Mountain Doctrine: Tibet's Fundamental Treatise On Other-Emptiness And The Buddha Matrix

Dol-bo-ba Shay-rap-gyel-tsen I

1

:

Jeffrey Hopkins

Mountain Doctrine Tibet's Fundamental Treatise on Other-Emptiness and the Buddha-Matrix

Dol-bo-6a Shay-rap-gyel-tsen Translated and Intrduced by Jeffrey Hopkins Edited by Kevin Vose

Snow Lion Publications Ithaca, New York Boulder, Colorado

Snow Lion Publications P.O. Box 6483 Ithaca, NY 14851 USA (607) 273-8519 www.snowlionpub.com Copyright© 2006 Jeffrey Hopkins All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced by any means without prior written permission from the publisher. Printed in the U.S.A. on acid-free recycled paper. ISBN-13: 978-1-55939-238-9 ISBN-10: 1-55939-238-X

Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Ses-rab-rgyal-mtshan, Dol-po-pa, 1292-1361. [Ri.chos ·nes don rgya mtsho ies bya ba mthar thug thun moil rna yin pa'i man nag. English] Mountain doctrine : Tibet's fundamental treatise on other-emptiness and the Buddha-matrix I Dol-bo-ba shay-rap-gyel-tsen ; translated and introduced by Jeffrey Hopkins; edited by Kevin Vose. ·.p.cm. Indu'des bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-1-55939-238-9 (alk. paper) ISBN-10: 1-55939-238-X (alk. paper) 1. Jo-nait-pa (Sect)--Doctrines--Early works to 1800. 2. Buddhism --China--Tibet--Doctrines--Early works to 1800. I. Hopkins, Jeffrey. II. Vose, Kevin, 1970- . III. Tide. BQ7674.4.S4713 2006 294.3' 420423--dc22 2006006065

Contents Detailed Outline ofthe Mountain Doctrine

VII

Technical Notes

xxiii 1

Iimoduction MOUNTAIN DOCTRINE, OCEAN OF DEFINITIVE MEANING: FINAL UNIQUE QUINTESSENTIAL INSTRUCTIONS 45 OVERVIEW

47

PART ONE: THE BAsiS

59

THEPATI-i

197

PARTTWO:

PARTTHREE: THEFRUIT

419

CONCLUSION

543 ABRIDGED MOUNTAIN DOCTRINE

551

ABRIDGED OVERVIEW

553

PART ONE ABRIDGED: THE BASIS

559

THE PATH

587

PART TWO ABRIDGED:

PART THREE ABRIDGED:

THE FRUIT

691

ABRIDGED CONCLUSION

727

Detailed Outline in Tibetan

733

Backnotes

771

List ofAbbreviations

795

Bibliography

797

Index

825

Detailed Outline of the Mountain Doctrine (This table of contents, found in volume e of Dol-bo-ba's Collected Works separate from and just before the Mountain Doctrine, provides an accessible introduction to the topics of the text when read by itself. The numbers in braces indicate the number of subdivisions, and the numbers in parentheses indicate locations in the Gangtok and 'Dzam thang editions respectively. In the translation the outline is supplied in boxed headings. For the Tibetan of the entire outline, see 733ff.)

Mountain Doctrine, Ocean ofDefinitive Meaning: Final Unique Quintessential Instructions OVERVIEW

47

Explanation of uncommon quintessential instructions that include the essence of all profound scriptures of final definitive meaning {3} 49 I. Entry to the explanation (2.1/1b.1) 49 50 II. Actual explanation that has been entered {3} (3.2/2b.3) A. Brief indication of the basis, path, and fruit {3) (3.2/2b.3) 50 1. Condensed indication of the definitive basis, path, and fruit (3.2/2b.3) 50 2. Brief indication of how those points are established by scripture (4.3/3b.l) 51 3. Brief indication of the basis, path, and fruit of both [buddha) bodies (10.2/6b.1) 55 PARTONE: THEBASIS

