appendix one a translation of the madhyamaka vatara

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APPENDIX ONE
A TRANSLATION OF THE MADHYAMAKA VATARA
The following is a translation of the Madhyamakavatara karika of Chandrakirti
(ca. A.D. 600-650). This is a versified text of 330 karikas to which Chandrakirti
wrote his own commentary, the Madhyamakavatara-bhasya or Madhyamakavatara
vrtti. The original Sanskrit version of the text (karikas and bhasya) does not
survive. It does however, exist in Tibetan and Chinese translations. In the
Tibetan Tripitaka it is catalogued with the title dBu rna la 'jug pa zhes bya ba.
According to the Colophon (MABh: 409-410) the translation of the
Madhyamakavatara and Bhasya was completed during the time of King Aryadeva
('Phags pa lha), whose dates are unknown, at the Ratnagupta Vihara in
Anupama, Kashmir. The translation was made by the Indian abbott Tilaka
kalasa (Thig Ie bum pal and the Tibetan translator Nyi rna grags from a Kashmiri
manuscript and later improved on at Ra mo che monastery in Ra sa (Lhasa) by
the Indian abbott Kanakavarma and the earlier Tibetan translator using western
and eastern manuscripts.
The translation is from the text edited by Louis de la Vallee Poussin,
Madhyamakavatara par Candrakirti Traduction Tibetaine, Osnabruck: Biblio
Verlag, 1970 (first published in Bibliotheca Buddhica, IX, 1912). The sDe dge
edition is consulted in the sDe dge Tibetan Tripitaka, bsTan 'gyur -preserved at the
Faculty of Letters, University of Tokyo, edited by J. Takasaki, Z. Yamaguchi and
Y. Ejima, Tokyo: 1977-. The transliterated Tibetan text is not a critical edition. I
have included only those variants which are significant. For example,
orthographic and tense variants are not noted.
APPENDIX ONE 211
INTRODUCTION TO THE MIDDLE WAY
(MADHYAMAKA VA TARA)
CHAPTER ONE: GIVING (DANA)
1.1 nyan thos sangs rgyas 'bring rnams thub dbang skyesl
sangs rgyas byang chub sems dpa' las 'khrungs shmgl
snymg rjei sems dang gnyis su med blo dang 7
byang chub sems ni rgyal sras rnams kyi rgyul I [1]
Disciples (sravaka) and intermediate buddhas are born from the mighty sages.
Buddhas are born from bodhisattvas, and the causes of the victors' children (jina
putra) are the compassionate mind (karuna-citta), a non-dualist intellect (advaya
mati), and the fully evolved mind (bodhi-citta).
1.2 gang phyir brtse nyid rgyal bai 10 thog phun tshogs 'diil
sa bon dang ni spella chu 'dra yun nng dul
longs spyod gnas la smin pa Ita bur 'dod gyur pal
de phYlr bdag gis thog mar snying rje bslod par bgyil I [7]
Real love (krpa) is like the seeds of the victors' sublime crop, like the water [that
is necessary] for their growth, and is like ripened [fruit] which remains ready for
use. Therefore, at the beginning [of this text], I praise compassion (karuna).
1.3 dang por nga zhes bdag la zhen gyur zhing I
bdag gi 'di zhes dngos fa chags bskyed pal
zo chun 'phyan Itar rang dbang med pa yil
'gro la snying rjer gyur gang de la 'dudl I [9]
Firstly [people] yearn for the self (alma), the '1', and then develop attachment for
things, [the idea that] 'This is mine'. I bow to whoever has cultivated
compassion for creatures who, like the whirling of a water-mill, have no
freedom.
212 REASONING INTO REALITY
1.4 'gro ba g.yo bai chu yi nang gi zla ba Itar I
g.yo dang rang bzhin nyid kyis stong par mthong ba yil
rgyal bat sras po 'di yi sems gang 'gro ba rnamsl
rnam par grol bar bya phyir snymg rjei dbang gyur cing II [10-11]
Like the moon's [reflection] appearing in moving waters, creatures move yet are
perceived to be empty by their very nature (svabhavata). Whoever has the mind
of these victors' children generates the power of compassion so as to completely
liberate creatures.
