Madhyamakāvatāra
Encyclopedia
Madhyamakāvatāra is a text by Candrakirti
(600–c. 650) on the Middle Way school (Skt. Mādhyamaka
). It is a commentary on the meaning of Nagarjuna
's Mūlamadhyamakakārikā
and also the Daśabhūmikasūtra-śāstra. As such, within the Tibetan Buddhist canon
this text is classified as commentarial literature.
The inclusion of the text within most Geshe
'syllabus
' (Tibetan: shedra
) is normative.
doctrine of 'emptiness' (Sanskrit: śūnyatā) to the 'spiritual discipline' (Sanskrit: sadhana
) of a Bodhisattva
. The Madhyamakāvatāra contains eleven chapters, where each addresses one of the 'ten perfections' (Sanskrit: pāramitā
) fulfilled by Bodhisattvas as they traverse the 'ten stages' (Sanskrit: bhūmi
) to Buddhahood
, which is the final chapter.
Candrakīrti
Candrakīrti , was an Indian scholar and a khenpo of Nālandā Mahāvihāra. He was a disciple of and a commentator on his works and those of his main disciple, Āryadeva...
(600–c. 650) on the Middle Way school (Skt. Mādhyamaka
Madhyamaka
Madhyamaka refers primarily to a Mahāyāna Buddhist school of Buddhist philosophy systematized by Nāgārjuna. Nāgārjuna may have arrived at his positions from a desire to achieve a consistent exegesis of the Buddha's doctrine as recorded in the āgamas...
). It is a commentary on the meaning of Nagarjuna
Nagarjuna
Nāgārjuna was an important Buddhist teacher and philosopher. Along with his disciple Āryadeva, he is credited with founding the Mādhyamaka school of Mahāyāna Buddhism...
's Mūlamadhyamakakārikā
Mulamadhyamakakarika
The Mūlamadhyamakakārikā , or Fundamental Verses on the Middle Way, is a key text by Nagarjuna, one of the most important Buddhist philosophers.-Competing interpretations:...
and also the Daśabhūmikasūtra-śāstra. As such, within the Tibetan Buddhist canon
Tibetan Buddhist canon
The Tibetan Buddhist canon is a loosely defined list of sacred texts recognized by various sects of Tibetan Buddhism. In addition to sutrayana texts from Early Buddhist and Mahayana sources, the Tibetan canon includes tantric texts...
this text is classified as commentarial literature.
The inclusion of the text within most Geshe
Geshe
Geshe is a Tibetan Buddhist academic degree for monks...
'syllabus
Syllabus
A syllabus , is an outline and summary of topics to be covered in an education or training course. It is descriptive...
' (Tibetan: shedra
Shedra
Shedra is a Tibetan word meaning "place of learning" but specifically refers to the educational program in Tibetan Buddhist monasteries and nunneries. It is usually attended by monks and nuns between their early teen years and early twenties. Not all young monastics enter a shedra; some study...
) is normative.
The text
The Madhyamakāvatāra relates the MādhyamakaMadhyamaka
Madhyamaka refers primarily to a Mahāyāna Buddhist school of Buddhist philosophy systematized by Nāgārjuna. Nāgārjuna may have arrived at his positions from a desire to achieve a consistent exegesis of the Buddha's doctrine as recorded in the āgamas...
doctrine of 'emptiness' (Sanskrit: śūnyatā) to the 'spiritual discipline' (Sanskrit: sadhana
Sadhana
Sādhanā literally "a means of accomplishing something" is ego-transcending spiritual practice. It includes a variety of disciplines in Hindu, Sikh , Buddhist and Muslim traditions that are followed in order to achieve various spiritual or ritual objectives.The historian N...
) of a Bodhisattva
Bodhisattva
In Buddhism, a bodhisattva is either an enlightened existence or an enlightenment-being or, given the variant Sanskrit spelling satva rather than sattva, "heroic-minded one for enlightenment ." The Pali term has sometimes been translated as "wisdom-being," although in modern publications, and...
