indian pundits

HBR - Indian Pundits

History of Buddhist Religion 1

Indian Pundits

History of Buddhist Religion

Dr. Tashi Tsering

Nagarjuna




Nagarjuna

• Four hundred years after the Buddha had passed away, Nagarjuna was born in Vidharbhain the south India to a rich Brahmin family. (1st Century BC)

• As prophesized in Lankavatarasutra,

• Four hundred years after my demise

• A monk called Naga will appear

• He will be devoted to the teaching

Nagarjuna

• Nagarjuna was born in a family of Brahmin near the banks of the river Murum in the South.

• After his birth, his parents consulted an astrologer. He prophesized that though the signs of the child shows lucky, he could not live longer than 10 days.

• When the father asked the astrologer for help, he said, if they offer feast to 100 Bhramins, he could live for 7 months and if they offer feast to 100 monks, the child could live for 7 years.

• His parents followed the instructions of the astrologer and offerings to Buddhist monks.



Nagarjuna

• When seven years were almost gone, the parents sent their son away on pilgrimage with the servant because they could not bear the thought of seeing his corpse.

• The two travellers came to Nalanda, where they met the Brahmin Saraha.

• Saraha suggested him to become monk to prolong his life span. He received the ordination and lived long.

• He studied at Nalanda under the teacher such as Saraha and Rahulabhadra.

Nagarjuna

• He took full ordination from Acharya Rahulabhadraand became a Bhikshu/monk.

• He became proficient in all the branches of knowledge and in both the Hinayana and Mahayana Sutras.

• Later he became Abbot of Nalanda. He brought honour and recognation to those monks, who exemplified the three higher trainings in Discipline, Meditation and Wisdom.

• But those who violated the precepts he expelled.• He also defeated five hundred non-Buddhists in

debate bringing them to Buddha’s doctrine.



Nagarjuna

• He was called Bhikshu Sriman.

• He Studied all the major subjects of Buddhism and became a great scholar.

• He was then appointed as the treasurer of NalandaUniversity. During that period there was a great famine happened in Nalanda.

• He mastered in elixir technique and produced gold and served the monks of the Nalanda.

• He then went to South and lived there at mount Sriparvat.

Nagarjuna

• Once while preaching the Dharma in a garden, many ‘nagas’ rose up around him and formed an umbrella to shield him from the rays of the sun.

• Thus he became known as the Lord of Nagas.

• And the name ‘Arjun’ was added to this because he spread the Mahayana doctrine quickly and steadily as the archer Arjunreleased arrows from his bow.



Nagarjuna

• He is known for his great works on every subject as: Madhyamaka (Middle way),

• Tantra, Medicine etc.

• Acharya’s works are divided into three categories:

• A) The collection of Advice including

• 1. Garland of Jewels. 2. A friendly letter.

• 3. One hundred Wisdoms. 4. Tree of Wisdom etc.

• B) Stotra (Hymes): Collection of Madhyamakastotras explaining the doctrine of Middle way path.

Nagarjuna

• The collection of Praise such as:

• 1. Praise of the Dharmadhatu

• 2. Praise of the Beyond the world

• 3. Praise of the Inconceivable 4. Praise of the Ultimate

• C) The collection of reason

• 1. Five treaties 2. Fundamental Text called Wisdom etc.



Nagarjuna

• However, Mara and his forces could not tolerate this situation and so it happened that

• a certain queen gave birth to a son who was of evil disposition. He was named Kumar Sakya.

• Prince was waiting to rule the country, but only hindrance was Acharya Nagarjuna.

• One day she offered her son a extrememly rare and recious silk robe, but he refused it saying, “Keep it for now, I shall wear it when I become the ruler of the kingdom”.

Nagarjuna

• She replied, “your father life is linked with that of the Acharya Nagarjuna, who has attained the siddhi of immortality.

• As long as he lives, your father cannot die. Therefore you will never rule the kingdom”.

• The son cried with frustration. The queen could not bear this unhappiness and begged him not to weep saying, “The Acharya is a Bodhisattva.



