The Uttaratantra; A Treatise on Buddha-Essence

490 Pages·2004·20.39 MB·English

by  Thrangu Rinpoche

THE UTTARATANTRA
A Treatise 011 Bu~~ba-Esse11ce
A Commenta~ on
THE UnARATANTRA SHASTRA
of
MAITREYA
~
THE VENERABLE KHAB]E
KHENCHEN THRANGU RINPOCHE
Translate~ ~
Ken an~ Katia Holmes
Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Charitable Trust
Publications
AcKNOWLEDGMENT
We would like to thank the many persons who helped
make this book possible. First and foremost, Khenchen
Thrangu Rinpoche for his great compassion and wisdom
in presenting these teachings. To Ken and Katia Holmes
our sincere thanks for their wonderful translation of the
root verses and Thrangu Rinpoche's commentary from
Tibetan into English. In particular, we would also like to
thank, Clark Johnson of Namo Buddha Publications
without whose ongoing dedication and effort these
publications would not be possible. We also wish to thank
Jean Johnson, Clarke Fountain, David Reed, and Daniel
Pirofsky for help in producing this book. A special thanks
to Debra Ann Robinson, Mary McCarry, Tess Evans,
Phyllis Ohm, Margot Newman, Katie Haggerty, and Susan
Roe for patiently transcribing the tapes of Thrangu
Rinpoche's talks. Finally, we would like to thank Tamar
Ellentuck and to Alta Brown for doing the final editing.
May this supreme, peerless teaching,
The precious treasure oft he Victorious Ones,
Spread and extend throughout the world
Like the sun shining in the sky.
Copyright © 2003 Khenchen Thrangu Rinpoche &
Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Charitable Trust
This book is copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private
study, research, criticism or review as permitted under the Copyright Act
1968, no· part of this book may be stored or reproduced by any prqcess without
prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.
This publication is a joint venture between
Namo Buddha Publications
P. 0. Box 1083
Crestone, CO 81131
Phone: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Visit Rinpoche's web site: www.rinpoche.com
and
Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Charitable Trust Publications
PO Box 6259 Wellesley Street, Auckland, New Zealand
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.greadiberation.org
National Library of New Zealand Cataloguing-in-Publication Data
Thrangu, Rinpoche, 1933-
The Uttarantantra : a treatise on Buddha-essence : commentary
o~ the Uttarantantra Shastra ofMaitreya I by Khabje Kenchen
Thrangu Rinpoche ; translated by Ken and Katia Holmes.
(Buddhist philosophy; pt. 1)
Includes bibliographical reference and index.
ISBN 1-877294-29-2
1. Ratnagotravibhaga-Criticism, interpretation, etc.
I. Tide. 294.385-dc 21
Note
Technical words have been italicized the first time that they are used to alert
the reader that they may be found in the Glossary of Terms. The Tibetan
words are given as they are pronounced, not spelled in Tibetan. Also we use
the convention of B.C. E. (Before Common Era) and C.E. (Common Era)
instead of B.C. and A.D.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Foreword by Tai Situ Rinpoche 9
Foreword by Venerable Lama Shedrup 11
Biography ofThrangu Rinpoche 13
Preface 15
Root Text oft he Uttaratantra 19
COMMENTARY BY THRANGU RlNPOCHE
General Introduction 141
PART ONE
THE GoAL To BE AcHIEVED:
THE THREE RARE AND l_JRECIOUS REFUGES
Introduction to the Text 155
THE BUDDHA
The First Vajra Point 165
THE DHARMA
The Second ~jra Point 175
THE SANGHA
The Third ~jra Point 187
General Points About Refuge 195
8 The Uttaratantra-A Treatise on Buddha-Essence
Two
PART
THE BASIS FOR A TrAINING
THE THREE RARE AND PRECIOUS REFUGES
The Last Four Vajra Points 203
BUDDHA-EsSENCE
The Fourth ~jra Point 209
ENLIGHTENMENT
The Fifth ~jra Point 285
THE QUALITIES OF BUDDHAHOOD
The Sixth ~jra Point 343
BUDDHA ACTIVITY
The Seventh ~jra Point 371
PART THREE
CoNCLUSION
Benefits of the Text 407
APPENDIX
The Six Realms ofSamsara 424
The Five Paths 425
Transforming Consciousness into Wisdom 426
Notes 427
Glossary ofTerms 451
The Five WOrks ofM aitreya 479
Index 481
9
THE TWELFTH T AI SITUPA
Forewor{)
T
HE GREAT INDIAN MAHAPANDITA Arya Asanga, due to
his great aspiration and realization was able to
communicate directly with Arya Maitreya, Buddha
Shakyamuni's regent and the future Buddha. From this
encounter, the Five Great Shastras of Maitreya came into
this world, which I am delighted to know are being
published by Zhyisil Chokyi Ghatsal Publications under
Venerable Lama Shedrup.
These great teachings from Maitreya constitute one of the
major foundations of the bodhisattva path, providing
teachings on both the relative and ultimate truths and
elucidating the second and third turnings of the Wheel of
Dharma, the Prajnaparamita and Tathagatagarbha.
In order to understand the profound and vast .q1eaning of
these texts, one ofm y own philosophy teachers, the erudite
Kagyu scholar and supreme abbot oft he lineage, Khenchen
Thrangu Rinpoche, through his greaf wisdom and
compassion has elucidated these texts with profound clarity
and simplicity.
10 The Uttaratantra -A Treatise on Buddha-Essence
I pray that these publications, which give a clear
understanding of the Teachings of Lord Buddha, guide
limitless sentient beings swiftly to Supreme enlightenment.
Yours in The Holy Dharma
jJtfi
The Twelfth Ken ring Tai Situpa
5 December 2003