59

B. Individual extensive explanations of the basis, path, and fruit {3} (11.1/7a.l) 1. Explaining how the ultimate buddha primordially dwells in the basal [or ordinary] state {7} (11.1/7a.l) a.. Indicating that the profound noumenon is the pristine wisdom basis-of-all (11.1/7a.l) b. Establishing well through pure scripture that the profound noumenon is the wisdom basis-of-all {14} (11.4/7a.4) (1) How all the deities of indivisible basic element and basic mind abide pervading all the inanimate and the animate {2} (11.4/7a.4) (a) How the causal character is set forth in the perfection [vehicle] {11.4/7a.4) (b) How the resultant character is set forth in profound secret mantra (16.2/9b.2) (2) How what abides in this way is all three jewels of the ultimate noumenon (19.1/lla.2) (3) How a multitude of examples and their meanings teach that vii

61 61 61 61 61 61 65 68

viii

Detailed Outline of the Mountain Doctrin~ just that is the matrix-of-one-gone-to-bliss (22.3/12b.6) (4) How just that is taught to be equivalent to the naturally abiding lineage (23.5/13b.3) .. (5) How just that is taught to be equivalent to the expanded and condensed lineages mentioned in the tantra sets (24.3/13b.7) (6) How just that also abides as 'the continuum of the profound noumenon and as the vajra lineage (page missing/15b.7) (7) How just that abides like space as the continuum of the indivisible entity of basis and fruit (33.3/18a.7) (8) How just that abides as three phases of the ulrimate body of attributes (36.2/20a.2) (9) How just that also abides as the three phases of thusness and so forth (37.4/20b.5) (10) How just that also abides as many mantra lineages of great afflictive emotions and so forth (41.3/22b.5) (11) How just that also abides as nirval)a. body of amibutes, and so forth, of undifferentiable basis and fruit (45.4/25a.1) (12) How just that also abides as the thoroughly established noumenon of indivisible basis and fruit (47.2/25b.6) (13) How just that also abides as the complete composite of the ultimate body of attributes and its qualities (47.4/26a.3) (14) Showing those meanings are asserted also by the superior Nagarjuna and his sons (57.5/31b.2) c. Advice to abandon bad views imputed by those unskilled in scripture {11} (61.5/33b.2) (1) Abandoning the sinful view of mistaking [the teaching of the matrix-of-one-gone-thus] as requiring interpretation frof!I the fact that ~-purpose [for teaching it] is indicated (2} (61.5/33b.2) (a) Abandoning the sinful view of mistaking [the teaching of the matrix-of-one-gone-thus] as requiring interpretation from the fact that in the Sublime Continuum ofthe Great Vehicle a purpose [for teaching it] is indicated (61.5/33b.2) (b) Abandoning the sinful view of mistaking [the teachi!lg of the matrix-of-one-gone-thus] as requiring interpretation from the fact that in the De~cent into Lanka Sii.tra a purpose [for teaching it] is indicated (65.5/35b.4) (2) Stating a source showing that if the matrix-of-one-gone-to-bliss did not exist, there would be very absurd consequences (71.3/38b.3) (3) Stating a source showing that if pure self and so forth did not exist, there would be very absurd consequences (77.1141a.7) (4) Showing the reasons why although the existence and the nonexistence of self, and so forth, appear to be contradictory, there is no fault (82.4/44a.4)

72 74 74 78 83 86 87 90 93 94 95 102 108

108

108

117

120 125

129

Derailed Oudine of the Mountain Doctrin~ (5) Showing that pure self, aharrz, and so forth are equivalent (88.5/47a.5) (6) Showing that the element of pure self and the perfection of wisdom are equivalent (98.5/52a.4) (7) Having refuted those unskilled in the mode of subsistence, showing how the actual ground abides (99.ll52a.7) (8) Indicating the thought of speaking of the matrix-of-one-goneto-bliss as a seed (103.6/54b.4) (9) Indicating in brief how, therefore, all ultimate qualities are contained [in the matrix-of-one-gone-rhus] (106.2/55b.5) (10) Indicating the reason why, although such always is so in ordinary states, ultimate qualities do not appear ro consciousness (I06.4/55b.6) (11) How there is damage from the absurd consequence that if it did not abide that way, the ultimate also would not exist (115.4/60a.3) d. Advice ro abandon the faults of non-faith in the profound noumenon as the wisdom basis-of-all {2} (117.4/61a.3) (1) Advice to abandon many faults (117.4/6la.3) (2) Advice to be intent on techniques to abandon those many faults (135.6/69a.3) e. Advice to accrue the benefits of faith in the profound noumenon as the wisdom basis-of-all {2} (139.3/70b.5) (1) Great waves of beneficial qualities to be attained (139.3/70b.5) (2) Advice to make effort at techniques to attain them (148.6/75a.2) £ Avoiding various wrong conceptions deviating from that {3} (155.4/78a.2} (1) Avoiding the absurd consequence that all sentient beings would have complete abandonment [of defilements] and have complete realization [of the truth) (155.4/78a.2) (2) Avoiding the absurd consequence that all sentient beings would have accumulated rhe two collections [of merit and wisdom] (157158/79a.3) (3) Avoiding misconceptions mistaking the basis of purification for what is purified and so forth (160.1/80a.3) g. Praise and obeisance within abridging the meaning of those (168.3/83b.7)

