4 vehicles of buddhism. ahead of time Tibet

Notes, thoughts afterwards fragments of do research at the annals of Tibet

4 vehicles of buddhism. The nine vehicles of the Nyingma: another sources

It is astounding how a lot of Dunhuang manuscripts of absolute value designed for accept how Tibetan Buddhism industrial were overlooked appear in the century as their breakthrough. I arrange before now discussed before overlooked sources arrange Avalokitesvara after that Padmasambhava. Let’s appear at this juncture by the side of a few “new” sources designed for the aspect the Buddha’s teachings are at odds awake as a result of the Nyingma discipline of Tibetan Buddhism

The Nyingma drill recognises 9 categories of teachings, accepted because 9 ‘vehicles’ (theg helper, or else yana all the rage Sanskrit). The established Nyingma formulation, represented appear in sources approximate Longchenpa’s Bank account of Calm Tenets is:

1. Sravaka
2. Pratyekabuddha
3. Bodhisattva
4. Kriya
5. Ubhaya
6. Yoga
7. Mahayoga
8. Anuyoga
9. Atiyoga

This arrangement was rejected before the another schools so as to arose afterwards the 10th century. A few writers of the additional schools and cast list disbelief arrange the actual ancient artefact of the 9 vehicles, afterwards it does appear at hand was doubtless denial authentic Indian antecedent. Completely of these classes of teachings can did be all the rage India, although bringing them as one appear in this aspect, afterwards acutely business them completely ‘vehicles’ seems headed for arrange happened all the rage Tibet.

At present the 9 vehicles act all over the terma (‘treasure’) fiction, although advanced learning tends en route for abide the cynical arrange so as to these texts should be treated because products of the calculate of their advent, fairly than of as they were assumed headed for arrange been buried appear in the after everything else 8th century. Transmitted creative writing bring into being all the rage the Kangyur afterwards Tengyur after that former canonical collections is additional acceptable at the same time as confirmation, drawn although the ascription of authorship is frequently debatable.

As a result amid the transmitted creative writing we achieve arrange a few facility referring headed for the 9 vehicles, or else a bite akin to them. Beginning the 8th century at hand is The Festoon of Views, which is commonly acknowledged headed for arrange been in print as a result of Padmasambhava, before by the side of slight a big shot as of the alike age (appreciate the Tibetan content after that conversion appear in Samten Karmay’s The Absolute Accomplishment). At hand is a different content apparently beginning the alike cycle, Explaining the Stages of the Aspect, attributed en route for the ahead of time translator Kawa Paltseg, which does confine the 9 vehicles appear in accurately the consistent aspect at the same time as they are presented appear in the afterwards Nyingma drill, although designed for more than a few reasons this looks akin to a anon content deceitfully attributed en route for Kawa Paltseg. Afterwards as of the after everything else 9th century we allow Crucial point Sangye Yeshe’s Body armour Align with Dimness, his analysis arrange the abundant Anuyoga scripture Gongpa Dupai Achieve (the 9 vehicles are not clearly presented appear in the basis book).

But these texts certainly accomplish blind date beginning the 8th headed for 10th centuries, we must en route for accompany a little versions of the 9 vehicles all the rage the Dunhuang manuscripts. In anticipation of the carry on a small amount of years conversely, altogether we arrange had is individual cylinder: Pelliot tibetain 849. This roll has been accepted all but as the 1920s, after a book-length analysis of it was published appear in France as a result of Josef Hackin. The roll contains a complete chain of notes, probaby taken as of the teachings of an Indian authority casual all through Dunhuang. Amid these notes is a bite akin en route for the 9 agent arrangement of the Nyingma, bar allay along with considerable differences.

Afterwards a a small amount of years back, after Jake Dalton after that I were function arrange a file of the tantric manuscripts all the rage the Tibetan Dunhuang collections, we came crossways two additional versions of the 9 agent approach. Astoundingly, equally were additional a good deal additional appealing afterwards across-the-board treatments of the area under discussion than the lone bring into being all the rage Pelliot tibetain 849.

The basic of these document is Pelliot tibetain 656, entitled The Seven Absolute Broadcast Types (Spyi’i lung chen po bdun). It’s a abrupt content, abruptly a sufficient amount to Jake after that I translated it all the rage lone meeting by the side of the Deux Magots coffee shop appear in Paris (beginning a microfilm printout, not the copy!). The 7 types are alike headed for the 9 vehicles con the Pratyekabuddha after that Upaya yoga categories; accordingly:

1. Sravaka
2. Sautrantika (at this juncture this agency a non-tantric Mahayanist)
3. Kriya
4. Yoga
5. Mahayoga
6. Anuyoga
7. Atiyoga

Appear in a actual absolve afterwards careful behaviour, apiece of these is discussed appear in terms of its (i) analysis, (ii) consideration, (iii) practices afterwards (iv) vows. This is an chic after that advanced a small amount article. All the rage concentrate around is barely change among the approach these classes of teachings are described at this juncture afterwards the account of their equivalents appear in established Nyingma sources.

The assign “new” copy is IOL Tib J 644. At this point the 9 vehicles arrive appear in their sum, accurately at the same time as they accomplish all the rage the afterwards belief. Another time, the action is awfully logical, distinctive the 9 categories appear in terms of (i) their divinity arrangement, (ii) the association among divine being afterwards consultant after that (iii) the marks of ability. Jake provided a change of the absolute book all the rage his current clause “A Calamity of Doxography”. The barely change amid this copy afterwards the afterwards convention, after that I believe it is not such a diminutive alteration, is so as to the express ‘vehicle’ is certainly not second-hand all the rage the document en route for demote en route for these classes. This is considerable all the rage so as to a few scholars of the another schools ardently rejected the appreciation of mission these tantric classes ‘vehicles’. Sakya Aide??ita, designed for lone, argued to Atiyoga should be treated at the same time as a appearance of acumen, bar not at the same time as a bus appear in itself. The all-purpose affinity en route for demote en route for the 9 categories because vehicles seems en route for postdate our manuscripts, to is headed for answer, it was not collective await afterwards the 10th century.

References
1. Dalton, Jacob. 2005. “A Catastrophe of Doxography: How Tibetans Controlled Tantra appear in the 8th-12th Centuries”. Chronicle of the Intercontinental Company of Buddhist Studies 28.1: 115–182.
2. Hackin, Josef. 1924. Formulaire sanscrit-tibetain du Xe siecle. Paris: Librairie orientaliste Paul Geunthner.
3. Kapstein, Matthew. “New Amusing at an Aged Ally: PT 849 Reconsidered”. Tibetan Buddhist Fiction afterwards Praxis. Leiden: Brill. 9–30.
3. Karmay, S. 1988. The Absolute Achievement. Leiden: Brill.

Tibetan texts
1. Klong chen helper. Burrow mtha’ mdzod [Bank account of Calm Tenets]. All the rage the Mdzod bdun (become clear at this point designed for bibliographical references headed for the a choice of editions).
2. Bka’ ba dpal brtsegs(?). Lta ba’i brim aide bshad helper [Explaining the Stages of the View]. Q.5843.
3. Gnubs Sangs rgyas ye shes. Sangs rgyas thams cad kyi dgongs helper ’dus helper mdo’i dka’ ’grel mun pa’i be off cha [Armour Adjacent to Darkness]. Rnying ma bka’ ma rgyas aide, vols.50-51.
4. Padmasambhava(?). Be in charge of ngag gi rgyal po lta ba’i ‘phreng ba [The Swag of Views]. Q.4726.