Nagarjuna

• If you asked him for his head, he would certainly give it to you. Your father cannot then live long and you could inherit the throne”.

• Accordingly, the prince went to the Acharya’scave and asked hin for his head. Nagarjunaconsented it.

• Acharya with compassion accepted his request and end his life to let the prince become the king of Shatvaha lineage.

Nagarjuna

• His three great deeds were as follows:

• 1. His teaching on Vinaya is equaled to Buddhist’s First Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.

• 2. His teaching on Emptiness is comparable to Buddha’s second turning of Wheel.

• 3. His composition of such texts as Praise of the Dharmadhatu is equaled to Buddha’s Third turning of the Wheel.



Aryadeva


Aryadeva

• Acharya Aryadeva was born in Srilanka and later came to India.

• According to popular legend, he was miraculously born from a lotus flower in a garden of the King Sringala(Shrilanka). He was a prince of Srilanka.

• He went to south India and met with Acharya Nagarjuna. He accepted Acharya Nagarjuna as his teacher and studied under him.

• He received his ordination owe in Srilanka and became monk.



• He was so handsome that all the girls in the village compare his beauty with the god. Therefore he was called Deva (god).

• There was two differDuring those time, a powerful Hindu logician became prominent in India. In his childhood he had been nicknamed ‘Parents Slave’ because of his inordinate devotion to his parents. ent stories about giving his eye.

• Leter he was known as Ashvaghosh and practiced meditation on Hindu god Shiva. He attained a vision of the god, who offered him any siddhi that he desired. Ashvaghoshrequested invinsiblity in debate. Shiva replied, “Let it be so. No one born from woman’s womb will ever be able to defeat you.”

• So Ashvaghosh began debating with the various Buddhist groups in the south, and none could match him in that art.

• Howere, his mother was a Buddhist and thought that if she sent him to Central Inida, he would meet his equal, be defeated and consequently be conereted to Buddhism. “To prevail over a few monks in a remote part of the country,” she said to him, “is nothing spectacular.

• All the greatest Buddhist masters live in Central India. If you are victorious over them, your fame would indeed be well merited.”

• So Ashvaghosh went to Central India. Even at Nalanda, the monks were afraid of facing him in debate because everyone had heard of his boon from Shiva.



• It was a humiliating state of affairs for Nalanda. Everyday ashvaghosh woul enter the monastery and reproach the monks individaully.

• Finally, as a last resort, they supplicated their Dharma Protector Mahakala and offered Torma (a sculpture made out of Tsampa, symbolising a deity, for use of offerings) which contained a letter to the yogi Nagarjuna, whose whereabouts wer then unknown.

• Mahakala, manifesting as a crow, emerged from the mouth of the image and taking Torma in his claws, he flew off to Nagarjuna.

• When Nagarjuna received the letter he considered going himself, but Aryadeva desired to go in his stead.

• Acharya Aryadeva requested his teacher to send him to Nalanda for this debate.

• Nagarjuna told him first he needed intensive training.

• Acharya Nagarjuna wanted to see whether Aryadevacould defeat the Non-Buddhist. So, they had a debate within themselves. Acharya Nagarjuna took the side of non-Buddhist and had a debate with Aryadeva.



• When their debate entered into more subtler points, Aryadeva was suspicious about the doctrine of his teacher.

• He took off his shoes and circled it on the head of his teacher. Acharya Nagarjuna said, you could defeat the non-Buddhist in the debate, but you may face an obstacle on your way to Nalanda.

• But they coninued until Aryadeva as able to win consistantly. Nagajuna agreed to let him leave.

• When he left for Nalanda, an old lady begged for his eye, Acharya with compassion gave away his eye to her.

• Eventually the time came for them to contest in formal debate. It was agreed that the loser should embrace the doctrine of the winner.

• The two started debating, with Nagarjuna defending the Hindu position. He did this so well that at one point Aryadeva thought that his teacher must really be a Hindu at heart.

At last he lost the debate and locked up in a temple containing nothing but Buddhist scriptures. Eventually out of sheer boredom, he was forced to read some of these.