1.5 kun tu bzang poi smon pas rab bsngos dga' ba lal
rab tu gnas pa de ni dang po zhes byao I
de nas vzung ste de ni de thob gyur pa yisl
byang chub sems dpa' zhes byai sgra nyid kyis bsnyad doll [11-14]
By pure dedication with Samantabhadra's resolve, they fully remain in joy
(mudita): this [level] is called 'the first'. On gaining this [level] they are then
named by the actual term 'bodhisattva'.
1.6 'di ni de bzhin gshegs pa rnams kyi rigs su'ang skyes pa stel
'di yi kun tu sbyor ba gsum po thams cad spangs par yin [VP: gyur]/
byang chub sems dpa' de ni dga' ba mchog tu gyur 'chang zhing /
'Jig rten khams brgya kun nas g.yo bar nus par gyur pa'ang yinl / [16]
These [bodhisattvas] are also born into the Tathagatas' family (kula) and they
abandon all three fetters (samyojana). These bodhisattvas hold supreme joy and
can even move around a hundred world-systems.
1.7 sa nas sar gnon byed cing gong mar rab tu 'gro bar 'gyur I
de tshe 'di yi ngan 'groi lam rnams mtha' dag 'gag par 'gyur I
de tshe 'di yi so so skyes boi sa rnams thams cad zad /
'di ni 'phags pa brgyad pa ji Ita de Itar nye bar bstan/ I [17]
Pressing on from level to level, they move higher. Already all paths to
unfortunate states are blocked and all levels as ordinary people (prthag-jana)
have been exhausted. It is taught they quite resemble the eighth [level] saint.
APPENDIX ONE 213
1.8 rdzogs pai byang chub sems Ita dang po la gnas kyang I
thub dbang gsung skyes dant'5 bcas rang sangs rgyas rnams nil
bsod nams dag gl dbang gis VP: gil pliam byas rnam par 'phell
de ni ring du song bar blo yang Ihag par 'gyur II [17-19]
Even while abiding in this first viewing of the perfectly evolved mind
(sambodhicitta) [the bodhisattvas] - through the force of their positive potentials
(punya) - increase their preminance over those born from the mighty sage's
speech and over self-evolvers. [The bodhisattvas] have gone further [than these
others], and thus their minds are much purer.
1.9 de tse de la rdzogs sangs byang chub rgyul
dang po sbyin pa nyid ni lhag par 'gyur I
rang sha ster la' ang gus par byas pa yis I
snang du mi rung dpog pai rgyur yang 'gyur II [23-24]
By now they are become uncommon (adhika) due to their generosity (dana),
which is the first cause for evolution to the perfect buddha. They act courteously
even when giving their own flesh and they are also courageous at performing
the seemingly unseemly.
1.10 skye bo 'di kun bde ba mngon 'dod cingl
mi rnams bde ba'ang longs spyod med min lal
longs spyod kyang ni sbyin las 'byung mkhyen nasi
thub pas dang por sbyin pai gtam mazad do II [24]
All the creatures long for manifest happiness and for humans there is no
happiness without [material] affluence (bhoga). Knowing that affluence also
comes from giving, the Sage spoke first of generosity.
1.11 snying rje dman zhing shin tu rtsub sems canl
rang don lhur len nyid du gyur bafang I
de dag gi yang'd od pai longs spyo rnams I
sdug bsngal nyer zhii rgyur gyur sbyin las 'byungll [25]
Those with poor compassion and very crude minds, who are obsessed by their
own concerns, have their suffering appeased by longed-for affluence, and this
comes from generosity.
214 REASONING INTO REALITY
1.12 di yang sbyin pai skabs kyis nam zhig tshel
'phags pai skye bo dang phrad myur du 'thob I
de nas srid rgyun yang dag bead byas tel
de yis rgyu ean zhi par 'gro bar 'gyur I I [26]
Also, by performing generosity, there will come a time when they will shortly
meet a saintly person and on achieving this they can then completely cut the
stream of [samsaric] existence. Thus, from this cause they will proceed to
serenity (santi).
1.13 'gro la phan par dam bcas yid can rnamsl
sbyin pas ring par mi thogs dga' ba 'thob I
gang phyir brtse bdag brtse bdag ma yin pal
de phyir sbyin pai gtam nyid gtso bo yinl I [27]
By thinking on the promise to benefit creatures [bodhisattvas, the Lords of
Love,] gain long lasting joy through giving. Because [it is the cause of goodness
for both] the Lords of Love and those who are not, the instruction about giving is
singularly important.
