Title: Die Anwendung der tathāgatagarbha-Lehre in Kong spruls Anleitung zur gZhan stong-Sichtweise /
Authors: Draszczyk, Martina,; Kellner, Birgit; Tauscher, Helmut,; Arbeitskreis für Tibetische und Buddhistische Studien (Universität Wien),
Date: 2015
Publisher: Arbeitskreis für Tibetische und Buddhistische Studien, Universität Wien,
Physical description: 399 pages ; 25 cm.
Language: German
LC class: B
Abstract: The doctrine of tathāgatagarbha as the element inherent to every being, is a central concept within Mahāyāna. Presenting this Buddha nature as the absolute in positive terms, as gnosis with inconceivable qualities, is the gist of the gzhan stong view: Mind as such is understood to be empty of other (gzhan stong), i.e. empty of incidental stains, which are not mind's nature; but mind is seen to be not empty of its enlightened qualities. According to the relevant texts, the only difference between ordinary beings and awakened ones is that the latter have removed the stains and actualized their Buddha nature. Therefore, from the perspective of the doctrine of tathāgatagarbha in general, and from the gzhan stong view in particular, Buddhist philosophy and spiritual training in ethics, view, and meditation aims at removing the incidental stains, thus allowing the inherent qualities to develop or to manifest themselves. The dissertation investigates how the view of the Buddha nature is applied as a main theme for meditation in the bKa' brgyud tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. This is being done by means of a critical edition of Kong sprul's gZhan stong lta khrid and its first translation into a western language. Furthermore, the view of Kong sprul and other writers is analyzed considering the historical background. It is shown how philosophy is used as orientation enabling a yogin to directly relate to the enlightened qualities, which, according to the gzhan stong view, are inherent to mind's nature, through experimental contemplation and meditation
Notes: University publication. Originally presented as the author's thesis (doctoral)--Universität Wien, 2012.