PARTTWO: THEPATH

ix

133 143 143 146 148

148

154 156 156 170 172 172 180 185

185

187 189. 195 197

2. Explaining how to participate in the supreme profound path enabling 199 attainment of the ultimate buddha {3} (168.4/84a.1) a. General indication of a presentation of rhe great vehicle path {10} (168.4/84a.1) 199

X

Detailed Outline of the Mountain Doctrine

(1) Showing the reasons why the pure path is necessary (168.4/84a.1) 199 (2) Teaching the pure view realizing self-emptiness (168.6/84a.4) 199 (3) Teaching pure non-conceptual meditation devoid of proliferation (169.2/84a.6) 199 (4) Teaching that profound essentials of quintessential instructions are needed for pure non-conceptual meditation devoid of proliferation (171.1/85a.4) 201 (5) Teaching elsewhere the two, pure common meditation and behavior (171.2/85a.6) 20 I (6) Making an identification here within differentiating well existence, non-existence, and so forth (171.3/85a.7) 202 (7) Teaching that, for this, knowledge of the three wheels of doctrine and the meaning of mantra is necessary (171.6/85b.4) 202 (8) Indicating through an example how three stages of defilements are cleansed by three wheels of doctrine (172.3/85b.7) 202 (9) Discriminative delineation of the differences of the three wheels of doctrine ( 173.5/86b.l) 203 (10) Clearing away many mistaken misconceptions about those (177.3/88a.6) 206 209 b. Detailed explanation of the uncommon view {2} (181.2/90a.3) (1) Promise to explain the uncommon view in detail (181.2/90a.3) 209 (2) Actual meaning being explained {5} (181.6/90a.7) 210 (a) Mode of establishing a profound emptiness other than this. self-emptiness since emptiness and non-emptiness, existence and non-existence, and so forth are taught {2} (181.6/90a.7) 210 1' Brief indication of the manifold divisions of the modes of emptiness {4} (181.6/90a.7) 210 a' Modes of emptiness: phenomena as empty of their own entity and the noumenon as not empty of its own entity (181.6/90a.7) 210 b' Modes of emptiness: phenomena as empty-empty and the ·noumenon as non-empty-empty (186.6/92b.7) 213 c' Modes of emptiness: phenomena as empty of adventitious defilements and the noumenon as non-empty in the sense of being the matrix-of-one-gone-ro-bliss (189.1193b.6) 215 d' Modes of emptiness: identification of the great emptiness of profound secret mantra in a way distinct from those (189.4/94a.3) 215 2' Delineation of the modes of emptiness through extensive 217 explanation of their meaning {9} (191.1/94b.6) a' Delineation of the basis of emptiness and that of which it is empty (191.1/94b.6) 217