. The Madhyamakāvatāra contains eleven chapters, where each addresses one of the 'ten perfections' (Sanskrit: pāramitā
Pāramitā
Pāramitā or pāramī is "perfection" or "completeness." In Buddhism, the pāramitās refer to the perfection or culmination of certain virtues...
) fulfilled by Bodhisattvas as they traverse the 'ten stages' (Sanskrit: bhūmi
Bhumi (Buddhism)
The bodhisattva's path of awakening in the Mahayana tradition progresses through ten hierarchically arranged stages, referred to as the "bodhisattva bhūmis"...
) to Buddhahood
Buddhahood
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
, which is the final chapter.
Quotation
Khenchen Palden Sherab Rinpoche (1997) render's a quotation from Candrakirti's Madhyamakāvatāra thus:
That which arises interdependently
Is characterized as meeting and working together.
Commentarial literature
- Jamgon Ju Mipham Gyatso (1846–1912) wrote a commentary on the Madhyamakavatara entitled: dbu ma la 'jug pa'i 'grel pa zla ba'i zhal lung dri me shel phreng; the title has been rendered into English by Duckworth (2008: p.232) as: Immaculate Crystal Rosary
- Khenpo Shenga, dbu ma la 'jug pa'i 'grel mchan legs par bshad pa zla ba'i 'od zer
- Khenpo Ngawang Palzang, dbu ma 'jug pa'i 'bru 'grel blo gsal dga' ba'i me long
- Jeffrey Hopkins (1980). Compassion in Tibetan Buddhism. Ithaca: Snow Lion. (first five chapters based on Tsongkhapa’s commentary)
- Rendawa Shonnu Lodro (1997). Commentary on the Entry into the Middle, Lamp which Elucidates Reality, translated by Stotter-Tillman & Acharya Tashi Tsering, Sarnath, Varanasi.
English translations
- Padmakara Translation GroupPadmakara Translation GroupPadmakara was founded in 1987, in Dordogne, France and is directed by Tsetul Pema Wangyal Rinpoche and Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche. As a department of SONGTSEN, Padmakara is responsible for the preservation, translation and publication of Tibetan texts...
(2002). Introduction to the Middle Way (Candrakirti's Madhyamakāvatāra with Mipham Rinpoche's Commentary). Shambhala - Geshe Rabten (translator, commentator) Stephen Batchelor (translator, editor) (1983). Echoes of Voidness.
- Huntington, C. W. (1989). The Emptiness of Emptiness. University of Hawaii Press
- Introduction to the Middle Way: Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara with commentary by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche, edited by Alex Trisoglio, Khyentse Foundation, 2003
- A translation of the Madhyamakavatara and its Auto-Commentary by Chandrakirti with additional commentary by Khenpo Namdrol Rinpoche
- http://d.scribd.com/docs/10uteap9j10ir1w53t2h.pdf (an English translation by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse RinpocheDzongsar Jamyang Khyentse RinpocheDzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche , also known as Khyentse Norbu, is a Bhutanese lama, filmmaker, and writer. His two major films are The Cup and Travellers and Magicians . He is the author of the book What Makes You Not a Buddhist...
) - Kelsang GyatsoKelsang GyatsoKelsang Gyatso is a Buddhist monk, "meditation master, scholar, and author" of 22 books based on the teachings of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism...
. Ocean of Nectar: Wisdom and Compassion in Mahayana Buddhism. London: Tharpa PublicationsTharpa PublicationsTharpa Publications is "a major international and multilingual publisher of Buddhist books" by world renowned Buddhist author and scholar Geshe Kelsang Gyatso...
, 1995.
Further reading
- Huntington, C. W.(1983). "The system of the two truths in the Prasannapadā and The Madhyamakāvatāra: A study in Mādhyamika soteriology." Journal of Indian Philosophy 11 (1): pp: 77-106.