Thursday, February 03, 2022

Treatise on the Great Vehicle's Arousing of Faith, Table of Contents

 This is the table of contents for my new translation of the Treatise.  The sections in brackets are supplied by me using the wording within that section. GW.

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Treatise on the Great-Vehicle’s Arousing of Faith

by Ashvaghosa

 

Mahayana Sraddhotpada Shastra

大乘起信論

Dàshéng Qǐxìn Lùn (Ta-ch'eng ch'i-hsin lun)

(A.K.A. The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana)

Taisho Tripitaka Vol. 32, No. 1666

From the Chinese Translation by Paramartha

English Translation by A. G. Wonderwheel

(c) 2016-2022

 

 

 

 

Organization of the Text

 

While the text itself has only a minimal explicit outline within it, the resulting outline as revealed by the subject matter shows that the text is highly organized.  For this translation, eleven levels of outline have been identified. 

 

Level:

1     PART

2                 SECTION

3                             I, II

4                                         A, B

5                                                     1, 2

6                                                                 a., b.

7                                                                             (1), (2)

8                                                                                         (a), (b)

9                                                                                                     (i), (ii)

10.                                                                                                              ((1)), ((2))

11.                                                                                                                          ((a)), ((b))

 

The resulting comprehensive Table of Contents creates a full outline of the Treatise to make clear that it is a synopsis of the Mahayana at the time of its writing.

[However, at this time the tenth and eleventh levels do not appear in the Table of Contents which only allows for 9 levels to be generated.]

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

English Translator’s Introduction. 7

Introduction to the Treatise on the Arousing of Faith in the Great Vehicle. 12

TREATISE on the GREAT VEHICLE’S AROUSING of FAITH.. 13

in a SINGLE SCROLL.. 13

[OPENING ADORATION] 13

[THE FIVE PARTS] 13

[ONE:]  THE BEGINNING PART ARTICULATING THE CAUSES AND CONDITONS  15

[SECTION ONE: Eight Causes and Conditions] 15

[I. To Be Free From Unease and Attain Ease] 15

[II. To Expound the Tathagata’s Meaning] 15

[III. To Ripen Good Roots] 15

[IV. To Cultivate the Habit of Faith in Mind] 15

[V. To Reveal Skillful Means] 15

[VI. To Cultivate Rest and Contemplation] 16

[VII. To Reveal Single-pointed Recollection] 16

[VIII. To Reveal the Benefits of Cultivation] 16

[SECTION TWO: Necessity for the Treatise] 16

[TWO:] THE NEXT PART ARTICULATING THE MEANING THAT IS SET FORTH   18

[SECTION ONE: The Dharma of the Great Vehicle ] 18

[SECTION TWO: The Meaning of the Great Vehicle] 19

[I. The Three Meanings of Great] 19

[A. The Greatness of Essence] 19

[B. The Greatness of Characteristics] 19

[C. The Greatness of Function] 19

[II. The Meaning of Vehicle] 19

[THREE:] THE NEXT PART ARTICULATING THE EXPLANATIONS. 20

[SECTION ONE: Revealing the Correct Meaning]. 20

[I. The Two Gates of the One Mind] 20

[A. The Gate of the Mind’s True Suchness] 20

[1 The True Suchness of Verbal Expression] 21

[2 Two Kinds of Meanings for Verbal Expression] 21

[a. Wherein is Declared Emptiness] 22

[b. Wherein is Declared Non-emptiness] 22

[B. The Gate of the Mind’s Birth and Extinction] 22

[1. Birth and Extinction as the Doing of the Storehouse Consciousness] 22

[a. Wherein is Declared the Meaning of Enlightenment] 23

[(1) The Original-Enlightenment of the Dharmakaya] 23

[(a) The Pairing of Original-Enlightenment and Originating-Enlightenment] 23

[(b) The Originating-Enlightenment Depends on Original Enlightenment] 23

[(c) Three aspects of originating enlightenment.] 23

[(d) Originating Enlightenment in No-thought] 24

[(2) Two Characteristics of Original-Enlightenment From the View of Discrimination] 24

