Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna (Bengali: অতীশ দীপংকর শ্রীজ্ঞান, romanized: ôtiś dīpôṅkôr śrigyen; 982–1054) was a Buddhist religious leader and master.[2] He is generally associated with his work carried out at the Vikramashila monastery in Bihar.[3] He was one of the major figures in the spread of 11th-century Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in Asia and inspired Buddhist thought from Tibet to Sumatra. He is recognised as one of the greatest figures of medieval Buddhism. Atiśa's chief disciple, Dromtön, was the founder of the Kadam school,[4] one of the New Translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism, later supplanted by the Gelug tradition in the 14th century which adopted its teachings and absorbed its monasteries.[5]
Atiśa Dīpankara Śrījñāna
অতীশ দীপংকর শ্রীজ্ঞান
This portrait of Atiśa originated from a Kadam monastery in Tibet and was gifted to New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1993. In this depiction, Atiśa holds a long, thin palm-leaf manuscript with his left hand, probably symbolising one of the many important texts he wrote, while making the gesture of teaching with his right hand.[1]
Bikrampur, the most probable place for Atiśa's birthplace, was the capital of the Pala Empire as it was of the ancient kingdoms of southeast Bengal. Though the city's exact location is not certain, it presently lies in the Munshiganj District of Bangladesh, and continues to be celebrated as an early center of Buddhist cultural, academic, and political life. Similar to Gautama Buddha, Atiśa was born into royalty.[9] His father was a king known as Kalyanachandra and his mother was Shri Prabhavati. Raja Srichandra of Chandra Dynasty was his grandfather.[10] One of three royal brothers, Atiśa went by the name of Candragarbha during the first part of his life. In fact, it was not until he traveled to Guge and encountered King Jangchup Ö (Wylie: byang chub 'od, 984–1078) that he was given the name Atiśa.[citation needed]
Studies
According to Tibetan sources, Atiśa was ordained into the Mahāsāṃghika lineage at the age of twenty-eight by the Abbot Śīlarakṣita and studied almost all Buddhist and non-Buddhist schools of his time, including teachings from Vaishnavism, Shaivism, Tantric Hinduism and other practices. He also studied the sixty-four kinds of art, the art of music and the art of logic and accomplished these studies until the age of twenty-two. Among the many Buddhist lineages he studied, practiced and transmitted the three main lineages were the Lineage of the Profound Action transmitted by Asaṅga and Vasubandhu, the Lineage of Profound View transmitted by Nagarjuna and Candrakīrti, and the Lineage of Profound Experience transmitted by Tilopa and Naropa.[11] It is said that Atiśa had more than 150 teachers, but one key one was Dharmakīrtiśrī.[12] Another notable teacher of his during his time at Vikramashila was Ratnākaraśānti.[13]
Tibetan sources assert that Atiśa spent 12 years in Sumatra of the Srivijaya empire and he returned to India in 1025 CE which was also the same year when Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty invaded Sumatra.[14] Atiśa returned to India. Once back, the increasingly knowledgeable monk received much attention for his teachings and skills in debate and philosophy. On three separate occasions, the monk Atiśa was acclaimed for defeating non-Buddhist extremists in debate. When he came into contact with what he perceived to be a misled or deteriorating form of Buddhism he would quickly and effectively implement reforms. Soon enough he was appointed to the position of steward, or abbot, at Vikramashila which was established by Emperor Dharmapala.[citation needed] He is also said to have "nourished" Odantapuri.[15]
Atiśa's return from Suvarnabhumi, where he had been studying with Dharmakīrtiśrī, and his rise to prominence in India coincided with a flourishing of Buddhist culture and the practice of Buddhism in the region, and in many ways Atiśa's influence contributed to these developments. According to traditional narratives, King Langdarma had suppressed Buddhism's teachings and persecuted its followers for over seventy years. According to the Blue Annals, a new king of Guge by the name of Yeshe-Ö sent his academic followers to learn and translate some of the Sanskrit Buddhist texts.[16] Among these academics was Naktso, who was eventually sent to Vikramashila to study Sanskrit and plead with Atiśa to come teach the Dharma in his homeland. Travelling with Naktso and Gya Lōtsawa, Atiśa journeyed through Nepal on his way to Tolung, the capital of the Purang Kingdom. (Gya Lōtsawa died before reaching Tolung.) On his way, he is said to have met Marpa Lōtsawa. He spent three years in Tolung and compiled his teachings into his most influential scholarly work, Bodhipathapradīpa, or Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment. The short text, in sixty-seven verses, lays out the entire Buddhist path in terms of the three vehicles: Hīnayāna, Mahāyāna, and Vajrayāna, and became the model for subsequent texts in the genre of Lamrim (lam rim), or the Stages of the Path,[17] and was specifically the basis for Tsongkhapa's Lamrim writings. Here Atiśa met Dromtön, or Dromtonpa, who would become his primary disciple, regarded as both an enforcer of later propagation ethical standards and a holder of Atiśa's tantric lineage.[18]
According to Jamgon Kongtrul, when Atiśa discovered the store of Sanskrit texts at Pekar Kordzoling, the library of Samye, "he said that the degree to which the Vajrayana had spread in Tibet was unparalleled, even in India. After saying this, he reverently folded his hands and praised the great dharma kings, translators, and panditas of the previous centuries."[19]
^"Portrait of Atiśa [Tibet (a Kadampa monastery)] (1993.479)". Timeline of Art History. New York: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, 2000–. October 2006. Retrieved 11 January 2008.
