Establishing Appearances as Divine: Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo on Reasoning, Madhyamaka, and Purity

Establishing Appearances as Divine, a concise treatise by the eleventh-century Tibetan Buddhist philosopher Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo, sets out to prove the provocative point that everything that appears is actually deity manifest. Many books on Tibetan Buddhism address the important themes of mind training, compassion, and proper conduct, but this penetrating study and translation of Rongzom's text goes beyond that in its aim to bring the reader face to face with his or her pure, divine nature. Rongzom Chkyi Zangpo's concise treatise, Establishing Appearances as Divine , sets out to prove the provocative point that everything that appears is actually the deity manifest. Transformation of both one's identity and the environment is an important principle of Tantric Buddhist philosophy. In Tantric scriptures, one is instructed to visualize oneself as a deity, a divine identity who resides in a perfect sphere. By repeatedly training in this visualization, one perfects the transformation and ultimately becomes the deity itself. Do the Tantric teachings hold sentient beings to be intrinsically pure and divine, or do they consider them initially flawed to be later purified through the visualization of divinity? Is the practice of deity yoga merely a means, or is it more fundamentally connected to the nature of things? These questions were among the main concerns of Rongzom Chkyi Zangpo, the illustrious philosopher of the Nyingma School of the Early Translations. Establishing Appearances as Divine sets out to prove the provocative point that the tradition still highly regards the point of view that everything which appears is actually the deity manifest. Many books on Tibetan Buddhism address the important themes of mind training, compassion, and proper conduct. This book goes beyond that in its aim to bring the reader face to face with his or her divine and pure nature. Its method is unusual: the author uses reasoned philosophical arguments to argue for esoteric Tantric Buddhist ideas and practices. The result itself is an unusual book held in high esteem for nearly a thousand years. The comprehensive introduction explores Rongzom's philosophy of purity by juxtaposing it with his view of Madhyamaka, while also relating the discussion to his assessment and application of reasoning. For readers of Tibetan, the book contains a comparative edition of the Tibetan text as well. Establishing Appearances as Divine , translated here for the first time, embarks on the project of unraveling the magical interplay between rationality, truth, and divinity, bringing to light the view that underlies Tantric Buddhist practices. Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo's Concise Treatise Establishing Appearances As Divine Sets Out To Prove The Provocative Point That Everything That Appears Is Actually The Deity Manifest. Transformation Of Both One's Identity And The Environment Is An Important Principle Of Tantric Buddhist Philosophy. In Tantric Scriptures One Is Instructed To Visualize Oneself As A Deity, A Divine Identity Who Resides In A Perfect Sphere. By Repeatedly Training In This Visualization One Perfects The Transformation And Ultimately Becomes The Deity Itself. Do The Tantric Teachings Hold Sentient Beings To Be Intrinsically Pure And Divine, Or Do They Consider Them Initially Flawed To Be Later Purified Through The Visualization Of Divinity? Is The Practice Of Deity Yoga Merely A Means, Or Is It More Fundamentally Connected To The Nature Of Things? These Questions Were Among The Main Concerns Of Rongzom Chokyi Zangpo, The Illustrious Philosopher Of The Nyingma School Of The Early Translations. Establishing Appearances As Divine Sets Out To Prove The Provocative Point That The Tradition Still Highly Regards The Point Of View That Everything Which Appears Is Actually The Deity Manifest. For Readers Of Tibetan, The Book Contains A Comparative Edition Of The Tibetan Text As Well.--jacket. By Heidi I. Koppl. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [129]-134). Includes Tibetan Text And Its English Translation. Table of Contents ......Page 6 Acknowledgments......Page 8 Introduction......Page 10 Rongzom’s Environment, Life, and Works......Page 16 Introduction to Mantra from a Nyingma Perspective......Page 24 Rongzom’s View on Madhyamaka in Relation to Mantra......Page 38 Rongzom’s Four Principles of Reasoning as Means for Establishing Purity......Page 62 Conclusion......Page 90 Establishing Appearances as Divine According to the Secret Mantra, the Vajra Vehicle......Page 96 Comparative Edition of Establishing Appearances as Divine......Page 110 Bibliography......Page 130 Notes......Page 136