[(a) The Purity of Wisdom/Innate Intelligence] 25

[(b) The Activity of the Inconceivable] 25

[(3) Four Comparisons of Enlightenment to a Mirror] 26

[(a) The Mirror’s True Emptiness] 26

[(b) The Mirror’s True Non-emptiness] 26

[(c) The Mirror’s Obstructions and Clarity] 26

[(d) The Mirror’s Universal Reflections] 26

[b. Wherein is Declared the Meaning of Non-enlightenment] 27

[(1) The Mutual Dependence of Non-enlightenment and Enlightenment] 27

[(2) Three Characteristics Born of Dependence on Non-enlightenment] 27

[(a) The Characteristic of the Karmic-Activity of Ignorance] 27

[(b) The Characteristic of Being Able to Perceive] 27

[(c) The Characteristic of an Objective Realm With Its Six Characteristics] 27

[(i) Knowledge] 28

[(ii) Continuity] 28

[(iii) Grasping] 28

[(iv) Reckoning by Names and Words] 28

[(v) Arousing Karmic-Activity] 28

[(vi) Unease] 28

[c.  Enlightenment Compared With Non-enlightenment] 29

[(1) Characteristics of Similarities] 29

[(2) Characteristics of Differences] 29

[2. The Causes and Conditions of Birth and Extinction] 30

[a. Storehouse Consciousness and Cognition] 30

[(1). Five Kinds of Names for Cognition (Manas)] 30

[(a) Karmic-Activity Consciousness] 30

[(b) Evolving Consciousness] 30

[(c) Manifesting Consciousness] 31

[(d) Knowledge Consciousness] 31

[(e) Continuity Consciousness] 31

[(2) The Function of Mind-Only] 31

[b. Cognitive-Consciousness] 32

[(2) Six Kinds of Stained Mind] 33

[(a) Corresponds to Grasping] 33

[(b) Corresponds to Not Cutting Off] 33

[(c) Corresponds to Discriminate Knowledge] 33

[(d) Does Not Correspond to Manifested Forms] 33

[(e) Does Not Correspond to Seeing Mind] 34

[(f) Does Not Correspond to Fundamental Karmic-Activity] 34

[(3) Clarification of Five Terms] 34

[(a) Not Comprehending the One Dharma-realm] 34

[(b) Corresponding] 34

[(c) Is Not Corresponding] 34

[(d) Stained-Mind] 34

[(e) Ignorance] 34

[3  The Characteristics of Discriminating Birth and Extinction] 35

[a.  Two Kinds of Characteristics of Discriminating Birth and Extinction] 35

[b. The Four Kinds of Scenting of Things] 36

[(1) The Four Kinds Things Scented] 36

[(2) The Meaning of Scenting] 36

[(3) Scenting in the Direction of Ignorance] 37

[(a) Two Kinds of Scenting of the Deluded Objective Realm] 37

[(b) Two Kinds of Scenting of the Deluded Mind] 37

[(c) Two Kinds of Scenting of Ignorance] 37

[(4) Scenting in the Direction of True Suchness] 38

[(a) Two Kinds of Scenting of Deluded Mind] 38

[(i) The Scenting of the Discriminating-Affairs Consciousness] 38

[(ii) The Scenting of Cognition] 38

[(b) Two kinds of Scenting of True Suchness] 39

[(i)  The Scenting of the Characteristics of One’s Own Essence] 39

[(ii) The Scenting of Function] 40

[(iii) Two kinds of Scenting of Essence and Function] 41

[c.  The Interruption and Non-interruption of Scenting] 42

[II. The Characteristics of the Own Essence of True Suchness ] 42

[A  The Meanings of True Suchness] 42

[B. The Functioning of True Suchness] 43

[1. Two Kinds of Functioning of the Dharmakaya] 44

[a. Samboghakaya of the Discriminating-Affairs Consciousness] 44

[b. Nirmanakaya of the Karmic-Activity Consciousness] 44

[2. Three Kinds of Seeing] 45

[a. What the Ordinary Person Sees is the Nirmanakaya] 45

[b.  What the Bodhisattvas See is the Sambhoghakaya] 45

[c. What the Pure Mind Sees is the Dharmakaya] 45

[III. The Immediate Entry From the Gate of Birth and Extinction to the Gate of True Suchness] 46

[SECTION TWO: Antidotes for Grasping at Perverted Views] 46

[I. The Five Egoistic Views of the Person and Their Antidotes] 47

[A Space as the Nature of the Tathagata] 47

[B  Nirvana and True Suchness as Empty] 47

[C  The Interiority of the Tathagata as Discriminating] 48

[D. The Inner Tathagata as Possessing the Categories of Things of Birth and Death] 48

[E.  The Tathagatas as Born in Time and Attaining Nirvana] 48

[II. The Egoistic View of Things] 49

[A. The Antidote of the View of Things as Unborn] 49

[B The Antidote of the Ultimate View of Things as True Suchness] 49

[SECTION THREE: Distinguishing the Characteristics of the Initiation and Destination of the Way] 50

