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Enacting Perfection: Buddhajñānapāda’s Vision of a Tantric Buddhist World
By Catherine Dalton A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhist Studies in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Jacob Dalton, Chair Professor Alexander von Rospatt Professor Robert Sharf Professor Munis Faruqui Professor Harunaga Isaacson Spring 2019 Copyright ã 2019 by Catherine Dalton
Abstract
Enacting Perfection:
Buddhajñānapāda’s Vision of a Tantric Buddhist World by Catherine Dalton
Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhist Studies
University of California, Berkeley
Professor Jacob Dalton, Chair
This dissertation focuses on the life, writings, and thought of the Indian Buddhist yogin and tantric exegete Buddhajñānapāda, remembered as the founder of the Jñānapāda School of tantric theory and practice. Through an in-depth study of his oeuvre, I attempt to excavate the late eighth-century world of tantric Buddhism as it emerges in his narrative, doctrinal, and ritual writings. I focus, in particular, on his most important composition, the Dvitīyakramatattvabhāvanā-mukhāgama in which Buddhajñānapāda uses autobiographical narrative and visionary revelation to frame assertions about the nature of reality and outline rituals that lead to its realization. I examine the key features of both the doctrinal positions articulated in his works, as well as the ritual systems through which a yogin was to embody and realize those doctrines, showing that Buddhajñānapāda was an important and innovative figure in the realms of both tantric Buddhist doctrine and ritual. The dissertation also includes a Tibetan edition and an annotated English translation of the Dvitīyakrama. i For Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, whose kindness cannot be repaid. ii Acknowledgements To the Glorious One who has perfected bliss, who is endowed with the radiance of nondual profundity and luminosity; to his nature, which is peace, the blazing sixteenth part, the ultimate essence; and to the three supreme gurus who teach that, I constantly bow with my three activities of body, speech, and mind equally. -Buddhajñānapāda, Dvitīyakrama I would not have undertaken my doctoral studies in the first place had it not been for many years of encouragement from Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche to do so. His advice and support have remained instrumental throughout the process of researching and writing this dissertation, and indeed throughout many aspects of my life in the nearly twenty years that I have had the fortune to know him. The lightheartedness and joy of Tsikey Chokling Rinpoche has remained a constant source of inspiration for me through this whole process. I am also grateful for the advice and support of Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and Dzigar Kongtrül Rinpoche, whose encouragement, along with that of Chökyi Nyima Rinpoche, helped me to move forward as I came up against what were, for me, some of the more difficult materials in this dissertation. I have done my best to adhere to their guidance, as well as to maintain the academic rigor that they encouraged me to uphold. My personal approach to the materials studied in this dissertation comes from a foundation in the Buddhist tradition that was built through years of study with these and other teachers. In addition, the lamas, khenpos, and monks of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery and the nuns of Nagi Gompa Nunnery, both located in Kathmandu, Nepal, have, over a period of nearly twenty years now, taught me not only how to approach Buddhist texts and practices, but how to appreciate Buddhism as a living tradition, a lesson that has been of direct and great benefit in helping me come to understand Buddhajñānapāda’s 8th/9th-century world. My advisor at the University of California, Berkeley, Dr. Jacob Dalton, whom I met at the “Translating the Words of the Buddha” conference in India in 2009, has supported and guided my work with kindness and generosity throughout the entire process. It was in my coursework with Jake that I first came to know of Buddhajñānapāda, and where Jake’s passion and curiosity about the “intermediate period” of tantric Buddhism in which Buddhajñānapāda lived and wrote inspired my own. Jake’s support and guidance throughout the process of the dissertation research and writing has been essential in helping me bring this project to fruition. The other members of my dissertation committee have each contributed to this dissertation in essential ways. Dr. Alexander von Rospatt has been a kind and generous source of personal and academic inspiration and support since we first met in Kathmandu when I was applying to Berkeley. Meeting periodically with Alex throughout the years of my dissertation research and writing to discuss my work, whether in his office at Berkeley or a garden restaurant in Boudhanath, has invariably left my horizons widened and my understanding of these materials richer. Dr. Harunaga Isaacson was kind enough to join my committee just a few months before I submitted my dissertation, but his