• One day he was startled to discover that it contained a prophecy about him.

• Ashvaghosha embraced Buddhism and later composed many texts. Some of these texts like Buddha Charitanama Mahakavya are studied extensively even today. He became renowned as Acharya Vira and in the end, died by willingly giving away his body to a starving tigress.

• The story of the debate is very interesting one.

• Acharya Nagarjuna took the side of non-Buddhist and had a debate with Aryadeva.

• One day, Ashvgosh was ritually bathing with Ganga water in order to purify himself of his sins. Aryadevafilled a golden pot with urine and excrements and began to scrub its outer surface. Ashvaghosha asked, “What is the point of washing outside a pot that is filled with dirt?” Aryadeva replied, “Well, your sins are inside your mind, so how do you think you can purify them by washing your body with Ganga water?” The Hindu had no answer.



Aryadeva

• When Acharya Aryadeva reached Nalanda he saw that non-Buddhist scholar was offering Torma. Acharya asked him what he was doing. He said I am offering this Torma to my ancestors.

• The other day Acharya was toasting water in the sky facing toward south. The non-Buddhist asked him what he was doing. Acharya replied that he is giving water to the tree at Sriparwat. The non-Buddhist said, What is the use of giving water from here while the tree is at south.

Aryadeva

• Acharya replied, if you could offer Torma to your ancestors, why it could not be beneficial to my tree in South?

• He won the debate and returned back to Sriparvat.

• He wrote about 23 texts on different subjects

• Some of his famous treatises is 400 verses, Jnansarsamuccaya, Charyamelapak etc.

• Acharya Nagarjuna was the founder of the Madhyamaka School of Buddhist thought.



Buddhapalita and Bhavaviveka


Buddhapalita

• Achayra Buddhapalita was born in South India and did their basic studies there. Later he moved to Nalanda and mastered the philosophy of Nagarjuna.

• He composed a commentary on Root Wisdom Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakarika. It is preserved in Tibetan translation. It was highly praised by Chadrkirti and Je Tsongkhapa.

• By relying upon this commentary, Je Tsongkhapawas able to realize the profound meaning of the Madhyamika.

• Buddhapalita also wrote many other commentaries on various texts of both Sutra and Tantra.



Bhavaviveka

• Bhavaviveka deliberately took rebirth as a disciple of Nagarjuna in order to make clear the wonderful viewpoint of Madhyamika.

• He was born into a royal family in South India and did their basic studies there. After becomong monk, he studied the Tripitaka extensively.

• Later they moved to Nalanda and mastered the philosophy of Nagarjuna. After that, he returned to South India where he bcame the head of 50 temples and taught extensively.

• Bhavaviveka and Buddhapalita differs in the notion of explaining emptiness. Thus the school of PrasangikaMadhyamika school and Svatantrika-Madhyamika school emerged separately.

• Bhavaviveka wrote a number of works on Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Middle Way viz. Madhyamkahridaya-karika and it’s auto commentary called Tarkajvala (Flame of Reasoning).



Chandrakirti


Chandrakirti

• Chadrakirti appeared during the latter part of Nagarjuna’s life. Thus Nagarjunasaid: I shall show the ultimate Dharma to my last disciple Chandrakirti.

• Chandrakirti said in the text Clear Lamp(Dronsel): I shall reveal whatever Nagarjuna has found.

• He was born in South India, into a Brahmin family. An astrologer prophesied that he would become a great Buddhist master.

• He was ordained as monk and studied the scripture in the South.



• Later he traveled to Nalanda and studied Nagarjuna and became famous due to his scholarship.

• When he was the abbot of Nalanda, he milk from the painting of cow for the monks of Nalanda.

• To ordinary people, Chandrkirti seemed to be only concerned with the things: eating, sleeping and defecating. Some monks at Nalanda became upset about him, saying: “Chandrakirti never does any study, meditation or work, he only eats and sleeps. Besides this, he holds the views of non-Buddhist. There is no doubt that he will bring us problems. It would be better to expel him from our monastery.”

