Centre for Tantric Studies

The doctoral dissertation of Dorji Wangchuk was recently published as:

Dorji Wangchuk. ‘The Resolve to Become a Buddha. A Study of the Bodhicitta Concept in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism.’ Studia Philologica Buddhica Mongraph Series XXIII. Tokyo: The International Institute for Buddhist Studies, 2007. ISBN 978-4-906267-59-0, 453 pp. [ official site ]

Preface … 13

Technical Note … 19

Chapter One: A General Introduction: On Becoming a Buddha
1. Introductory Remarks … 21
2. Buddhology … 22
3. Buddhist Soteriology … 39
(a) Emic and Etic Perceptions of Buddhism
(b) The Fundamental features of Buddhist Soteriology … 33
(c) The Mahāyāna Perception of the Quintessence of Buddhist Teachings
(d) Buddhist Soteriological Models and Goals
(e) Two Mahāyāna Soteriological Models of Becoming a Buddha … 38
4. Ontology … 41
5. Buddhist Epistemology and Gnoseology
6. Buddhist Axiology
a) The Three-Vow Sceme … 45
b) Comparing and Contrastic the Three Vows … 47
7. Concluding Remarks … 56

Chapter Two: Previous Studies on Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks … 57
2. The Early Western Knowledge of Bodhicitta … 58
3. Monographs on the Study of Bodhicitta … 59
a) Taishuu Tagami (1990) … 59
b) Francis Brassard (2000) … 60
4. Articles on Bodhicitta … 61
a) Kumataro Kawada (1965) … 61
b) Lal Mani Joshi (1971)
c) S. K. Nanayakkara (1971) … 62
d) Lobsang Dargay (1981) … 63
e) Gareth Sparham (1987) … 63
d) Gareth Sparham (1992) … 64
5. Studies on Bodhicitta in Specific Canonical Works … 65
6. On Translating the Term Bodhicitta … 69
7. A Study of Bodhicitta: Still a Desideratum … 70
8. Concluding Remarks … 71

Chapter Three: The Historical and Doctrinal Background of the Bodhicitta Concept
1. Introductory Remarks … 73
2. Bodhicitta as a Means of Compensating for the Loss of the Historical Buddha … 74
3. The Doctrinal Foundations of Bodhicitta in Early Buddhism … 77
(a) A Buddha as a Discoverer and Proclaimer of the True Reality … 77
(b) The Plurality of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in Early Buddhism … 77
(c) The Concept of the Resolve Made by Previous Buddhas … 80
(d) The Altruism of the Historical Buddha … 82
(e) Altruism in Early Buddhism … 84
(f) Prerequisites for Becoming a Buddha in Early Buddhism … 86
(g) The ‘Golden Rule’ in Early Buddhism … 87
4. Concluding Remarks … 89

Chapter Four: The Buddha’s First Resolve to Become a Buddha
1. Introductory Remarks … 91
2. The Historical Buddha as One of Many and Yet One of a Kind … 92
3. Three Events Marking the Career of the Buddha … 92
(a) The First Event: The Initial Resolve to Become a Buddha … 94
(i) Attempts to Resolve the Illogicality of Several ‘First Times’ … 98
(ii) Was the Historical Bodhisattva ‘King-Like’ or ‘Herdsman-Like’? … 99
(b) The Second Event: Striving to Become a Buddha … 100
(c) The Third Event: The Time and Place of the Buddha’s Awakening … 102
4. A Historical Sketch of the Buddha’s Initial Resolve to Become a Buddha … 104
5. Concluding Remarks … 105

Chapter Five: Mahāyāna, Bodhisattva, and Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks … 107
2. The Concepts of Yāna in Buddhism … 109
(a) The Various Models of Yāna .. 110

(i) The One-Vehicle Model … 111
(ii) The Two-Vehicle Model … 112
(iii) The Three-Vehicle Model … 113
(iv) The Four-Vehicle Model … 115
(v) The Five-Vehicle Model … 116
(vi) The Nine-Vehicle Model … 117
(vii) The n-Vehicle Model … 118
(viii) The No-Vehicle Model … 119

(b) Which Vehicles Are Buddhist? … 120
(c) Mahāyāna … 121

(i) Dissent on the Origin of Mahāyāna … 121
(ii) The Content of Mahāyāna … 122
(iii) Is Mahāyāna Indispensable? Is Vajrayāna Indispensable? … 125

3. The Concepts of Sattva and Bodhisattva … 126
(a) No Bodhisattvas without Sattvas …. 127
(b) Faith-oriented and Reason-oriented Sentient Beings … 128
(c) The Term Bodhisattva … 129
(d) Synonyms of Bodhisattva … 133
(e) Types of Bodhisattvas … 134

(i) Historical, Celestial and Earthly Bodhisattvas … 135
(ii) Human and Non-human Bodhisattvas … 136
(iii) Male and Female Bodhisattvas … 137
(iv) Ordained and Lay Bodhisattvas … 139