^"Reincarnation". Dalailama. The Dalai Lama. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
^Jan Westerhoff (2018). The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy. Oxford University Press. p. 276. ISBN978-0-19-873266-2.
^POV. "Tibetan Buddhism from A to Z - My Reincarnation - POV - PBS". PBS.
^"Kadam - The Treasury of Lives: A Biographical Encyclopedia of Tibet, Inner Asia and the Himalayan Region". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"Listeners name 'greatest Bengali'". 14 April 2004. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
^. The Hindu. 17 April 2004. Archived from the original on 25 December 2018. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
^"The Daily Star Web Edition Vol. 4 Num 313". The Daily Star. Retrieved 24 February 2018.
^"Ratnākaraśānti". Encyclopedia of Buddhism Online.
^Atisa and Tibet: Life and Works of Dipamkara Srijnana by Alaka Chattopadhyaya p.91
^Chattopadhyaya, Alaka; Atīśa (1981). Atīśa and Tibet: Life and Works of Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna in Relation to the History and Religion of Tibet. Motilal Banarsidass Publ. p. 126. ISBN978-81-208-0928-4.
^bstan pa'i mgon po (1974). Blue Annals. Lokesh Chandra.
^"Atisa Dipamkara". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
^"Dromton Gyelwa Jungne". The Treasury of Lives. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
Tulku, Ringu; Helm, Ann (2006). The Ri-Me Philosophy of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great: A Study of the Buddhist Lineages of Tibet. Boston: Shambhala Publications. ISBN1-59030-286-9.
Bibliography of Atisha's works, Item 596, Karl Potter, University of Washington
Advice from Atiśa's Heart
Atiśa Dipamkara on Banglapedia
English Translation of Lamp to the Path of Enlightenment (by Dr. Alexander Berzin)
January 28, 2023
atiśa, dīpankara, Śrījñāna, bengali, অত, কর, romanized, ôtiś, dīpôṅkôr, śrigyen, 1054, buddhist, religious, leader, master, generally, associated, with, work, carried, vikramashila, monastery, bihar, major, figures, spread, 11th, century, mahayana, vajrayana, . Atisa Dipankara Srijnana Bengali অত শ দ প কর শ র জ ঞ ন romanized otis dipoṅkor srigyen 982 1054 was a Buddhist religious leader and master 2 He is generally associated with his work carried out at the Vikramashila monastery in Bihar 3 He was one of the major figures in the spread of 11th century Mahayana and Vajrayana Buddhism in Asia and inspired Buddhist thought from Tibet to Sumatra He is recognised as one of the greatest figures of medieval Buddhism Atisa s chief disciple Dromton was the founder of the Kadam school 4 one of the New Translation schools of Tibetan Buddhism later supplanted by the Gelug tradition in the 14th century which adopted its teachings and absorbed its monasteries 5 Atisa Dipankara Srijnanaঅত শ দ প কর শ র জ ঞ নThis portrait of Atisa originated from a Kadam monastery in Tibet and was gifted to New York s Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1993 In this depiction Atisa holds a long thin palm leaf manuscript with his left hand probably symbolising one of the many important texts he wrote while making the gesture of teaching with his right hand 1 PersonalBornc 982 CE Bikrampur Pala Empire Ancient India now in Munshiganj Bangladesh Diedc 1054 CE Nyetang TibetReligionBuddhismSchoolMadhyamakaSenior postingStudents DromtonIn 2004 Atisa was ranked 18th in the BBC s poll of the greatest Bengalis of all time 6 7 8 Contents 1 Early life 1 1 Palace life 2 Studies 3 Teachings in Sumatra and Tibet 4 Writings 5 See also 6 References 6 1 Bibliography 7 External linksEarly life EditPalace life Edit Bikrampur the most probable place for Atisa s birthplace was the capital of the Pala Empire as it was of the ancient kingdoms of southeast Bengal Though the city s exact location is not certain it presently lies in the Munshiganj District of Bangladesh and continues to be celebrated as an early center of