Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra

बुद्धावतंसकसूत्र

Buddhāvataṃsakamahāvaipūlyasūtra

སངས་རྒྱས་ཕལ་པོ་ཆེ་ཞེས་བྱ་བ་ཤིན་ཏུ་རྒྱས་པ་ཆེན་པོའི་མདོ།

sangs rgyas phal po che zhes bya ba shin tu rgyas pa chen po'i mdo

大方廣佛華嚴經

Dà fāng guǎng fó huá yán jīng

SOURCE TEXT

One of the longest works in the entire Buddhist canon, the Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra is widely considered to be a compilation of independent scriptures, which was expanded upon over the course of time. It was extremely influential in East Asia, where it was preserved in an eighty-scroll recension. The Tibetan translation of this work fills four volumes in the Derge Kangyur. Though only two sections—namely, the Gaṇḍavyūhasūtra and the Daśabhūmikasūtra—have survived in Sanskrit, both of which have also circulated as independent works.

Relevance to Buddha-nature

The Uttaratantra cites a verse from the Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra that appears in the section titled the Daśabhūmikasūtra.

Access this text online

Adarsha

Buddhist Digital Resource Center

The AIBS Buddhist Canons Research Database

Asian Classics Input Project

Chinese Buddhist Electronic Text Association

SAT Daizōkyō Text Database

Description from When the Clouds Part

Apart from the above-mentioned example of a canvas with the universe painted on it (quoted in RGVV), in the context of the gradual purification of the tathāgata heart, RGVV briefly refers to the example of gold’s being progressively purified, which refers to the process of the ten bhūmis.^[1] This example is found in the Daśabhūmikasūtra within the Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra,^[2] though without being related in any way to buddha nature.

Once, the Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra^[3] uses the term tathāgatagarbha with its typical meaning of buddha nature, speaking of "possessing the tathāgata heart, which will be freed from the cocoons of the five doors of ignorance of all sentient beings."^[4] In addition, the text uses tathāgatagarbha several times as an epithet of buddhahood and also says once that certain bodhisattvas are one with the body of the tathāgata heart. Once, a bodhisattva with the name Tathāgatagarbha is mentioned. (pp. 41-42)

J5
The corresponding passage (Daśabhūmikasūtra, edited by Johannes Rahder [Leuven: J.B. Istas, 1926], 20.14–18) says: "O sons of the victors, it is as follows. For example, to whichever extent pure gold is heated in a fire by a skilled goldsmith, to that extent it becomes refined, pure, and pliable as he pleases. O sons of the victors, likewise, to the extent that bodhisattvas make offerings to the buddha bhagavāns, make efforts in maturing sentient beings, and are in a state of adopting these kinds of dharmas that purify the bhūmis, to that extent their roots of virtue that they dedicate to omniscience will become refined, pure, and pliable as they please."
D44 (four vols.) and Taishō 278. For an English translation from the Chinese, see Cleary 1993.
Narthang Kangyur, vol. ca, fol. 312a.5–6.

Text Metadata

Text exists in	~ Tibetan ~ Chinese
Canonical Genre	~ Kangyur · Sūtra · phal chen · Avataṃsaka
Literary Genre	~ Sūtras - mdo

More on this item

Vairotsana

People/Buddhabhadra

Jinamitra

People/Surendrabodhi

Yeshe De

Śikṣānanda

On the topic of this text

Video

All Living Beings Have Buddha-Nature: The Genesis of the Concept of Universal Buddhahood

This lecture will focus on one particular strand of thought in the history of Buddhism. Often neglected by scholars and even deemed to be non-Buddhist, the idea of universal buddhahood unfolded enormous influence throughout the history of Buddhism. The concept that all living beings have buddha-nature has its beginning in the early centuries of the common era in India. Its impact was crucial for the spread of Buddhism in Asia.

Direct forerunners of the idea that all living beings have buddha-nature are the Lotus Sutra and parts of the Avataṁsaka (華嚴經). The lecture will discuss how the concept of buddha-nature came into existence, what kind of factors were crucial for this development, and how the idea was described in its earliest literature. Recent years have seen a fresh and unexpected re-arrangement of the early history of buddha-nature thought. These new developments will also be presented and evaluated.