great generosity with comments, corrections, and guidance during this final period of my work has significantly improved, and even shaped, the final form and content of this dissertation. Haru’s kindness, and especially his unflagging enthusiasm for the material, provided much inspiration that enabled me to bring this work to completion. iii My coursework and exam on Chinese Buddhism with Dr. Robert Sharf broadened my knowledge of Buddhist traditions, and Bob’s guidance on the dissertation writing process was of great help to me in navigating my way through such a long and varied writing project. My exam on Indian History with Dr. Munis Faruqui, and his astute questions about my work at the outset of the research process helped me to frame my research within, and learn so much more about, the wider historical context of the Indian subcontinent. Munis also taught me much of value about the historian’s craft. I could not have completed my edition and translation of the Dvitīyakrama without the assistance of Khenchen Chodrak Tenphel, who patiently and insightfully answered my many questions on the text and its commentary nearly every day over a period of several months in Boudhanath, Nepal in the winter and spring of 2016. The series of teachings that Khenpo Rinpoche gave to the monks of Ka-Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery for several months that winter, and which I was generously permitted to attend, were also instrumental in opening Buddhajñānapāda’s writings to me. Khenpo Karma Gyurme of Ka- Nying Shedrub Ling Monastery kindly read through the entirety of the Tibetan translation of the Ātmasādhanāvatāra with me, clearing up confusing points in the text, as well as confirming my suspicion that it is a genuinely difficult work! Dr. Péter-Dániel Szántó very generously (and often unasked) shared with me quite a bit of his unpublished work related to Buddhajñānapāda. His draft Sanskrit editions of several texts were of tremendous help for me in writing the dissertation. A number of exciting Skype conversations with Péter as we worked together on a short encyclopedia article on Buddhajñānapāda were also very helpful for me as I moved forward with writing my dissertation. Likewise, Dr. Kimiaki Tanaka kindly shared with me an unpublished English translation of some of his work on Buddhajñānapāda, enabling me to read research that was otherwise inaccessible to me, as it was published in Japanese. Dr. Tanaka has also generously gifted me copies of several of his difficult-to-acquire publications on Buddhajñānapāda’s writings over the past few years. Dr. Christian Wedemeyer generously shared with me a written copy of a paper that he delivered in a conference on tantra at Berkeley in 2014 (an updated version of which is fortunately soon to be published in 2019), which turned out to be of great relevance to my own research. Hubert Decleer kindly shared with me several of his unpublished articles concerning Buddhajñānapāda’s life story. I am also grateful to Hubert for introducing me to Tibetan culture when I was an undergraduate student on the SIT Tibet Studies program that he directed in the spring of 2000, and for his continued friendship since then. Dr. Ryūta Kikuya shared with me several of his published but difficult to access articles (in Japanese) on topics related to Buddhajñānapāda, and has been kind and encouraging of my work. Dr. Adam Krug generously shared with me his newly submitted dissertation before it was otherwise available, and several other helpful articles. Dr. James Gentry offered helpful insights at several points in the research and writing process, as did the other members of Rangjung Yeshe Institute’s Faculty Research group in the spring of 2015—Dr. Gregory Sharkey SJ, Joanne Larson, Dr. Karin Meyers, and Dr. Philippe Turenne. Dr. Douglas Duckworth and Dr. Thomas Doctor kindly helped me with some queries on points of philosophy. Dr. Mattia Salvini gave some very helpful guidance on points of Sanskrit and kāmaśāstra. Dr. Takahiko Kameyama and Atsuki Nakagami generously helped me look through several articles written in Japanese. Ryan Damron patiently listened to quite a number of extensive and excited monologues (I iv occasionally let him get a word in) on my research over the years, and always offered constructive feedback once I finally stopped to breathe. Ryan has also been consistently enthusiastic regarding my requests to look at a number of short Sanskrit passages with me along the way. Somānanda Dharmanātha has been a generous source of all sorts of information, as well as a delightful sounding-board for many discoveries and ideas over the years of my research and writing. Our dear friends Zack Beer and Sara Rojo have given my husband Gerry and me a warm and welcome (and migrating!) second home during our many visits to the Bay Area while I have been working on this dissertation. Many, many more friends and family members, too numerous to name, have supported me with their friendship and love over the years of my doctoral work, and not complained too much when I gave overly long and detailed answers to their polite questions about my dissertation topic.