Buddhist cultural academic and political life Similar to Gautama Buddha Atisa was born into royalty 9 His father was a king known as Kalyanachandra and his mother was Shri Prabhavati Raja Srichandra of Chandra Dynasty was his grandfather 10 One of three royal brothers Atisa went by the name of Candragarbha during the first part of his life In fact it was not until he traveled to Guge and encountered King Jangchup O Wylie byang chub od 984 1078 that he was given the name Atisa citation needed Studies EditAccording to Tibetan sources Atisa was ordained into the Mahasaṃghika lineage at the age of twenty eight by the Abbot Silarakṣita and studied almost all Buddhist and non Buddhist schools of his time including teachings from Vaishnavism Shaivism Tantric Hinduism and other practices He also studied the sixty four kinds of art the art of music and the art of logic and accomplished these studies until the age of twenty two Among the many Buddhist lineages he studied practiced and transmitted the three main lineages were the Lineage of the Profound Action transmitted by Asaṅga and Vasubandhu the Lineage of Profound View transmitted by Nagarjuna and Candrakirti and the Lineage of Profound Experience transmitted by Tilopa and Naropa 11 It is said that Atisa had more than 150 teachers but one key one was Dharmakirtisri 12 Another notable teacher of his during his time at Vikramashila was Ratnakarasanti 13 Teachings in Sumatra and Tibet Edit Mural of Atisa at Ralung Monastery 1993 Tibetan sources assert that Atisa spent 12 years in Sumatra of the Srivijaya empire and he returned to India in 1025 CE which was also the same year when Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty invaded Sumatra 14 Atisa returned to India Once back the increasingly knowledgeable monk received much attention for his teachings and skills in debate and philosophy On three separate occasions the monk Atisa was acclaimed for defeating non Buddhist extremists in debate When he came into contact with what he perceived to be a misled or deteriorating form of Buddhism he would quickly and effectively implement reforms Soon enough he was appointed to the position of steward or abbot at Vikramashila which was established by Emperor Dharmapala citation needed He is also said to have nourished Odantapuri 15 Atisa s return from Suvarnabhumi where he had been studying with Dharmakirtisri and his rise to prominence in India coincided with a flourishing of Buddhist culture and the practice of Buddhism in the region and in many ways Atisa s influence contributed to these developments According to traditional narratives King Langdarma had suppressed Buddhism s teachings and persecuted its followers for over seventy years According to the Blue Annals a new king of Guge by the name of Yeshe O sent his academic followers to learn and translate some of the Sanskrit Buddhist texts 16 Among these academics was Naktso who was eventually sent to Vikramashila to study Sanskrit and plead with Atisa to come teach the Dharma in his homeland Travelling with Naktso and Gya Lōtsawa Atisa journeyed through Nepal on his way to Tolung the capital of the Purang Kingdom Gya Lōtsawa died before reaching Tolung On his way he is said to have met Marpa Lōtsawa He spent three years in Tolung and compiled his teachings into his most influential scholarly work Bodhipathapradipa or Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment The short text in sixty seven verses lays out the entire Buddhist path in terms of the three vehicles Hinayana Mahayana and Vajrayana and became the model for subsequent texts in the genre of Lamrim lam rim or the Stages of the Path 17 and was specifically the basis for Tsongkhapa s Lamrim writings Here Atisa met Dromton or Dromtonpa who would become his primary disciple regarded as both an enforcer of later propagation ethical standards and a holder of Atisa s tantric lineage 18 According to Jamgon Kongtrul when Atisa