizing the necessity of continuous study and the permanence of mental imprints. Using anecdotes about the impermanence of wealth compared to the stability of learned truths, the explanation illustrates how directing the mind toward research and truth can lead eventually to Buddhahood.
Compassion as the Essence of the Mahāyāna
The explanation identifies compassion as the fundamental essence of the Buddha's teachings, serving as the root of all sūtra and tantra practice within the Mahāyāna. It is described as the primary force that motivates all virtuous actions and prevents practitioners from being governed by desire or hatred.
The Identity of the Bodhisattva
The recording defines the Bodhisattva as a 'child of the conqueror,' explaining that this relationship is established internally through consciousness rather than flesh and blood. It details how these beings are characterized by being 'overpowered by compassion' to liberate sentient beings, distinguishing their conduct from those driven by mental afflictions.
The First Bodhisattva-bhūmi and Generosity
A significant portion of the explanation focuses on the first bhūmi, known as 'Abiding in Joy.' The recording highlights the perfection of generosity (dāna-pāramitā) available at this stage, noting that a realized Bodhisattva can give anything, including their own body, without experiencing suffering or pain, and encourages practitioners to build these imprints through mental training.
Perceptual Reality and Emptiness
Toward the end, the recording transitions into a philosophical discussion regarding the nature of perception and emptiness. Through a dialogue about whether the eye consciousness perceives the actual essence of an object—such as a house or a piece of bread—or merely its color and shape, the explanation touches upon the subtle nature of reality.
Part 9 (15:42 minutes) Summary (AI-generated):This recording provides an explanation regarding the nuances of sensory perception and how various consciousnesses apprehend objects. It explores the distinction between what a specific sense consciousness can perceive—such as color or form—and what it cannot, such as tactile qualities, while also addressing the philosophical relationship between an object's aggregates and its essential identity.
Main Topics:
The Limitations of Sensory Consciousness
The explanation begins by examining the specific boundaries of various consciousnesses and their respective objects of apprehension. It is noted that the eye consciousness, or cakṣur-vijñāna, is capable of apprehending color and form, or rūpa, but it is fundamentally incapable of perceiving tactile qualities such as smoothness or roughness, which are the domain of the sense of touch.
Inference Based on Signs
The recording discusses how an individual can make correct assumptions about an object's unperceived qualities through the use of signs, or liṅga. By observing the similarity in shape or color between a current object and a previously experienced one, a person can use inference to conclude with certainty the nature of the object's texture or other characteristics.
The Distinction Between Representation and Reality
A significant portion of the explanation focuses on the philosophical distinction between a real object and its visual representation, such as a painting. It explores whether the form of an object depicted by an artist constitutes the actual entity or if it is merely an object apprehended by the eye consciousness, highlighting the gap between the essence of a thing and its image.
The Relationship Between Entities and Aggregates
The explanation delves into the complex Buddhist philosophical problem concerning the relationship between a sentient being or object and its five aggregates, or pañca-skandhas. Using the example of a horse, the recording examines the difficulty of determining whether the horse is identical to its aggregates or separate from them, noting the logical complications that arise when trying to locate the 'self' within these components.
The Nature of the Divine Eye
Finally, the recording touches upon the subtle sense powers achieved through meditative stabilization, specifically the divine eye, or divya-cakṣus. It clarifies that the divine eye is not an independent seeing entity, but rather a faculty that the consciousness relies upon to apprehend subtle forms that are otherwise inaccessible to conventional senses.
