In Praise of Dharmadhātu : Nāgārjuna and the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje

All beings have the potential to recognize their true nature, their buddha nature, explicated here by Nagarjuna, Buddhism's single most important philosopher, with commentary from an eminent fourteenth-century sage.

Nagarjuna is famous in the West for his works not only on Madhyamaka but his poetic collection of praises, headed by In Praise of Dharmadhatu. This book explores the scope, contents, and significance of Nagarjuna's scriptural legacy in India and Tibet, focusing primarily on the title work. The translation of Nagarjuna's hymn to Buddha nature-here called dharmadhatu-shows how buddha nature is temporarily obscured by adventitious stains in ordinary sentient beings gradually uncovered through the path of bodhisattvas and finally revealed in full bloom as buddhahood. These themes are explored at a deeper level through a Buddhist history of mind's luminous nature and a translation of the text's earliest and most extensive commentary by the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (1284–1339), supplemented by relevant excerpts from all other available commentaries. The book also provides an overview of the Third Karmapa's basic outlook, based on seven of his major texts. He is widely renowned as one of the major proponents of the shentong (other-empty) view. However, as this book demonstrates, this often problematic and misunderstood label needs to be replaced by a more nuanced approach which acknowledges the Karmapa's very finely tuned synthesis of the two great traditions of Indian mahayana Buddhism, Madhyamaka and Yogacara. These two, his distinct positions on Buddha nature, and the transformation of consciousness into enlightened wisdom also serve as the fundamental view for the entire vajrayana as it is understood and practiced in the Kagyu tradition to the present day.

Nagarjuna is famous in the West for his works not only on Madhyamaka but his poetic collection of praises, headed by In Praise of Dharmadhatu . This book explores the scope, contents, and significance of Nagarjuna's scriptural legacy in India and Tibet, focusing primarily on the title work. The translation of Nagarjuna's hymn to Buddha naturehere called dharmadhatu shows how buddha nature is temporarily obscured by adventitious stains in ordinary sentient beings gradually uncovered through the path of bodhisattvas and finally revealed in full bloom as buddhahood. These themes are explored at a deeper level through a Buddhist history of mind's luminous nature and a translation of the text's earliest and most extensive commentary by the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje (12841339), supplemented by relevant excerpts from all other available commentaries. The book also provides an overview of the Third Karmapa's basic outlook, based on seven of his major texts. He is widely renowned as one of the major proponents of the shentong (other-empty) view. However, as this book demonstrates, this often problematic and misunderstood label needs to be replaced by a more nuanced approach which acknowledges the Karmapa's very finely tuned synthesis of the two great traditions of Indian mahayana Buddhism, Madhyamaka and Yogacara. These two, his distinct positions on Buddha nature, and the transformation of consciousness into enlightened wisdom also serve as the fundamental view for the entire vajrayana as it is understood and practiced in the Kagyu tradition to the present day. Nāgārjuna and his works Who was Nāgārjuna? What did Nāgārjuna write or not write? Various views on Nāgārjuna's scriptural legacy and its scope Who or what is praised in Nāgārjuna's praises? A brief "history" of luminous mind A terminological map for the Dharmadhātustava and its commentaries Luminous mind and tathāgatagarbha The Dharmadhātustava An overview of the basic themes of the Dharmadhātustava Translation: In praise of Dharmadhātu The significance of the Dharmadhātustava in the Indo-Tibetan tradition The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, and his commentary on the Dharmadhātustava A short biography Some preliminary remarks on Rangjung Dorje's view On Rangjung Dorje's commentary on the Dharmadhātustava Other Tibetan commentaries on the Dharmadhātustava Translation of Rangjung Dorje's commentary. Contents ......Page 6 Abbreviations ......Page 8 An Aspiration ......Page 10 Foreword ......Page 12 Preface ......Page 18 Nāgārjuna and His Works......Page 22 A Brief "History" of Luminous Mind ......Page 58 The Dharmadhātustava ......Page 112 The Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, & His Commentary on the Dharmadhātustava ......Page 156 Appendix I: Outline of Rangjung Dorje’s Commentary......Page 308 Appendix II: Existing Translations of the Praises Attributed to Nāgārjuna in the Tengyur......Page 312 Appendix III: Translations of the Remaining Praises......Page 314 Glossary: English–Sanskrit–Tibetan......Page 326 Glossary: Tibetan–Sanskrit–English......Page 330 Bibliography......Page 334 Endnotes......Page 345 Index......Page 427