• But of course their abbot would not allow this. In order to pacify them, he gave Chandakirti some work to do. He appointed him caretaker and assigend a monk to be his assistant.

• Whilst holding this position, Chandakirti always allowed the cows and buffaloes to wander freely, but he was still able to supply the monastery with abundant milk. The monks wondered how they could have enough milk when the herd was wandering in the forest.

• His assistant monk told them the reason. He said:

• “The glorious Chandrakirti, milk the drawing of a cow. In this way he supplies milk for the monks”.

• When the abbot heard of this, he praised him and said this truly amazing.



• At one time, Chadrakirti was giving a discourse, a stranger came and just stood around without showing any mark of respect. Chandakirti thought that he must have come to challenge him to debate, so he asked, “Whence have you come and what Dharma knowledge do you possess?”

• The stranger replied, “I have come from the south and my knowledge covers three teachings only. These are Panini Grammer, One Hundred and Fifty Modes of Wisdom Gone Beyond and Praise to Manjushri.

• Chandrakirti thought to himself, “He only pretends to be humble; indirectly his words are profound. He actually named profound subjects.”

• Chandrakirti then asked him if his name was Chadragomi. “That is the name by which I am known.” he replied. “Well then,” said Chadrakirti, “A great pandit like you should not arrive unexpectedly like this, please retreat so that I can extend a formal invitation to you.” Then Chandrkirti called a break in the teaching and beat the going to call all the panditstogether. He told them that Chandrgomi was in the area and an invitation should be extended to him. He instructed that two chariots be prepared and that many offerings be made. As Chadragomi was a layman, it was not proper for the monks to receive him in a formal procession.



• Therefore thy placed a statue of Manjushri in the first chariot and Chandragomi in second one so that the people should think that it was the Manjushri and not Chandragomi whom they were honouring.

• During the procession, Chadragomi continuously praised Manjushri. Pleased, the head of the Manjushri statue turned round to face Chandragomi. For many years, the statue could be seen at the Nalanda University.

• According to Tarnatha, Nalanda witnessed the most famous debate between Chandrakirti and Candragomin a lay scholar who follows Cittamatra (Mind Only school) system. The debate last for seven years, but neither could refute the other.

Chandrakirti

• Due to his scholarship he became the abbot of Nalanda.

• During that period they faced Turk invasion.

• It was also said that with his miracle, he made lion statue to attack the Turk army to defeat.

• His works such as Prasannapada (Clear word) on Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Middle Way, Madhyamakavatara (Entering the Middle way) are most studied works in Tibet.



Chandrakirti

• Later Acharya Chandrakirti wrote a vivid commentary on it called Madhyamakavatara (Entering the Middle Way), where he refutes Achayra Bhavaviveka and established the doctrine of Acharya Buddhapalita.

• He also wrote commentaries on Sunyasaptati (Seventy verses on Emptinees by Nagarjuna) and Four Hundred Verses by Aryadeva.

Asanga




Asanga

• Asaṅga was born as the son of a Kṣatriya father and Brahmin mother in Puruṣapura (present day Peshawar in Pakistan), which at that time was part of the ancient kingdom of Gandhāra. Current scholarship places him in the fourth century CE. Father of his brother Vasubandhu was a Bhramin. They are half brothers.

• Their mother was a Buddhist. She had her sons for the revival of Buddhism facing three destructions.

• When the children grew older they asked about their father. She said she did not gave their births to do what their father does. She want them to propagate the teaching.

• Having understood the intension of their mother they become monks.



• He meditated on Arya Maitreya; the future Buddha.

• He started meditation for 3 years, but not a single good sign appeared and he became depressed and decided to break his retreat.

• Emerging from his cave, he noticed that, where a bird’s nest hung from the face of the mountain, the rock was becoming worn by the brushing of the birds’ wings when they came to and went from the nest. Indeed my perseverance is weak,” he said and he returned to his cave to practise as before for three more years. But no sign occured, and again he decided to come out.

• However, he saw the rock outside his cave were damaged by the constant drop of water. He return to cave again and meditate for 3 more years. When he could not accomplish, he came out of the cave disappointed.

