The Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra (Taishō 120[1]) is a Mahāyāna Buddhist scripture belonging to the Tathāgatagarbha class of sūtra,[2] which teach that the Buddha is eternal, that the non-Self and emptiness teachings only apply to the worldly sphere and not to Nirvāṇa, and that the Tathāgatagarbha is real and immanent within all beings and all phenomena. The sutra consists mostly of stanzas in verse.[3]
The Mahāyāna Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra should not be confused with the Pāli Canon's Angulimala Sutta, which is a completely different work included in the Majjhima Nikaya.
According to Stephen Hodge, internal textual evidence in the Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra, Mahābherihāraka Parivarta Sūtra, and the Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra, indicates that these texts were first circulated in southern India, and they then gradually propagated up to the northwest, with Kashmir being the other major center. The Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra gives a more detailed account by mentioning the points of distribution as including southern India, the Vindhya Range, Bharukaccha, and Kashmir.[4] Hodge summarizes his findings as follows:[4]
[T]here are strong grounds based on textual evidence that the MPNS (Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra), or a major portion of it, together with related texts were compiled in the Deccan during the second half of the 2nd century CE, in a Mahāsāṃghika environment, probably in one of their centres along the western coastal region such as Karli, or perhaps, though less likely, the Amaravati-Dhanyakaṭaka area.
In the 6th century CE, Paramārtha wrote that the Mahāsāṃghikas revere the sūtras which teach the Tathāgatagarbha.[4]
Central teachingsEdit
The Aṅgulimālīya Sūtra consists largely of teachings by Aṅgulimālīya on the correct understanding of Buddhist doctrine. According to Michael Radich,
The Aṅgulimālīyasūtra shares with the Mahāparinirvāṇamahāsūtra group tathāgatagarbha/buddha nature preached as explicitly connected with ātman (ātmadhātu [wojie(我界)]) and concealed by defilements, the eternity of the Tathāgata, the secret teachings, the promotion of faith (xin [信]) toward the teaching of tathāgatagarbha, and concern with the worst sinners, including the icchantika.[5]
The sutra is most insistent that the Tathāgatagarbha and the self (Ātman) are real and that to deny their existence is to lapse into a state of dangerous spiritual imbalance.[citation needed] Thus, to seek out the Tathāgatagarbha — which is equated with the true Self — is deemed of great value.[citation needed] The Buddha teaches the bodhisattvaMañjuśrī that practicing the spiritual life is meaningful only because there is a 'self principle' (the Tathāgatagarbha or 'atma-dhatu' - 'essence of Self') with which the quest can be rewarded. He states:
Mañjuśrī, people churn milk because they understand that butter is present therein. Why do people not churn water ? Because that substance is not present there. Likewise, Mañjuśrī, people maintain moral discipline (śīla) and engage in the holy life (brahmacarya) because of the existence of the Tathāgata-garbha. Moreover, Mañjuśrī, people who want gold and are endowed with discernment, dig in cliffs. Why do they not dig in trees? They dig in rocks where gold-ore (suvarna-dhātu) is present, but they do not dig in trees, where there is no gold. Likewise, Mañjuśrī, people who discern the presence of the dhātu [i.e., buddha-dhatu, which means buddha principle] think to themselves, "I shall become a buddha" and so maintain the moral discipline and engage in the holy life. Furthermore, Mañjuśrī, if there were no dhātu, the holy life would be pointless. Just as butter will never be produced from water even if one were to churn it for a billion years, similarly there would be no benefit for those attached to a self who engage in the holy life and the moral discipline if there were no self principle [ātma-dhātu].[6]
The sutra is remarkable for the vigor and passion with which Aṅgulimālīya teaches the Dharma and for its doctrine that at the heart of all beings is one unified principle: the buddha-dhatu (Buddha-nature) or Tathāgatagarbha. The doctrines of this sutra are also strikingly congruent with those of the much longer Mahāyāna Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra.
^ abcHodge, Stephen (2006). (PDF). lecture delivered at the University of London, SOAS. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 19, 2011.