Detailed Outline of the Mountain

Doctrin~

xi

b' How those are said to have the meaning of existing as the basic disposition and not existing as the basic disposition (194.1/96a.5) 220 c' How one passes beyond existence and non-existence, permanence and annihilation, and superimposition and deprecation when such is realized (195.6/97a.3) 222 d' Indicating that just these modes of emptin·ess are the 223 thought of the mother of the conquerors (196.4/97a.7) e' How just those modes of emptiness are said to have the meaning of not being established and not being removed and of being non-empty and empty (198.1/98a.3) 224 f' How just these modes of emptiness are said to have the meaning of existing and not existing in the mode of subsistence, abandonment and realization, and so forrh (199.1198b.3) 225 g' Clearing away wrong conceptions that an ultimate otheremptiness that is the basis of emptiness contradicts scripture (201.2/99b.4) 227 h' How just that basis of emptiness is the great emptiness, the profound mode of subsistence (202.4/1 00a.6) 228 i' Abandoning superimposition and deprecation with regard to textual systems teaching in this way {10} (205.21101b.3) 230 1" Indicating that there are no sources for and there are damages to the assertion that the third wheel of doctrine is mind-only (205.2/ 101 b.3) 230 2" Indicating that profound commentaries on the thought of the third wheel are in agreement with that 232 (207.11 102a. 7) 3" Indicating that in particular the assertion that Maitreya's Differentiation ofthe Middle and the Extrernes is mind-only is similarly flawed (209.6/103b.5) 235 4" Indicating that some are mistaken due to not knowing the division of two truths with regard to mind-only (211.4/104b.2) 236 5" How ultimate mind-only is taught also in profound secret mantra texts (214.11105b.6) 239 6" Indicating the thought of setting forth conventional 241 mind-only in some (texts] (216.4/107a.3) 7" Clearing away the fault of deprecation also with respect to other texts such as the Summary ofManifest Knowledge (218.4/108a.4) 244

xii

Detailed Oudine of the Mountain

Doctrin~

8" The great absurdity if, due to teaching mind-only temporarily, [a text] became a proprietary text of mindonly (222.4/110a.5) 248 9" Indicating that if one asserts even tantras to be mindonly, om! does not know their thought (225.3/111 b.5) 251 10" Hence, an indication of the benefits of having distinguishing quintessential instructions and the disadvantages of not having distinguishing quintessential instructions (226.11112a.3) 252 (b) Mode of establishing a noumenon other than this selfemptiness. through the causal instructions of the statement of many synonyms of the basis of emptiness {2) (226.5/112a.7) 253 253 1' Actual synonyms {2} (226.5/112a.7) a' Brief indication of the profound great emptiness having many synonyms (226.51112a.7) 253 b' Extensive explanation of damage to the assertion that selfemptiness, the ultimate, and so forth are synonyms {13) (227.5/113a.1) 254 1" The great absurdity if self-emptiness and thusness were synonyms (227.5/113a.1) 254 2" The great absurdity if self-emptiness and the limit of reality were synonyms (229.31113b.6) 255 3" The great absurdity if self-emptiness and the signless basic element were synonyms (229.5/114a.2) 255 4" The great absurdity if self-emptiness and the ultimate truth were synonyms (230.1/114a.5) 255 5" The great absurdity if self-emptiness and the element of attributes were synonyms (230.31114b.1) 256 6" The great absurdity if self-emptiness and the ultimate mind of enlightenment were synonyms (230.5/114b.3) 256 7" How to stop any chance for rejoinders dispelling those fallacies (231.1/114b. 5) 256 8" The great absurdity if the bhaga of the mode of subsistence and self-emptiness were synonyms (231.6/115a.5) 257 9" The great absurdity if the vajra of the mode of subsistence and self-emptiness were synonyms (236.11117a.7) 261 10" The great absurdity if the great seal of the mode of subsistence, and so forth, and self-emptiness were synonyms (243.11121 a.1) 268 11" The great absurdity if the great secret and secret of the mode of subsistence, and so forth, and self-emptiness were synonyms (246.5/122b.5) 272

Detailed Outline of the Mountain Doctrin~ 12" The great absurdity if the triangle of the mode of subsistence, phenomena-source, and so forth and selfemptiness were synonyms (247.5/123a.6) 13" Indicating that many other synonyms stated for the ultimate are other than self-emptiness {3} (250.5/124b.6) a" Indicating that the synonyms for the ultimate stated in Aryadeva' s Lamp Compendium for Practice are other than self-emptiness (250.5/124b.6) b" Indicating that the synonyms for the ultimate stated in the Expression ofManjushri Ultimate Names are other than self-emptiness {13} (254.4/126b.5) 1: Synonyms for the ultimate stated on the occasion of the question and answer (254.4/126b.5) 2: Synonyms for the ultimate stated on the occasion of perception regarding the six lineages of mantra· (255.2/127a.3) 3: Statement of the ultimate as enlightenment by way of the magical net (255.4/127a.5) 4: Statement of the ultimate as the vajradhatu mal).