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Mining for Wisdom within Delusion

Translation of Distinguishing Phenomena and Their Nature (84000)

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Maitreya’s Distinction between Phenomena and the Nature of Phenomena distinguishes the illusory phenomenal world of saṃsāra produced by the confused dualistic mind from the ultimate reality that is mind’s true nature. The transition from the one to the other is the process of “mining for wisdom within delusion.” Maitreya’s text calls this “the fundamental change,” which refers to the vanishing of delusive appearances through practicing the path, thus revealing the underlying changeless nature of these appearances. In this context, the main part of the text consists of the most detailed explanation of nonconceptual wisdom—the primary driving force of the path as well as its ultimate result—in Buddhist literature.

The introduction of the book discusses these two topics (fundamental change and nonconceptual wisdom) at length and shows how they are treated in a number of other Buddhist scriptures. The three translated commentaries, by Vasubandhu, the Third Karmapa, Rangjung Dorje, and Gö Lotsāwa, as well as excerpts from all other available commentaries on Maitreya’s text, put it in the larger context of the Indian Yogācāra School and further clarify its main themes. They also show how this text is not a mere scholarly document, but an essential foundation for practicing both the sūtrayāna and the vajrayāna and thus making what it describes a living experience. The book also discusses the remaining four of the five works of Maitreya, their transmission from India to Tibet, and various views about them in the Tibetan tradition. (Source: Shambhala Publications)

Citation	Brunnhölzl, Karl, trans. Mining for Wisdom within Delusion: Maitreya's Distinction between Phenomena and the Nature of Phenomena and Its Indian and Tibetan Commentaries. Tsadra Foundation Series. Boston: Snow Lion Publications, 2012.

Table of Contents About the Book Texts Translated Quotes

• Preface11
• Introduction13
  • "The five dharmas of Maitreya" and their transmission from India to Tibet 15
  • Various assertions about the nature and the view of the five Maitreya texts
       in the Tibetan tradition21
  • The Dharmadharmatāvibhāga and its major topics47
    • The different versions of the text 47
    • A summary of the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga 48
    • The fundamental change52
    • Nonconceptual wisdom 132
  • The commentaries on the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga 149
• Translations155
  • The Prose Version of The Distinction between Phenomena and the Nature of
       Phenomena157
  • The Versified Version of The Distinction between Phenomena and the Nature of
       Phenomena163
  • Vasubandhu's Commentary on The Distinction between Phenomena and the
       Nature of Phenomena173
  • The Third Karmapa's Ornament That Explains The Treatise on The Distinction
       between Phenomena and the Nature of Phenomena199
    • Presentation of the body of the text202
    • The actual topics205
      • Brief introduction205
      • General instruction 205
      • The distinction of both phenomena and the nature of phenomena 205
      • The explanation of the defining characteristic of phenomena 210
      • The defining characteristic of the nature of phenomena 213
      • The manner of being mistaken 214
      • If one does not exist, phenomena and the nature of phenomena are
           not tenable as two 216
      • Not asserting phenomena and the nature of phenomena as being
           one or different 217
    • Detailed explanation 219
      • The explanation of comprehending phenomena 219
        • The first three points being as in the brief introduction above 220
        • The matrix of phenomena 221
        • The manner of comprehending the nonexistence of the
          appearance of apprehender and apprehended 223
      • The explanation of comprehending the nature of phenomena 228
        • Defining characteristic 229
        • The matrix of the nature of phenomena 230
        • The path of preparation 233
        • The path of seeing 236
        • Explanation of the path of familiarization 240
        • The path of completion (arrival) 249
        • Explanation of the fundamental change 250
          • Explanation of the nature of the fundamental change 251
          • Which entities undergo the fundamental change 252
          • The persons who undergo the fundamental change 254
          • Instruction on the distinctive features of the fundamental change 255
          • Explanation of comprehending the distinctive features of the prerequisites 256
          • Instruction on the foundation of all this, based on which the fundamental change takes place 257
          • Explanation of the mental engagement 274
          • Comprehending the training 280
          • Knowing the shortcomings if there were no fundamental change 292
          • Explanation of comprehending the benefits of there being the fundamental change 294
    • Explanation through examples and conclusion of the treatise 296
  • Gö Lotsāwa's Commentary on The Distinction between Phenomena and the Nature of Phenomena301
• Appendix 1: The Dhāraṇī of Entering Nonconceptuality329
• Appendix 2: Topical Outline Of OED337
• Glossary: English–Sanskrit–Tibetan341
• Glossary: Tibetan–Sanskrit–English345
• Notes349
• Bibliography467
• Index479

1. Maitreya. Dharmadharmatāvibhāga (Chos dang chos nyid rnam par 'byed pa). (D 4022) In Bstan 'gyur (sde dge), Vol. 123: 91-97. Delhi: Delhi Karmapae Choedhey, Gyalwae Sungrab Partun Khang, 1982-1985. Columbia AIBS.
2. Vasubandhu. Dharmadharmatāvibhāgavṛtti. (Chos dang chos nyid rnam par 'byed pa'i 'grel pa). (D 4028) In Bstan 'gyur (sde dge), Vol. 124: 54-76. Delhi: Delhi Karmapae Choedhey, Gyalwae Sungrab Partun Khang, 1982-1985. Columbia AIBS
3. 'gos lo tsā ba gzhon nu dpal. Theg pa chen po rgyud bla ma'i bstan bcos kyi 'grel bshad de kho na nyid rab tu gsal ba'i me long. Nepal Research Centre Publications, 24. Edited by Klaus-Dieter Mathes. Stuttgart: Franz Steiner Verlag, 2003.
4. rang byung rdo rje. Chos dang chos nyid rnam par 'byed pa'i bstan bcos kyi rnam par bshad pa'i rgyan. In Rang byung rdo rje 2006, vol. cha: 488-613.