Maitrīpāda (c. 1007–1085, also known as Maitreyanātha, Advayavajra, and, to Tibetans, Maitrīpa), was a prominent IndianBuddhistMahasiddha associated with the Mahāmudrā transmission of tantric Buddhism.[1] His teachers were Shavaripa and Naropa.[1] His students include Atisha, Marpa, Vajrapani, Karopa, Natekara (also known as Sahajavajra), Devākaracandra (also known as Śūnyatāsamādhi), and Rāmapāla.[1] His hermitage was in the Mithila region (also known as Tirhut), somewhere in northern Bihar and neighboring parts of southern Nepal.[2]
As per Tibetan and Nepalese sources, Maitripada was born into a Brahmin family in Magadha in a village near Kapilavastu during the rule of the Pala empire. His year of birth has been commonly placed 1007 C.E. as per the writings of Taranatha who places him around the rule of King Mahipala.[3] Prior to becoming a Buddhist, he was educated in Pāṇinian grammar and Hindu treatises for 7 years.
After his education, he encountered the Buddhist siddha Naropa who engaged him in a debate. Maitripada lost the debate and subsequently converted to Buddhism and was ordained as a monk at the monasteries of Nalanda and Vikramashila in modern-day Bihar. During his stay at these monasteries he was taught by eminent masters such as Ratnākaraśānti.[3]
Time at Nalanda and Vikramashila
Maitripada had his initial monastic ordination at Nalanda following which he dwelt in Vikramashila where he stayed for four years. While he was noted as an excellent monk, he was also said to be practicing tantra in secret. This was followed by a dispute with his guru, Ratnākaraśānti.[3] Nepalese sources detail that following this dispute, the bodhisattva, Avalokiteśvara appeared in Maitripada's dreams and urged him to renounce the monastic life. Supposedly, he was expelled from the monastery after the abbot, Atiśa, discovered liquor in his dorms.
Travels in South India
Following this, he travelled for four months to South India via boat where he became a disciple of Shavaripa from who he received various tantric instructions. During the latter part of his life, he returned to North India where he composed numerous treaties which are now preserved in the Tibetan Buddhist canon.[4]
Works
Maitrīpāda composed commentaries on the Buddhist dohas of Saraha. His most important works are a collection of 26 texts on "non-conceptual realization" (amanasikara), which are a key Indian source of mahāmudrā in the Tibetan tradition. These works teach a synthesis of Buddhist Mahayana teachings on emptiness and 'non-abiding' (apratisthana), and Buddhist tantric practices, and they also teach an "instantaneous" path to awakening.[5][6]
Maitrīpāda's Amanasikara cycle of 26 texts is composed of the following:[7]
Kudrstinirghatana
Kudrstinirghatavakyatippinika
Mulapattayah
Sthulapattayah
Tattvaratnavali
Pañcatathagatamudravivarana
Sekanirdesa
Caturmudranvaya
Sekatatparyasamgraha
Vajrasattva-Pañcakara
Mayanirukti
Svapnanirukti
Tattvaprakasa
Apratisthanaprakasa
Yuganaddhaprakasa
Mahasukhaprakasa
Tattvavimsika
Mahayanavimsika
Nirvedhapañcaka
Madhyamasatka
Premapañcaka
Tattvadasaka
Amanasikaradhara
Sahajasatka
Dohanidhinamatattvopadesa
Shes pa spro bsdu med par 'jog pa 'i man ngag gsang ba dam pa
^ abcRoberts, Peter Alan, Mahamudra and Related Instructions: Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools (Library of Tibetan Classics) 2011, p. 11-12.
^Mahamudra and Related Instructions: Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools. Simon and Schuster. 17 May 2011. ISBN978-0-86171-444-5.
^ abcTatz, Mark (1987). "The Life of the Siddha-Philosopher Maitrīgupta". Journal of the American Oriental Society. 107 (4): 695–711. doi:10.2307/603308. JSTOR 603308.
^Buswell, Robert; Lopez, Donald (2014). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. p. 519. ISBN9780691157863.
^Mathes, Klaus-Dieter, A Fine Blend of Mahamudra and Madhyamaka: Maitripa's Collection of Texts on Non-Conceptual Realization (Amanasikara), (Sitzungsberichte Der Philosophisch-Historischen Klasse), 2016, p. 1.
^Ulrich Timme Kragh, Tibetan yoga and mysticism : a textual study of the yogas of Nāropa and Mahāmudrā meditation in the medieval tradition of Dags po 2015, p. 72-73
^Mathes, Klaus-Dieter, A Fine Blend of Mahamudra and Madhyamaka: Maitripa's Collection of Texts on Non-Conceptual Realization (Amanasikara), (Sitzungsberichte Der Philosophisch-Historischen Klasse), 2016, p. 5.