• When he saw an old man rubbing an iron rod to make needle out of it, he went back to the cave for another 3 years and when he see no success, he left the cave.

• On his way he saw a dog; lower part of its body was eaten by worms and upper part of the body way free of worm.

• He generated a great deal of compassion and removed the worms from its body.



• Due to the generation of great compassion, the lord Maitreya appeared before him.

• He became extremely despondent and walked away from his cave. After a while, he came across a half-dead female dog lying outside the road. Her lower half was infested with worms, and she was crying out in pain.

• Great compassion arose in Asanga. He thought, “This dog will die if these worms are not removed, but the worms will die if they are just cast aside. So he attempted to extract the worms, using his tongue

• so as not to hurt them butt he could not reach them. When he opened his eyes, the dog had vanished, and instead he beheld Maitreya, diplaying all the marks and signs of a fully enlightened being.

• Asanga burst into tears, crying, “Ah, my sole father! My refuge! All those years I made hundreds of efforts in my practice without result. Why did you show me so little compassion?”

• Maitreya answered, “I was in your presence constantly, yet because of karmic obscurations you were unable to see me. Howere, your negativities and obstacles were purified by your reciting many mantras. Now you are able to meet with me.”



• Maitreya continued, “But in order to see this for yourself, take me on your back and carry me through the town.”

• Asanga did this, but nobody saw Maitreyaalthough one woman saw Asanga carrying a dead dog on his shoulders and that brought her endless good fortune.

• When he complained him not being appearing before him for the last 12 years, Maitreya replied “I was always there with you. But due to your delusion and ignorance, you could not see me. Now you have generated great compassion and purified your mind, you could see me.”



• After that he expressed his desire Mahayana teaching from Maitreya.

• Maitreya took him to Tushita and gave him teaching. Maitreyacomposed five texts and gave them to Asanga.

• On the basis of them, Asangaexpounded the doctrine of Mind Only School.

• 1. Abhisamayalankara-prajnanaparmita shastra

• 2. Sutralamkara.

• 3. Dharmadhramata-vibhang

• 4. Madhyanata-vibhanga

• 5. Mahayana-uttaratantra

• Asanga wrote many commentaries on these texts such as Abhidharmasammuccaya, Yogacarabhumi, Bodhisattvabhumietc. Commetary on Uttaratantra.



Vasubandhu

• Vasubandhu was the half brother of Achayra Asanga.

• To fulfill his mother’s wish he went to Kashmir to study under AcharyaSanghabhadra.

• He studied all the treatises of Vaibhasika school such as Seven Abhidharmatreatises and Mahavibhasha.

• He then went to Nalanda. He heard that his elder brother had composed huge amount of treatises. He abuse his brother saying;

• Alas! Asanga residing in the forest practiced for 12 years.

• But could not accomplish anything;

• But he composed a large amount of treatises, which an elephant could carry.

• He contempt both Asanga and the Mahayana doctrine.



• Seeing this Acharya Asanga with his skillful means sent two of his disciples to recite Dashabhumika sutra (Sutra of Ten Grounds) and Aksayamati nirdesha sutra at dawn and in the morning.

• When he heard the recitation at dawn he thought that the higher vehicle has good factors, but result seems to be deviated from the path.

• In the morning he realizes that both the factor and result of higher vehicle are sublime.

• He felt remorse to his abusive word and he took a razor to cut his tongue.

• Asanga’s disciples requested him not to cut his tongue but go to Acharya Asanga.

• He went to Asanga studied Mahayana doctrine and composed many texts.

• Abhidharmakosha is the most studied and famous work of Acharya Vasubandhu.

• He wrote commentaries on Mahanaya treatises in remorse.



• In the later age of his life, he went to Nepal on pilgrimage to see Swayambhu Stupa.

• There he saw a monk carrying a pot of wine.

• Seeing this he could not tolerate the decline of the teaching and recite the sutra reverse and end his life.

• It is said that a Stupa was build on his relics, which still exist in Nepal.

