Maitreya's Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes

Translation of The Verses on Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes (84000)

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Maitreyanātha's Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes (Madhyāntavibhāga) was transmitted to us by the noble Asaṅga, great saint and champion scholar of fourth century CE Indic Buddhism—along with Vasubandhu’s commentary on the text. It is one of the five seminal texts of what the Tibetans call the “magnificent deeds tradition of universal vehicle Buddhism, according to its spiritual focus and ethical impact. Its emphasis on the nondual, primarily mental nature of reality most powerfully supports the great messianic vow of the bodhisattva, the entry into the universal vehicle lifestyle. In his study introducing the translation, Dr. D'Amato analyzes and elucidates the teachings of this text and its associated school with great learning and insight. (Source: Tibet House)

Citation	D'Amato, Mario, trans. Maitreya's Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes (Madhyāntavibhāga): Along with Vasubandhu's Commentary (Madhyāntavibhāga-bhāṣya); A Study and Annotated Translation. Treasury of the Buddhist Sciences. Tengyur Translation Initiative. New York: American Institute of Buddhist Studies, Columbia University's Center for Buddhist Studies and Tibet House US, 2012.

Series Editor’s Preface.................................................................................xi Author’s Preface.......................................................................................... xv Abbreviations............................................................................................. xix P art One: Introduction Study of the Madhyāntavibhāga...................................................................3 Yogācāra Buddhist Philosophy..............................................................3 What Is Yogācāra............................................................................ 5 Ālaya-vijñāna...................................................................................9 Vijñapti-mātra............................................................................... 12 Trisvabhāva....................................................................................15 A Semiotic Soteriology.................................................................20 The Madhyāntavibhāga Corpus.......................................................... 28 Madhyāntavibhāga........................................................................ 29 Madhyāntavibhāga-bhāsya........................................................... 32 Madhyāntavibhāga-tīkā.................................................................34 Authorship and Dates....................................................................36 The MAV/Bh’s Relation to Other Texts...................................... 41 The MAV/Bh’s Place in the Yogācāra Tradition........................ 45 The Exegesis of the Madhyãntavibhāga.............................................48 Exegesis of the Introduction......................................................... 48 Exegesis of Chapter 1: Definitions..............................................50 Exegesis of Chapter 2: Obstructions............................................66 Exegesis of Chapter 3: Reality..................................................... 74 Exegesis of Chapter 4: Cultivation of Antidotes, States, and Results...............................................................................87 Exegesis of Chapter 5: The Unsurpassed Vehicle...................... 95 Exegesis of the Concluding Verse..............................................110 Part Two: Annotated Translation of the M adhyāntavibhāga/-bhāsya Introduction......................................................................................... 115 I. Definitions....................................................................................... 117 II. Obstructions................................................................................... 131 III. Reality............................................................................................143 IV. Cultivation of Antidotes, States, and Results.............................161 V..The Unsurpassed Vehicle...............................................................173 Concluding Verse................................................................................192 Glossary, Bibliography, and Index Glossary...................................................................................................... 195 Bibliography...............................................................................................199

Index............................................................................................................213

Maitreya (mgon po byams pa): madhyāntavibhāga (dbus dang mtha' rnam par 'byed pa), Otani: (P5522), sems tsam, (phi 43b4-48b1) (vol.108, p.19-21)), (D4021), sems tsam, phi 40b1-45a6. [N] phi 38a2-42a6. (Kinsha) 3521, phi 47b1 (p.25-2-1). In bstan 'gyur (sde dge), Vol. 123: 79-89. Delhi: delhi karmapae choedhey, gyalwae sungrab partun khang, 1982-1985. Columbia AIBS
Vasubandhu. madhyāntavibhāga-bhāṣya, (dbus dang mtha' rnam par 'byed pa'i 'grel pa). (D 4027) sems tsam, bi 1b1-27a7. (Q 5528) sems tsam, bi 1a1-32b7 (vol.108, p.119-133). (N 4296) sems tsam, bi 1a1-29b5. In bstan 'gyur (sde dge), Vol. 124: 22-53. Delhi: delhi karmapae choedhey, gyalwae sungrab partun khang, 1982-1985. Columbia AIBS
1. Primary source for this translation: Nagao Gadjin, ed. Madhyāntavibhāga-bhāṣya. Tokyo: Suzuki Research Foundation, 1964.
2. Yamaguchi Susumu, ed. Madhyāntavibhāgaṭīkā. Nagoya: Librairie Hajinkaku, 1934.
For a full list of sources, see Bibliography