1.14 ji Itar byin zhig ees sgra thos bsams lasl
rgyal sras bde 'byung lie Itar thub rnams lal
zhi bar zhugs pas bde ba byed min nal
thams ead litang bas Ita zhig smos ei dgosl I [28]
Such happiness (sukha) arises in victors' children from hearing and thinking the
word 'Give!', that not even the sages are made this happy by entering [nirvana's]
peace. Need I then explain [the bodhisattvas' happiness] of giving everything
away!
1.15 Ius bead ster zhing bdag gi sdug bsngal gyisl
gzhan dag rnams kyi dmyal ba la sags paz I
sdug bsngal rang ng nyili du mthong nas de [D: nil I
de bead bya phylr myur du brtson 'grus rtsoml I [29]
When they multilate and give their bodies, through this suffering they perceive
the suffering of others in the hells and so on. Thus, to sever [the miseries of
others] they perform [self mutilation] swiftly and with enthusiasm.
APPENDIX ONE 215
1.16 sbyin pa sbyin bya len po gtong pos stong I
'jig rten 'das pai pha rol phyirz zhes byal
$sum po dag la chags skyes gyur pas del
jig rten pa yi pha rol phyin zhes bstanl I [30-31]
They see that giving (dana), the gift and the receiver are empty: this is called a
transworldly perfection (lokottaraparamita). When attachment arises for these
three, it is taught to be 'a worldly perfection (laukika-paramita)'.
1.17 de Itar rgyal bai sras kyi yid la rab gnas shing I
dam pai rten la 'od chags mdzes pa rnyed gyur pail
dga' ba 'di ni nor bu chu shel ji bzhin dul
mun pa stug po thams cad rnam par bsal nas rgyall I [31]
Hence the minds of these victors' children are highly placed and have achieved a
beauteous skein of light in dependence on their sanctity. Like a jewelled water
crystal, they dispel all opaque gloom and are victorious.
216 REASONING INTO REALITY
CHAPTER TWO: GOOD CONDUCT (SILA)
2.1 de tshul phun tshogs yon tan dag ldan pJzyir I
rmi lam du yans 'chal khrims dri ma spangs I
Ius ngas yid kyl rgyu ba dag gJJur pas I
dam pallas lam bcu char sags par lD: car sag par) byedl I [32-33)
Because their good conduct (sila) has the sublime qualities, they have abandoned
the stains of immortality even in dreams. Because the movements of their body,
speech, and mind have become pure they perform the ten excellent action paths
(dasa-karma-patha) all at once.
2.2 dge bai lam'd i Ita zhig bcu char yang I
de la klags te shin tu dag par' gyur I
stan kai zla Itar rtag tu rnam dag stel
zhi 'ad chags par de dag gis rnam mdzesl I [37)
They perform the ten parts of this virtuous path (kusala-patha) at a glance, and
they become most pure. Like an autumn moon, they are always completely pure
and their peaceful light rays lend them utter beauty.
2.3 gal te de ni khrims dag rang bzhin Ital
ae phyir de ni tshul khrims dag mi 'gyur I
de phyir de ni rtag tu gsum char la' ang I
gnyis bIoi rgyu ba yang dag bral bar 'gyur I I [37-38)
If this pure conduct were viewed as intrinsically existent (svabhava) it would
thereby not be pure conduct. Thus they are always perfectly free of the cause of
the vacillation of dualistic thought (advaya-mati) toward the three.
APPENDIX ONE 217
2.4 sbyin pas longs spyod dag ni 'gro ngan na' ang I
skye bo tshul7chrims rkang pa nyams la 'byungl
bSkyed bcas dngos 'du yongs su zad pas nal
phyin chad de fa longs spyod 'byung mi 'gyur I I [39]
Affluence from giving may still result in unfortunate states and such befell
people if the prop of conduct had declined. If capital and income are quite used
up then, thereafter, no more affluence will come.
2.5 gang tshe rang dbang 'jug cing mthun gnas pas [D: pa]1
gal te 'di dag LVPV: vdagJ 'dzm par mi byed nal
g.yang sar lhung bas gz/ian dbang 'jug 'gyur bal
iie las phyi nas gang gis slong bar 'gyur II [40]
If whenever one has the freedom and a favourable situation one does not seize
on these, then when one falls over the abyss and comes under another's sway [in
the lower realms], and who will later extricate one from there?
