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The 'Mahāvairocana Tantra' is an important Buddhist text. It is also known as the Mahāvairocana Abhisaṃbodhi Tantra, or more fully as the Mahāvairocana Abhisaṃbodhi Vikurvita Adhiṣṭhāna Tantra. In Tibet it is considered to be a member of the Carya class of tantras. In Japan where it is known as the Mahāvairocana Sūtra, it is one of two central texts in the Shingon school, along with the Vajrasekhara Sutra.

Contents

Composition & history

Contents

Chapters

Esoteric Precepts

Shingon Lineage

References

See also

Composition & history

The Mahāvairocana Tantra is the first true Buddhist tantra, the earliest comprehensive manual of tantric Buddhism. It was probably composed in the mid 7th century, probably in north-eastern India. The Sanskrit text of the Mahāvairocana Tantra is lost, but it survives in Chinese and Tibetan translations. The Chinese translation has preserved the original Sanskrit mantras in the Siddhaṃ script. There are translations from both into English. (see below).
It was translated into Chinese in 724 by Śubhakarasiṃha who had travelled to China from Nālandā. It is possible that the Sanskrit text was taken to China circa 674 by the Chinese pilgrim Wu-xing. It was translated into Tibetan in 812 by Śīlendrabodhi and dPal brTsegs.
A major commentary by Buddhaguhya was written in 760 and is preserved in Tibetan. Hodge translates it into English alongside the text itself.
Kūkai discovered the Mahāvairocana Tantra in 796, and travelled to China in 804 to receive instruction in it.

Contents

The Mahāvairocana Tantra consists of three primary mandalas corresponding to the body, speech and mind of Mahāvairocana, as well as preliminary practices and initiation rituals. According to Buddhaguhya’s Piṇḍārtha (a summary of the main points of the tantra) the Mahāvairocana Tantra system of practice is in three stages: preliminary, application, and accomplishment. Attached here and there are doctrinal passages, and sadhana practices which relate back to the main mandalas.
The following outline is based on Hodges translation of the Tibetan version of the Sutra. The Cinese version has differences in the order of the chapters.

Chapters

★ I - The sutra begins in a timeless setting of Mahavairocana Buddha's palace (symbolizing all of existence), with a dialogue between Mahavairocana Buddha and his disciple Vajrasattva. In chapter one, Mahavairocana Buddha expounds the Dharma to a great host of bodhisattvas, with emphasis on the relationship between form and emptiness.

★ II-VI Three chapter on the mandala of the Body Mystery with detailed instruction on the laying out of the mandala and the abhiṣekha ritual. This mandala is also known as the Mandala of the Womb Realm (Sanskrit : Garbhakosha).

★ VII-IX Three miscellaneous chapters originally at the end of the text. They are at the end in the Chinese version.

★ X-XII Three chapters on the mandala of the Speech Mystery. Includes a series of glosses on meditating using the letter of the alphabet in various combinations.

★ XII-XVI Five chapters on the mandala of the Mind Mystery

★ XVII A stand alone chapter that may once have circulated separately.

★ XVIII-XIX A further chapter regarding meditating on the letters of the alphabet which involves placing them around the body while visualising oneself as the Buddha.

★ XX A standalone chapter address to bodhisattvas

★ XXI-XXV Four chapters on the 100 syllable meditation.

★ XXVI-XXX Five miscellaneous chapters including the six homa rites.

Esoteric Precepts

Chapter 2 of the sutra also contains four precepts, called the ''samaya'', that form the basic precepts esoteric Buddhist practitioners must follow:

★ Not to abandon the true Dharma

★ Not to deviate from one's own enlightened mind

★ Not to be reserved in sharing with others the Buddhist teachings

★ Not to bring harm to any sentient beings

Shingon Lineage

The Mahavairocana Tantra does not trace its lineage to Shakyamuni Buddha, the founder of Buddhism. Instead it comes directly from Mahavairocana. The lineage then being, according to the Shingon tradition.

★ Vajrasattva, the disciple of Mahavairocana Buddha in this sutra.

★ Nagarjuna received the text of the Mahāvairocana Tantra directly from Vajrasattva inside a iron stupa in South India.

★ Nagabodhi, Nagarjuna's disciple

★ Vajrabodhi, an Indian monk famous for translating esoteric rituals into Chinese language

★ Amoghavajra, Vajrabodhi's famous disciple, and expert in esoteric practices

★ Hui-kuo, a Chinese esoteric master

★ Kukai, founder of Japanese Buddhism.

References

★ Abé, Ryuichi. ''The Weaving of Mantra: Kukai and the Construction of Esoteric Buddhist Discourse''. New York, NY: Columbia University Press, 1999 ISBN 0-231-11286-6

★ Hodge, S. [trans.] The mahā-vairocana-abhisaṃbodhi tantra : with Buddhaguhya’s commentary. (London : RoutledgeCurzon, 2003)

★ Snellgrove, David. Indo-Tibetan Buddhism : Indian Buddhists and their Tibetan Successors. (Boston : Shambala, 2002)

★ Wayman, A and Tajima, R. The enlightenment of Vairocana. (Delhi : Motilal Banarsidass, 1998)

★ Yamamoto, Chikyo. 1990. Mahāvairocana-Sūtra : translated into english from Ta-p’I-lu-che-na ch’eng-fo shen-pien chia-ch’ih ching, the Chinese version of Śubhakarasiṃha and I-hsing (AD 725) New Delhi : International Academy of Indian Culture.

★ Yamasaki, T. Shingon : Japanese esoteric Buddhism. (Fresno, C.A. : Shingon Buddhist International Institute, 1988).

See also

★ Shingon

★ Kukai

★ Vajrasekhara Sutra