Notes
"The Life of the Siddha-Philosopher Maitrīgupta" by Mark Tatz Journal of the American Oriental Society Vol. 107, No. 4, 1987, Oct. - Dec. pgs 695-711
External links
Maitripa: India’s Yogi of Nondual Bliss by Klaus-Dieter Mathes
March 20, 2023
maitripada, maitrīpāda, 1007, 1085, also, known, maitreyanātha, advayavajra, tibetans, maitrīpa, prominent, indian, buddhist, mahasiddha, associated, with, mahāmudrā, transmission, tantric, buddhism, teachers, were, shavaripa, naropa, students, include, atisha. Maitripada c 1007 1085 also known as Maitreyanatha Advayavajra and to Tibetans Maitripa was a prominent Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha associated with the Mahamudra transmission of tantric Buddhism 1 His teachers were Shavaripa and Naropa 1 His students include Atisha Marpa Vajrapani Karopa Natekara also known as Sahajavajra Devakaracandra also known as Sunyatasamadhi and Ramapala 1 His hermitage was in the Mithila region also known as Tirhut somewhere in northern Bihar and neighboring parts of southern Nepal 2 MaitripadaMaitriguptaPersonalBornc 1007 CE Jhatakarani Magadha modern day India Diedc 1085 CEReligionBuddhismSchoolVajrayana Contents 1 Early life 1 1 Time at Nalanda and Vikramashila 1 2 Travels in South India 2 Works 3 See also 4 References 5 Notes 6 External linksEarly life EditAs per Tibetan and Nepalese sources Maitripada was born into a Brahmin family in Magadha in a village near Kapilavastu during the rule of the Pala empire His year of birth has been commonly placed 1007 C E as per the writings of Taranatha who places him around the rule of King Mahipala 3 Prior to becoming a Buddhist he was educated in Paṇinian grammar and Hindu treatises for 7 years After his education he encountered the Buddhist siddha Naropa who engaged him in a debate Maitripada lost the debate and subsequently converted to Buddhism and was ordained as a monk at the monasteries of Nalanda and Vikramashila in modern day Bihar During his stay at these monasteries he was taught by eminent masters such as Ratnakarasanti 3 Time at Nalanda and Vikramashila Edit Maitripada had his initial monastic ordination at Nalanda following which he dwelt in Vikramashila where he stayed for four years While he was noted as an excellent monk he was also said to be practicing tantra in secret This was followed by a dispute with his guru Ratnakarasanti 3 Nepalese sources detail that following this dispute the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara appeared in Maitripada s dreams and urged him to renounce the monastic life Supposedly he was expelled from the monastery after the abbot Atisa discovered liquor in his dorms Travels in South India Edit Following this he travelled for four months to South India via boat where he became a disciple of Shavaripa from who he received various tantric instructions During the latter part of his life he returned to North India where he composed numerous treaties which are now preserved in the Tibetan Buddhist canon 4 Works EditMaitripada composed commentaries on the Buddhist dohas of Saraha His most important works are a collection of 26 texts on non conceptual realization amanasikara which are a key Indian source of mahamudra in the Tibetan tradition These works teach a synthesis of Buddhist Mahayana teachings on emptiness and non abiding apratisthana and Buddhist tantric practices and they also teach an instantaneous path to awakening 5 6 Maitripada s Amanasikara cycle of 26 texts is composed of the following 7 Kudrstinirghatana Kudrstinirghatavakyatippinika Mulapattayah Sthulapattayah Tattvaratnavali Pancatathagatamudravivarana Sekanirdesa Caturmudranvaya Sekatatparyasamgraha Vajrasattva Pancakara Mayanirukti Svapnanirukti Tattvaprakasa Apratisthanaprakasa Yuganaddhaprakasa Mahasukhaprakasa Tattvavimsika Mahayanavimsika Nirvedhapancaka Madhyamasatka Premapancaka Tattvadasaka Amanasikaradhara Sahajasatka Dohanidhinamatattvopadesa Shes pa spro bsdu med par jog pa i man ngag gsang ba dam paSee also EditMarpa NaropaReferences Edit a b c Roberts Peter Alan Mahamudra and Related Instructions Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools Library of Tibetan Classics 2011 p 11 12 Mahamudra and Related Instructions Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools Simon and Schuster 17 May 2011 ISBN 978 0 86171 444 5 a b c Tatz Mark 1987 The Life of the Siddha Philosopher Maitrigupta Journal of the American Oriental Society 107 4 695 711 doi 10 2307 603308 JSTOR 603308 Buswell Robert Lopez Donald 2014 The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism Princeton University Press p 519 ISBN 9780691157863 Mathes Klaus Dieter A Fine Blend of Mahamudra and Madhyamaka Maitripa s Collection of Texts on Non Conceptual Realization Amanasikara Sitzungsberichte Der Philosophisch Historischen Klasse 2016 p 1 Ulrich Timme Kragh Tibetan yoga and mysticism a textual study of the yogas of Naropa and Mahamudra meditation in the medieval tradition of Dags po 2015 p 72 73 Mathes Klaus Dieter A Fine Blend of Mahamudra and Madhyamaka Maitripa s Collection of Texts on Non Conceptual Realization Amanasikara Sitzungsberichte Der Philosophisch Historischen Klasse 2016 p 5 Notes Edit The Life of the Siddha Philosopher Maitrigupta by Mark TatzJournal of the American Oriental Society Vol 107 No 4 1987 Oct Dec pgs 695 711External links EditMaitripa India s Yogi of Nondual Bliss by Klaus Dieter Mathes Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Maitripada amp oldid 1102614093, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