(v) Bodhisattvas with Different Backgrounds … 139
(f) The Śrāvaka-Bodhisattva Distinction … 140
(g) The Concept of Vajrasattva … 142
4. The Term Bodhicitta and Its Definition … 144
(a) The Term Bodhicitta in the Astasāhasrikā … 144
(b) The Term Bodhicitta in the Drumakinnararājapariprcchāsutra … 145
(c) The Term Bodhicitta in the Bodhisattvabhumi … 148
(d) The Relative Chronology of the Astasahasrika and the Bodhisattvabhumi … 149
(e) The Terms Cittotpada, Bodhicitta and Bodhicittotpāda … 149
(f) Some Definitions of a Bodhicitta or Cittotpāda … 151
(g) How Indispensable Is Bodhicitta for a Bodhisattva? … 154
(h) Benefits and Functions of Bodhicitta … 160
5. Concluding Remarks

Chapter Six: The Two Bodhicittotpāda Traditions
1. Introductory Remarks … 169
2. The Two Bodhicittotpāda Traditions … 170
3. Tibetan Assessments of the Two Bodhicittotpāda Traditions … 172
4. The Names of the Two Bodhicittotpāda Traditions … 173
5. The Two Bodhicittotpāda Traditions: The Basis of the Distinctions … 175
6. The Two Bodhicittotpāda Traditions: Personal Authorities .. 175
7. The Two Bodhicittotpāda Traditions: Scriptural Authorities … 176
8. The Historical Background of the Bodhicittapāda Ritual … 177
9. What Is Actually Generated by the Ritual? … 180
10. The Optionality of an Officiant in the Two Traditions … 181
11. Qualifications for Officiants in the Two Traditions … 182
12. The Eligibility of Candidates in the Two Traditions … 183
13. The Preparatory Procedures of the Bodhicittotpāda Ritual … 186
14. The Main Procedures of the Bodhicittotpāda Ritual … 187
15. The Concluding Procedures of the Bodhicittotpāda Ritual … 188
16. Observances and Offences in the Two Traditions … 188
(a) The Cardinal Transgressions in the Manjusri-Nāgārjuna Tradition … 189
(b) The Cardinal Transgressions in the Maitreya-Asanga Tradition … 191
(c) The Minor Offences in the Two Traditions … 192
17. Reestablishing a Broken Vow in the Two Traditions … 193
18. Concluding Remarks … 194

Chapter Seven: A Typology of Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks … 195
2. An Overview of the Five Types of Bodhicitta … 196
3. Ethico-Spiritual Bodhicitta … 197
4. Gnoseological Bodhicitta … 198
(a) What Gnoseological Bodhicitta Is … 198
(b) Some Synonyms of Gnoseological Bodhicitta … 198
(c) Some Salient Features of Gnoseological Bodhicitta … 199
(d) Who Possesses Gnoseological Bodhicitta? … 201
(e) Gnosis as Abiding in the Body … 202
(f) The Three Modes of Emergence Open to Gnosis … 204

5. Ontological Bodhicitta … 205
(a) The Conception of Ontological Bodhicitta … 206
(b) An Outcome of a Philosophical Quest? … 211
(c) Synonyms and Near Synonyms of Ontological Bodhicitta … 214
(d) Two Distinct Perceptions of Ontological Bodhicitta … 216
(e) Some Salient Features of Ontological Bodhicitta … 217

6. Psycho-Physiological Bodhictta … 217
(a) What is Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta? … 218
(b) Some Salient Features of Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta … 220
(c) Probably Motives for the Conception of Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta … 220
(d) The Problems of Physicality and Sexuality in Buddhism … 221
(e) Psycho-Physiological Bodhicitta in Yogic Practices … 223

7. Semiological Bodhicitta … 225
(a) General Features of Bodhicitta Symbolism … 225
(b) Putting Symbolism in a Buddhist Philosophical Context … 226
(c) Three Kinds of Semiological Bodhicitta; Visual, Verbal and Visional … 227
(d) Vajrayāna Symbolism and Literalism … 231

