The collection of twenty-six texts on non-conceptual realization is the result of blending the essence and tantric mahamudra teachings of Saraha, Nagarjuna and Savaripa with a particular form of Madhyamaka philosophy, called 'non-abiding' (apratisthana), which aims at radically transcending any conceptual assessment of true reality. This goal is achieved by "withdrawing one's attention" (amanasikara) from anything that involves the duality of a perceived and perceiver. The result is a "luminous self-empowerment," Maitripa's (986–1063) final tantric analysis of amanasikara. The collection of texts on non-conceptual realization plays a crucial role, as it constitutes, together with Naropa's teachings, the main source of bKa' brgyud lineages. The edition and translation of this collection is followed by another text attributed to Maitripa, the *Mahamudrakanakamala, which was translated by Mar pa Lo tsa ba Chos kyi blo gros (11th century) into Tibetan. The *Mahamudrakanakamala picks up on the themes of the collection and shows that all aspects of Maitripa's mahamudra were indeed passed on to early bKa' brgyud masters. Besides an English translation and analysis, the present publication contains a new edition of the available Sanskrit on the basis of the editio princeps by Haraprasad Shastri, the edition of the Studying Group of Sacred Tantric Texts at Taisho University, the Nepalese manuscript NGMPP B 22/24, and the manuscript no. 151 from the Todai University Library. The Tibetan edition of all texts is based on the Derge and Peking bsTan 'gyur and the dPal spungs edition of Karmapa VII Chos grags rgya mtsho's (1454-1506) Collection of Indian Mahamudra Works (Phyag rgya chen po'i rgya gzhung). (Source Accessed Feb 11, 2020)
Citation
Mathes, Klaus-Dieter. A Fine Blend of Mahāmudrā and Madhyamaka: Maitrīpa's Collection of Texts on Non-conceptual Realization (Amanasikāra). Philosophisch-Historische Klasse Sitzungsberichte 869. Beiträge zur Kultur- und Geistesgeschichte Asiens 90. Vienna: Österreichischen Akademie Der Wissenschaften, 2015. https://austriaca.at/7786-9inhalt?frames=yes.
Abbreviationsviii
Prefaceix
Introduction1
General Remarks1
A Summary of the Amanasikāra Cycle and the *Mahāmudrākanakamālā7
Maitrīpa’s Life Story in the 'Bri gung bKa' brgyud chos mdzod23
The Collection of Texts on Non-conceptual Realization (The Amanasikāra Cycle)41
1. The Destruction of Wrong Views (Kudrstinirghātana)41
2. A Commentary on the [Initial] Statement of "The Destruction of Wrong Views" (Kudrstinirghātavākyatippinikā)51
3. The Major Offences (Mūlūpattayah)55
4. The Gross Offences (Sthūlāpattayah)57
5. A Jewel Garland of True Reality (Tattvaratndvalī)59
6. Explaining the Seals of the Five Tathāgatas (Pañcatathāgatamudrāvivaraṇa)95
7. A Presentation of Empowerment (Sekanirdeśa)107
8. The Succession of the Four Seals (Caturmudrānvaya)119
9. A Summary of the Meaning of Empowerment (Sekatātparyasaṃgraha)133
10. The Five Aspects [of Vajrasattva] ([Vajrasattva-]Pañcākāra)147
11. A Discourse on Illusion (Māyānirukti)155
12. A Discourse on Dream (Svapnanirukti)159
13. An Elucidation of True Reality (Tattvaprakāśa)163
14. An Elucidation of Non-Abiding (Apratiṣṭhānaprakāśa)169
15. An Elucidation of [the Term] "Indivisible union" (Yuganaddhaprakāśa)175
16. The Manifestation of Great Bliss (Mahāsukhaprakāśa)181
17. The Twenty Verses on True Reality (Tattvaviṃśikā)187
18. The Twenty Verses on Mahāyāna (Mahāyānaviṃśikā)193
19. The Five Verses on Penetrating Insight (Nirvedhapañcaka)199
20. The Six Verses on the Middle [Path] (Madhyamaṣaṭka)203
21. The Five [Verses on Transcendent] Love (Premapañcaka)207
22. The Ten Verses on True Reality (Tattvadaśaka)211
23. A Justification of Non-conceptual Realization (Amanasikārādhāra)241
24. The Six Verses on the Co-emergent (Sahajaṣaṭka)259
25. A Pith Instruction on Reality Called A Treasure of Dohas (*Dohānidhināmatattvopadeśa)263
26. A Pith Instruction on Settling the Mind Without Becoming Engaged in the Thought Processes of Projecting and Gathering—A Genuine Secret (Shes pa spro bsdu med par 'jog pa'i man ngag gsang ba dam pa)269
27. A Golden Garland of Mahāmudrā (*Mahāmudrākanakamālā)273
Conclusion315
Edition of the Sanskrit and Tibetan Texts319
General Remarks319
1. Kudṛṣṭinirghātana323
2. Kudṛṣṭinirghātavākyaṭippinikā333
3. Mūlāpattayah337
4. Sthūlāpattayah339
5. Tattvaratnāvalī341
6. Pañcatathāgatamudrāvivaraṇa371
7. Sekanirdeśa385
8. Caturmudrānvaya389
9. Sekatātparyasaṃgraha403
10. [Vajrasattva-]Pañcākāra415
11. Māyānirukti427
12. Svapnanirukti433
13. Tattvaprakāśa437
14. Apratiṣṭhānaprakāśa443
15. Yuganaddhaprakāśa447
16. Mahāsukhaprakāśa451
17. Tattvaviṃśikā457
18. Mahāyānaviṃśikā465
19. Nirvedhapañcaka473
20. Madhyamaṣaṭka477
21. Premapañcaka481
22. Tattvadaśaka485
23. Amanasikārādhāra489
24. Sahajaṣaṭka499
25. *Dohānidhināmatattvopadeśa503
26. Shes pa spro bsdu med par 'jog pa'i man ngag gsang ba dam pa507