Zimmermann, Michael. "All Living Beings Have Buddha-Nature: The Genesis of the Concept of Universal Buddhahood." Produced by Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies and FROGBEAR, October 7, 2019, at The University of British Columbia. Glorisun Distinguished Lecture Series. Video, 1:06:34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZg45nKtOTM.

Zimmermann, Michael. "All Living Beings Have Buddha-Nature: The Genesis of the Concept of Universal Buddhahood." Produced by Glorisun Global Network for Buddhist Studies and FROGBEAR, October 7, 2019, at The University of British Columbia. Glorisun Distinguished Lecture Series. Video, 1:06:34. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZg45nKtOTM.;All Living Beings Have Buddha-Nature: The Genesis of the Concept of Universal Buddhahood;History of buddha-nature in India;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Early Buddhism;Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra;Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra;Michael Zimmermann;All Living Beings Have Buddha-Nature: The Genesis of the Concept of Universal Buddhahood

Interview

Buddha-Nature in Early Chan and Japanese Zen by Rev. Kokyo Henkel: Conversations on Buddha-Nature

In this video, part of the ongoing series entitled "Conversations on Buddha-Nature" produced by the Tsadra Foundation, Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho and Rev. Kokyo Henkel discuss buddha-nature in early Chan and Japanese Zen and comparisons with Tibetan Dzogchen. They also discuss some Koans, Dōgen, and many textual sources from Indian sutras in Tibetan and Chinese translation to sources for key schools of Buddhism in China and Japan up to more modern texts.

Kokyo Henkel has been practicing Zen since 1990 in residence at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center (most recently as Head of Practice), Green Gulch Farm Zen Center, No Abode Hermitage in Mill Valley, and Bukkokuji Monastery in Japan. He was ordained as a priest in 1994 by Tenshin Anderson Roshi and received Dharma Transmission from him in 2010. Kokyo is interested in exploring how the original teachings of Buddha-Dharma from ancient India, China, and Japan can still be very much alive and useful in present-day America to bring peace and openness to the minds of this troubled world.

Kokyo has also been practicing with the Tibetan Dzogchen ("Great Completeness") Teacher Tsoknyi Rinpoche since 2003, in California, Colorado, and Kathmandu.

Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Buddha-Nature in Early Chan and Japanese Zen." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 1:23:03. https://youtu.be/j_V3v-oqnNU.

Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Buddha-Nature in Early Chan and Japanese Zen." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 1:23:03. https://youtu.be/j_V3v-oqnNU.;Buddha-Nature in Early Chan and Japanese Zen;Buddha-nature as Emptiness;Buddha-nature as Luminosity;Buddha-nature as Self - Atman;Dzogchen;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Chinese Buddhism;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Japanese Buddhism;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Tibetan Buddhism;Tien Tai;Zen - Chan;tathāgatagarbha;ātman;Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra;Dasheng qixin lun;Laṅkāvatārasūtra;Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra;Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra;Śrīmālādevīsūtra;Dōgen;Mazu Daoyi;Schaik, S.;Suzuki, S.;Zhaozhou;Zhiyi;Kokyo Henkel;Kokyo Yakai (Luminous Owl, Midnight Liberation 光梟夜解);&nbsp

Book

Mahāyāna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations

Originating in India, Mahayana Buddhism spread across Asia, becoming the prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet and East Asia. Over the last twenty-five years Western interest in Mahayana has increased considerably, reflected both in the quantity of scholarly material produced and in the attraction of Westerners towards Tibetan Buddhism and Zen. Paul Williams’ Mahayana Buddhism is widely regarded as the standard introduction to the field, used internationally for teaching and research and has been translated into several European and Asian languages. This new edition has been fully revised throughout in the light of the wealth of new studies and focuses on the religion’s diversity and richness. It includes much more material on China and Japan, with appropriate reference to Nepal, and for students who wish to carry their study further there is a much-expanded bibliography and extensive footnotes and cross-referencing. Everyone studying this important tradition will find Williams’ book the ideal companion to their studies. (Source: Routledge)

Williams, Paul. Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations. 2nd ed. The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices. New York: Routledge, 2009. https://archive.org/details/mahayanabuddhismthedoctrinalfoundationspaulwilliamsroutledgeseealtruismandreality_202003_445_W/mode/2up.