^Radich, Michael (2015). "Tathāgatagarbha Scriptures." In Jonathan Silk, Oskar von Hinüber, Vincent Eltschinger (eds.): Brill's Encyclopedia of Buddhism, Volume 1: Literature and Languages. Leiden: Brill, p. 269
Sūtra of Aṅgulimālika, translated into English by Rulu from Guṇabhadra's Chinese version
August 29, 2023
aṅgulimālīya, sūtra, this, article, uncritically, uses, texts, from, within, religion, faith, system, without, referring, secondary, sources, that, critically, analyze, them, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, references, reliable, secondary, source. This article uncritically uses texts from within a religion or faith system without referring to secondary sources that critically analyze them Please help improve this article by adding references to reliable secondary sources with multiple points of view December 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message The Aṅgulimaliya Sutra Taishō 120 1 is a Mahayana Buddhist scripture belonging to the Tathagatagarbha class of sutra 2 which teach that the Buddha is eternal that the non Self and emptiness teachings only apply to the worldly sphere and not to Nirvaṇa and that the Tathagatagarbha is real and immanent within all beings and all phenomena The sutra consists mostly of stanzas in verse 3 The Mahayana Aṅgulimaliya Sutra should not be confused with the Pali Canon s Angulimala Sutta which is a completely different work included in the Majjhima Nikaya Contents 1 Origins and history 2 Central teachings 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksOrigins and history EditAccording to Stephen Hodge internal textual evidence in the Aṅgulimaliya Sutra Mahabheriharaka Parivarta Sutra and the Mahayana Mahaparinirvaṇa Sutra indicates that these texts were first circulated in southern India and they then gradually propagated up to the northwest with Kashmir being the other major center The Aṅgulimaliya Sutra gives a more detailed account by mentioning the points of distribution as including southern India the Vindhya Range Bharukaccha and Kashmir 4 Hodge summarizes his findings as follows 4 T here are strong grounds based on textual evidence that the MPNS Mahayana Mahaparinirvaṇa Sutra or a major portion of it together with related texts were compiled in the Deccan during the second half of the 2nd century CE in a Mahasaṃghika environment probably in one of their centres along the western coastal region such as Karli or perhaps though less likely the Amaravati Dhanyakaṭaka area In the 6th century CE Paramartha wrote that the Mahasaṃghikas revere the sutras which teach the Tathagatagarbha 4 Central teachings EditThe Aṅgulimaliya Sutra consists largely of teachings by Aṅgulimaliya on the correct understanding of Buddhist doctrine According to Michael Radich The Aṅgulimaliyasutra shares with the Mahaparinirvaṇamahasutra group tathagatagarbha buddha nature preached as explicitly connected with atman atmadhatu wojie 我界 and concealed by defilements the eternity of the Tathagata the secret teachings the promotion of faith xin 信 toward the teaching of tathagatagarbha and concern with the worst sinners including the icchantika 5 The sutra is most insistent that the Tathagatagarbha and the self Atman are real and that to deny their existence is to lapse into a state of dangerous spiritual imbalance citation needed Thus to seek out the Tathagatagarbha which is equated with the true Self is deemed of great value citation needed The Buddha teaches the bodhisattva Manjusri that practicing the spiritual life is meaningful only because there is a self principle the Tathagatagarbha or atma dhatu essence of Self with which the quest can be rewarded He states Manjusri people churn milk because they understand that butter is present therein Why do people not churn water Because that substance is not present there Likewise Manjusri people maintain moral discipline sila and engage in the holy life brahmacarya because of the existence of the Tathagata garbha Moreover Manjusri people who want gold and are endowed with discernment dig in cliffs Why do they not dig in trees They dig in rocks where gold ore suvarna dhatu is present but they do not dig in trees where there is no gold Likewise Manjusri people who discern the presence of the dhatu i e buddha dhatu which means buddha principle think to themselves I shall become a buddha and so maintain the moral discipline and engage in the holy life Furthermore Manjusri if there were no dhatu the holy life would be pointless Just as butter will never be produced from water even if one were to churn it for a billion years similarly there would be no benefit for those attached to a self who engage in the holy life and the moral discipline if there were no self principle atma dhatu 6 The sutra is remarkable for the vigor and passion with which Aṅgulimaliya teaches the Dharma and for its doctrine that at the heart of all beings is one unified principle the buddha dhatu Buddha nature or Tathagatagarbha The doctrines of this sutra are also strikingly congruent with those of the much longer Mahayana Mahaparinirvaṇa Sutra See also EditAnunatva Apurnatva Nirdesa Dolpopa Sherab Gyaltsen Eternal Buddha Parinirvana Purity in Buddhism Srimaladevi Sutra Tathagatagarbha Sutra Mahaparinirvana SutraReferences Edit Guṇabhadra trans 央掘魔羅經 Yangjuemoluo Jing Aṅgulimaliyasutra in Taishō shinshu Daizōkyō 大正新脩大藏經 in Takakusu Junjiro ed Tokyo Taishō Shinshu Daizōkyō Kankōkai 1988 Vol 2 No 120 Accessed 2019 03 13 http tripitaka cbeta org T02n0120 Buswell Robert E Lopez Donald S 2014 The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Princeton University Press p 46 Sutra of Angulimalika 央掘魔羅經卷1 a b c Hodge Stephen 2006 On the Eschatology of the Mahaparinirvana Sutra and Related Matters PDF lecture delivered at the University of London SOAS Archived from the original PDF on July 19 2011 Radich Michael 2015 Tathagatagarbha Scriptures In Jonathan Silk Oskar von Hinuber Vincent Eltschinger eds Brill s Encyclopedia of Buddhism Volume 1 Literature and Languages Leiden Brill p 269 Hodge Stephen year unknown English translation of excerpts from the Aṅgulimaliya SutraExternal links EditSutra of Aṅgulimalika translated into English by Rulu from Guṇabhadra s Chinese version Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Aṅgulimaliya Sutra amp oldid 1159140868, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