2.6 de phyir rgyal bas sbyin pai gtam mdzad nasi
tshul khrims rjes 'groi gtam nyid mdzad pa yinl
!/pn tan tshul khrims zhing du rnam phel nal
bras bu nyer spyod chad pa med par gyur I I [41]
Therefore the Victor, after instructing about giving, followed this with
instruction on conduct. If virtues develop in the field of conduct, the resulting
affluence will be uninterrupted.
2.7 so so skye bo rnams dang gsung skyes dang I
rang byang chub la bdag nyid nges rnams dang I
rgyal sras rnams kyi nges fJar legs pa dang I
mngon mthoi rgyu ni tshul khrims las gzhan medl I [41]
For ordinary people, those borne of speech [Le. sravakas], those certain to be self
evolving [Le. pratyekabuddhasl, and the victors' children, the cause of spiritual
ascendance (nihsreyasa), and final transcendence (abhyudaya) is nothing other
than good conduct.
218 REASONING INTO REALITY
2.8 ji Itar rgya mtsho ro dang lhan cig dang I
bkra ShlS rna nag ma dang lhan Clg bzliinl
de Itar tshul khrzms dbang byas bdag nyid chel
de 'chal ba dang lhan cig gnas mi 'dod/ I [44-45]
Just as corpses do not remain in the ocean, or good luck and mis-fortune are not
[found] together, so too with the conduct of these great beings: we assert it does
not coexist with immorality.
2.9 gang gis gang zhig gang la spong byed pal
gsum du amlgS pa yod na tshul khrims del
jig rten pa yl pha rol phyin zhes bshadl
gsum la chags pas stong de 'jig rten 'dasl I [45]
Good conduct is said to be a 'worldly perfection' when directed towards three -
abstainer, abstinence, and the abstained. That which is empty of attachment to
the three is transworldly.
2.10 rgyal sras zla ba las byung srid min srid pa yi I
dpal gyur dri ma dang bral dri ma med 'dl yang I
stan kili dus kyi zla bai 'ad ni ji bzhin dul
'gro bai yid JeYi gdung ba scI bar byed pa yinl I [45]
These victors' children, arisen from the moon, are not worldly, [yet] free from
stains they become the world's splendour. These stainless (vimala) ones are also
like the rays of the autumn moon in removing creatures' mental torment.
APPENDIX ONE 219
CHAPTER THREE: PATIENCE (KSANTI)
3.1 shes byai bud shing ma Ius sreg pai mei [VP: me] I
'od 'byung phyir na sa ni gsum pa 'dil
'od byed pa ste bde gshegs sras po Ial
se tshe nyi Itar zangs 'drai snang ba 'byungl I [46]
Because the [wisdom] fire that consumes all knowables as fuel produces light,
this third level is [called] the Illuminator. The Sugatas' children receive a
coppery vision like the sun.
3.2 ;?aI te gnas min 'khrugs pa 'ga' yis deil
Ius las sha ni rus bcas yun rin;? dul
srang re re nas bead par ;?yur kyang deil
bjod pa gcod par byed la Ihag par skyel I [47]
Even if someone with a deranged psychosis carves from [a bodhisattva's] body
flesh and bone, taking their time and cutting ounce by ounce, yet vivid patience
arises in him or her for his or her butcher.
3.3 bdag med mthong bai byang chub sems dpa' lal
gang zhig gang gis gang tshe ji Itar gcodl
gang phyir chos Kun de yis [VP: chos kyang de yi] gzugs brnyan Itar I
mthong ba des na de yis bzod par 'gyur I I [481
For the bodhisattvas who perceive non-self (nairatmya) how, then, are they cut,
by whom, and when, because they see all things as reflections. Thus they are
patient.
3.4 gnod pa byas pas gal te der bkon na I
de la bkon pas byas zin ldo~ gam cil
de phyir dei bkon nges par dir don medl
'jig rten pha rol yang ni 'gal bar 'gyur I I [49]
If one has animosity with he who harms, could animosity stop that which is
already done? Thus this animosity is senseless here, and carries over in one's
next [rebirth to] the world.