Dignaga & Dharmakirti




Dignag

• Acarya Dignāga (c. 480–c. 540 C.E.),was born to a Brahmin near Kanchi, South India, and ordained by Nagadatta a teacher of Vatsiputriya school.

• He received all the basic education and mastered them.

• His teacher directed him to meditate on “indescribable self.”

• Acharya in search for the self, lit light at four directions. When he could not find he stripped his cloth and continued searched the self.

• His fellow students told his unique act to their teacher. The teacher was angered by his act and asked Dignaga to leave the monastery.



• He thought that he could refute his teacher in debate, but it was not suitable for him to do so.

• He left the place and went to AcaryaVasubandhu. He studied the texts of all the 3 vehicles and became especially versed in the Mind only school and Logic.

• He composed many short texts on logic and lived in the mountains of Odivisha. (Present Orisa)

• As his works were more fragments, he thought to compose Pramanasamuccaya in which all the small treatises could be incorporated.

• Accordingly, he wrote the famous verse on the rock:



• I pay my homage to the teacher and refuge

• Who is perfect and intend to benefit the beings,

• In order to demonstrate the Logical proofs,

• I shall unite all the fragments under one title.

• At that time a non-Buddhist teacher called Krishnamuniraja was residing nearby.

• When he came to know this, he wiped it away. He did this twice.

• Acharya Dignaga wrote this for the third time and wrote at the end that if some one is wiping it out in mere joke, please don’t do so. This has great meaning.



• If some one is doing this in envy, it is useless to rub it out because I have this verse by heart.

• When Acarya came from his alms, the non-Buddhist scholar was waiting at the exit of his cave.

• They had the debate and Acharya refuted his concept thee times.

• When the Non-Buddhist was completely defeated, he was asked to join Buddhism. But he refused and with his miracle power flame burst out of his mouth and burned down the Acharya’s cloth.

• Acharya with full of grief thought to give up the intention of serving all the sentient beings.

• Manjusri appeared before him and convinced him not to do so.



• He composed Pramanasamuccaya, it’s auto commentary and many other treatises.

• He was regarded as the father of Buddhist logic who spread the teaching with his profound skill of logic by defeating many of the non-Buddhist teachers of his time.

• His main disciple was Ishawarsena.

Dharmakirti

• Acharya Dharmakirti was the student of AchayraIshwarsena.

• He was born in Southern kingdom of Cudamani. He was trained in grammar and studied from his uncle a great non-Buddhist scholar Kumarilla.



• He once put on a Brahmanic ascetic garment, his uncle drove him away from his house.

• He left his uncle and took the ordination in the Buddhism and became a Buddhist monk.

• He then went to Nalanda and studied Logic from Acharya Ishwarasen.

• He studied Pramansamuccaya of AcharyaDignaga fro 3 times and could understand the actual intension of the author.

• Ishwaresen was so pleased with his authority on logic, he suggested him to composed a commentary to Pramanasamuccaya.

• He (Ishawarsena) further gave him the freedom to refute his erroneous system and correct them.

• He composed 7 treatises on logic including the famous Pramanvartika. (Commentary on Pramanasamuccaya)

• He wrote an auto-commentary to Pramanavartika

• Many could not understand it, but who could apprehend it tide it to the tail of a dog in envy.



• Acharya said, a dog will go every where from village to city. It will go in the every street. So, my treatise will flourish in every corner.

• He also added on more verse saying: all most all the people are attached to ordinary things and are lack with intelligent skills. Therefore they don’t have interest in good treatises.

• Not only that, they are filled with jealousy.

• I don’t have any hope to benefit others by this treatise

• But composing this to make myself familiar to it.

• In order to apprehend the secret terms of the Samkhya system, he pretend as the servant of Kumarila in South.



• After apprehending the system he left and had debate with other scholars.

• He defeated many scholars of his time including Shankarachrya and became victorious in every field.

• He declared himself as the conqueror of all the directions.

• Acharya Dignaga and Dharmakirti are the father of Buddhist Logic.

• Their contribution for the development of Logic in India is immeasurable.

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