discovered the store of Sanskrit texts at Pekar Kordzoling the library of Samye he said that the degree to which the Vajrayana had spread in Tibet was unparalleled even in India After saying this he reverently folded his hands and praised the great dharma kings translators and panditas of the previous centuries 19 Writings EditThis section does not cite any sources Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed March 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message His books include Bodhipathapradipa Wylie byang chub lam gyi sgron ma Bodhipathapradipapanjikanama his own commentary of Wylie byang chub lam gyi sgron ma Charyasamgrahapradipa contains some kirtan verses composed by Atisa Satyadvayavatara Bodhisattvamanyavali Madhyamakaratnapradipa Mahayanapathasadhanasangraha Shiksasamuccaya Abhisamya Prajnaparamitapindarthapradipa Ekavirasadhana Vimalaratnalekha a Sanskrit letter to Nayapala king of Magadha See also EditNyethang Drolma Temple Bikrampur Vihara Bangladesh portal Religion portalReferences Edit Portrait of Atisa Tibet a Kadampa monastery 1993 479 Timeline of Art History New York The Metropolitan Museum of Art 2000 October 2006 Retrieved 11 January 2008 Reincarnation Dalailama The Dalai Lama Retrieved 20 May 2015 Jan Westerhoff 2018 The Golden Age of Indian Buddhist Philosophy Oxford University Press p 276 ISBN 978 0 19 873266 2 POV Tibetan Buddhism from A to Z My Reincarnation POV PBS PBS Kadam The Treasury of Lives A Biographical Encyclopedia of Tibet Inner Asia and the Himalayan Region The Treasury of Lives Retrieved 11 December 2018 Listeners name greatest Bengali 14 April 2004 Retrieved 24 February 2018 International Mujib Tagore Bose among greatest Bengalis of all time The Hindu 17 April 2004 Archived from the original on 25 December 2018 Retrieved 24 February 2018 The Daily Star Web Edition Vol 4 Num 313 The Daily Star Retrieved 24 February 2018 Maha Bodhi Society The Maha Bodhi Volume 90 p 238 Janata Bank Journal of Money Finance and Development PDF Janata Bank p 54 Retrieved 18 November 2020 Great Kagyu Masters The Golden Lineage Treasury by Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Snow Lion Publications pages 154 186 Buswell 2014 p 247 Ratnakarasanti Encyclopedia of Buddhism Online Atisa and Tibet Life and Works of Dipamkara Srijnana by Alaka Chattopadhyaya p 91 Chattopadhyaya Alaka Atisa 1981 Atisa and Tibet Life and Works of Dipaṃkara Srijnana in Relation to the History and Religion of Tibet Motilal Banarsidass Publ p 126 ISBN 978 81 208 0928 4 bstan pa i mgon po 1974 Blue Annals Lokesh Chandra Atisa Dipamkara The Treasury of Lives Retrieved 11 December 2018 Dromton Gyelwa Jungne The Treasury of Lives Retrieved 11 December 2018 Tulku amp Helm 2006 p 74 Bibliography Edit Buswell Robert Jr 2014 Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Princeton NJ Princeton University Press ISBN 9780691157863 Khenpo Konchog Gyaltsen Great Kagyu Masters The Golden Lineage Treasury Snow Lion Publications Geshe Sonam Rinchen Atisa s Lamp for the Path to Enlightenment Snow Lion Publications Khyentse Dilgo 1993 Enlightened Courage Ithaca New York Snow Lion Publications ISBN 1 55939 023 9 Tulku Ringu Helm Ann 2006 The Ri Me Philosophy of Jamgon Kongtrul the Great A Study of the Buddhist Lineages of Tibet Boston Shambhala Publications ISBN 1 59030 286 9 Apple James B 2019 Atisa Dipamkara Illuminator of the Awakened Mind Boston Shambhala Publications ISBN 978 1611806472 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Atisha Works by or about Atisa at Internet Archive Works by or about Atisha at Internet Archive Bibliography of Atisha s works Item 596 Karl Potter University of Washington Advice from Atisa s Heart Atisa Dipamkara on Banglapedia English Translation of Lamp to the Path of Enlightenment by Dr Alexander Berzin Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Atisa amp oldid 1113903043, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