Williams, Paul. Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations. 2nd ed. The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices. New York: Routledge, 2009. https://archive.org/details/mahayanabuddhismthedoctrinalfoundationspaulwilliamsroutledgeseealtruismandreality_202003_445_W/mode/2up.;Mahāyāna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations;tathāgatagarbha;Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra;gzhan stong;rang stong;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Chinese Buddhism;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Japanese Buddhism;Dasheng qixin lun;Critical Buddhism;anātman;Contemporary;prajñā;Madhyamaka;śūnyatā;Two Truths;Yogācāra;trisvabhāva;ālayavijñāna;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Tibetan Buddhism;Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra;Nāgārjuna;Dōgen;Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra;Fazang;Tien Tai;Hōnen;Shinran;Paul Williams;Mahāyāna Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations

Book

Manifestation of the Tathāgata

What does it mean to be a Buddha? This new translation of the "Manifestation of the Tathāgata" chapter from the Avataṃsaka Sūtra, considered the most profound and comprehensive Buddhist scripture, offers the reader a rare glimpse of the sublime realm of Buddhahood in language that is rich in meaning and in captive imagery.
Venerable Cheng Chien lucidly introduces the reader to the meaning of Buddhahood and explains the origin, transmission, and special features of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. He presents us with an understanding of the stature of the "Manifestation of the Tathāgata" chapter in the context of the entire sūtra, as well as its relation to other scholastic texts. (Source Accessed Nov 23, 2020)

Chien, Cheng (Mario Poceski), trans. Manifestation of the Tathāgata: Buddhahood according to the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1993.

Chien, Cheng (Mario Poceski), trans. Manifestation of the Tathāgata: Buddhahood according to the Avataṃsaka Sūtra. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1993.;Manifestation of the Tathāgata;Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra;tathāgatagarbha;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Chinese Buddhism;Error: no local variable "MainNamePhon" has been set.;Error: no local variable "MainNameTib" has been set.;Error: no local variable "MainNameWylie" has been set.;Error: no local variable "AltNamesWylieRaw" has been set.;Error: no local variable "AltNamesTibRaw" has been set.;Error: no local variable "AltNamesOtherRaw" has been set.; Manifestation of the Tathāgata: Buddhahood according to the Avataṃsaka Sūtra;Śikṣānanda

Video

Rev. Kokyo Henkel: Sources of Buddha-Nature Teachings in the Zen Tradition

Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Sources of Buddha-Nature Teachings in the Zen Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 20:56. https://youtu.be/vvdgwHudOrU.

Henkel, Rev. Kokyo. "Sources of Buddha-Nature Teachings in the Zen Tradition." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, June 26, 2021. Video, 20:56. https://youtu.be/vvdgwHudOrU.;Rev. Kokyo Henkel: Sources of Buddha-Nature Teachings in the Zen Tradition;Buddhāvataṃsakasūtra;Saddharmapuṇḍarīkasūtra;Mahāparinirvāṇasūtra;Laṅkāvatārasūtra;Ratnagotravibhāga Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra;Dasheng qixin lun;Buddha-nature as Self - Atman;ātman;tathāgatagarbha;Zen - Chan;Metaphors for buddha-nature;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Chinese Buddhism;The doctrine of buddha-nature in Japanese Buddhism;Fazang;Sāramati;Rev. Kokyo Henkel: Sources of Buddha-Nature Teachings in the Zen Tradition

Email us to contribute

Site Guide

To top

This Text on Adarsha - If it doesn't load here, refresh your browser.

The wikipage input value is empty (e.g. <code>, [[]]</code>) and therefore it cannot be used as a name or as part of a query condition.

[1] J5

[2] The corresponding passage (Daśabhūmikasūtra, edited by Johannes Rahder [Leuven: J.B. Istas, 1926], 20.14–18) says: "O sons of the victors, it is as follows. For example, to whichever extent pure gold is heated in a fire by a skilled goldsmith, to that extent it becomes refined, pure, and pliable as he pleases. O sons of the victors, likewise, to the extent that bodhisattvas make offerings to the buddha bhagavāns, make efforts in maturing sentient beings, and are in a state of adopting these kinds of dharmas that purify the bhūmis, to that extent their roots of virtue that they dedicate to omniscience will become refined, pure, and pliable as they please."

[3] D44 (four vols.) and Taishō 278. For an English translation from the Chinese, see Cleary 1993.

[4] Narthang Kangyur, vol. ca, fol. 312a.5–6.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]