[I. Initiating Mind by the Perfecting of Faith] 50

[A. Initiating the Mind by the Perfecting of Faith in People and Practice] 50

[B. Initiating Mind by the Perfecting of Faith in Three Kinds of Mind] 51

[1. Straightforward Mind] 51

[2. Profound Mind] 52

[3. Great Compassion Mind] 52

[C.  Initiating Mind By The Perfecting of Faith Using Four Kinds of Skillful Means] 52

[1. The Skillful Means of Practice of the Fundamental] 53

[2. The Skillful Means of Resting] 53

[3. The Skillful Means of Arousing Good Roots] 53

[4 The Skillful Means of the Universal Great Vow(s)] 53

[D. Destinations of Initiating Mind By Faith] 54

[II. Initiating Mind by Practices of Liberation] 55

[A. The Practice of Giving] 55

[B. The Practice of Morality] 55

[C. The Practice of Patience] 55

[D. The Practice of Vigor] 55

[E. The Practice of Meditation, contemplation] 55

[F. The Practice of Intuitive-wisdom] 56

[III. Initiating Mind by Confirmation] 56

[A. Initiating Mind By the Confirmation of Three Subtle Kinds of Mind] 57

[1. True Mind] 57

[2. Skillful Means Mind] 57

[3. Karmic-Activity Consciousness Mind] 57

[B. Destination of Initiating Mind by Confirmation] 57

[FOUR:] THE NEXT PART ARTICULATING FAITH IN MIND AND CULTIVATING PRACTICE   59

[SECTION ONE:  The Four Faiths In Mind.] 59

[I. Faith In the Original Root of Mind] 59

[II. Faith In the Buddha of Mind] 59

[III. Faith In the Dharma of Mind] 59

[IV. Faith In the Sangha of Mind] 59

[SECTION TWO:  The Five Gates of Cultivating Practice.] 59

[I. The Gate of Giving] 60

[II. The Gate of Morality] 60

[III. The Gate of Patience] 60

[IV. The Gate of Vigor] 60

[A.  Vigor For Cultivating Meritorious Virtues] 60

[B. Vigor For Escaping the Hindrances] 61

[V. The Gate of Rest and Contemplation] 61

[A. Cultivating Rest] 62

[1. Cultivating Rest for Entry to the Samadhj of True Suchness] 62

[2. Cultivating Rest to Know the Oneness of the Dharma-realm] 62

[3. The Ten Kinds of Benefits of the Samadhi of True Suchness] 65

[a. Recollection of the Buddhas and Bodhisattvas] 65

[b. Fearlessness] 65

[c. Non-confusion] 65

[d. Far Removed From Offense] 66

[e. Extinguishing Doubts] 66

[f. Faith Is Attained] 66

[g. Far Removed From Sorrow] 66

[h. Casting Off Arrogance] 66

[i. Diminishing Afflictions] 66

[j. Equanimity] 66

[B. Cultivating Contemplation] 66

[C.  The Mutual Support of Cultivating Rest and Contemplation] 67

[SECTION THREE: Cultivating Correct Faith by Recollection of the Buddhas] 68

[FIVE:] THE NEXT PART ARTICULATING AND EXHORTING THE BENEFITS OF CULTIVATION.. 69

[SECTION ONE: Cultivating This Treatise Is Unsurpassed] 69

[SECTION TWO: Cultivating This Treatise Accomplishes Pure Faith] 69

 

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Links:

Today is 2/07/22 and you can still join the Study Group by using the Eventbrite sign up. 

EventLink: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/238083432957

 

Study Group Schedule

#1. 1/27 – Table of Contents, with historical introduction and overview of the scope and outline, with reference to the provenance controversies and translation issues regarding title and faith.

#2. 2/03 –  Translation 1/7: The First Part “Articulating the Causes and Conditions,” and the Second Part “Articulating the Meanings Set Forth.”

#3. 2/10 – Translation 2/7: The Third Part “Articulating the Explanations,” Section One to One.I.B.1.a.

#4. 2/17 - The first part of Part Three was so full of the focus on True Suchness that we added another meeting. Therefore, Meeting 4 took up the second part of the Meeting 3 translation.

#5. 2/24 – Translation 3/7: The Third Part “Articulating the Explanations,” Section One.I.B.1.b. to 2.b.

#6 3/03 – Translation 4/7: The Third Part “Articulating the Explanations,” Section One, I,B.3.

#7. 3/10 – Translation 5/7: The Third Part “Articulating the Explanations,” Section One, II. and Section Two.

#8. 3/17 – Translation 6/7: The Third Part “Articulating the Explanations,” Section Three.

#9. 3/24 – Translation 7/7: The Fourth Part “Articulating Faith in Mind and Cultivating Practice.” and the Fifth Part “Articulating and Exhorting the Benefits of Cultivation.”

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