8. A Concluding Assessment of the Five Types of Bodhicitta … 232

Chapter Eight: Traditional Classifications of Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks … 235
2. Bodhicitta as a Fusion of Śūnyatā/Prajñā and Karuṇā/Upāya … 235
(a) The Term Śūnyatakaruṇāgarbha … 236
(b) The Term Śūnyatakaruṇābhinna … 238
(c) The Importance of Upāya and Prajñā … 239
(d) Tension between Two Poles of Emptiness and Compassion … 243
(e) Union of Emptiness and Compassion: A Tibetan Controversy … 245
(f) Three Positions on the Fusion of Śūnyatā/Prajñā and Karuṇā/Upāya … 245
3. Subclassifying Bodhicitta into Pranidhanacitta and Prasthānacitta … 246
(a) The Locus Classicus of the Classification … 246
(b) The Possible Historical Development of the Subclassification … 248
(c) The Pervasiveness of the Classification … 248
(d) Distinctions, Interpretations, and Controversies … 249
4. Subclassifying Bodhicitta into Conventional and Absolute … 251
(a) Two Strands of the Conventional-Absolute Classification … 252
(b) Textual Sources of the Conventional-Absolute Classification … 253
(c) The Relative Chronology of the Conventional-Absolute Classification … 255
(d) Two Different Perceptions of Conventional and Absolute Bodhicitta … 256
(e) Can Absolute Bodhicitta be Generated Ritually? A Tibetan Controversy … 258
5. Leading to the Goal and Not Leading to the Goal … 261
6. A Stable One and Unstable One … 262
7. Twofold Classifications of Cittotpāda in the Viniścayasaṃgrahaṇī … 263
(a) Samādānasāmketika and Dharmatāpratilambhika … 263
(b) The One That Is Uncertain and the One That Is Certain … 264
(c) The One That Is Impure and the One That Is Pure … 264
(d) The One That Is Weak and the One That Is Strong … 265
(e) The One That Has Yielded the Ultimate Result and the One That Has Not Yet … 265
8. Undistinguished and Distinguished Cittotpāda … 266
9. The One Characterised by Karuṇā and the One Characterised by Prajñā … 266
10. Ongoing and Non-Ongoing Cittotpāda … 267
11. A Threefold Classification: King-like, Boatman-like, and Herdsman-like … 267
(a) Some Indian Precursors of the Classification … 268
(b) Assessments by Some Tibetan Scholars … 269
12. A Fourfold Classification … 271
13. Subclassifying Bodhicitta into Ten Types … 273
14. Twenty-Two Kinds of Cittotpāda .. 273
(a) Sources of the Twenty-Two Kinds of Cittotpāda … 273
(b) A Historical Sketch … 274
15. Concluding Remarks … 275

Chapter Nine: Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks … 277
2. Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta in the Sūtra Sources … 277
3. Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta in the Bodhisattvabhūmi … 279
4. Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta in the Mahāyānasutrālaṃkāra … 283
5. Causes and Conditions pertaining to Bodhicitta as Discussed Elsewhere … 284
6. Compassion as the Root Cause of Bodhicitta … 285
7. Concluding Remarks … 289

Chapter Ten: The Mahāyāna Observances and the Maintenance of Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks … 291
2. The Model of the Four Cardinal Transgressions (mūlāpatti) … 292
3. Pledges and the Maintenance of Bodhicitta in the Kriyātantras … 295
(a) The Vairocanābhisambodhitantra … 296
(b) The Guhyatantra … 298
(c) The Susiddhikaratantra … 300
(d) The Subāhuparipṛcchātantra … 3034. Pledges and Maintenance of Bodhicitta in the Yogatantras … 305
(a) The Durgatipariśodhanatantra … 305
(b) The Vajraśikharatantra … 307
(c) The Śrīparamādyatantra … 310
(d) The Tattvasaṃgrahasutra … 312
5. Pledges and the Maintenance of Bodhicitta in the Mahāyoga System … 313
(a) The Buddhasamāyogatantra .. 319
(b) The Kṛṣṇayamāritantra and Guhyasamājābhisekavidhi … 320
(c) The Guhyendutilakatantra … 328
(d) The *Guhyagarbhatantra … 329
(e) Padmasambhava’s Categories of Pledges … 329
6. All Mahāyāna Precepts Relating to the Maintenance of Bodhicitta … 330
7. Concluding Remarks … 331

Chapter Eleven: The Relapse and Restoration of Bodhicitta
1. Introductory Remarks … 333
2. Impairment to or Loss of Bodhicitta … 334
3. Causes of the Partial or Total Breach of Vows … 337
4. Causes of Impairment to or Loss of Bodhicitta … 338
5. The Abandonment of Bodhicitta as the Severest Transgression … 346
6. The Types of Setbacks … 348
7. The Restorability of Bodhicitta … 351
8. Retaking and Restoring Bodhicitta … 352
9. The Four Strengths … 355
10. Concluding Remarks … 356

Appendix A: A Critical Edition of the Sanskrit Text of Bodhisattvabhūmi 1.2
1. Introduction …Appendix B: A Critical Edition of the Tibetan Text of Bodhisattvabhūmi 1.2
1. Introduction … 379
2. The Text … 382

Abbreviations and Bibliography
1. Journals, Collections, Reference Books, Series, and Other Abbreviations … 391
2. Indian Sources … 393
3. Tibetan Sources … 404
4. Secondary Sources … 411
Index … 431

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Posted on Thursday, June 21st, 2007 at 5:56 pm.