Difference between revisions of "Amoghavajra"
| Line 27: | Line 27: | ||
After [[Vajrabodhi]] [[died]], [[Amoghavajra]], honoring his teacher’s instruction, set out for [[India]] in search of the [[esoteric]] [[Dharma]]. Together with [[Hanguang]] ([[含光]]), [[Huibian]] ([[慧辯]]), and others, he traveled by sea. | After [[Vajrabodhi]] [[died]], [[Amoghavajra]], honoring his teacher’s instruction, set out for [[India]] in search of the [[esoteric]] [[Dharma]]. Together with [[Hanguang]] ([[含光]]), [[Huibian]] ([[慧辯]]), and others, he traveled by sea. | ||
| − | He first visited [[Sri Lanka]] and received from [[Nāgabodhi]] ([[龍智]]) the [[Vajra | + | He first visited [[Sri Lanka]] and received from [[Nāgabodhi]] ([[龍智]]) the [[Vajra Summit Yoga]], which had been initially imparted in eighteen assemblies, and the [[Mahāvairocana]] [[Great Compassion]] Store, as well as the [[Five-Division Empowerment]], the [[Secret Book of Mantras]], and some five hundred [[sūtras]] and treatises. |
He also received teachings on the secret [[mudrās]] of the [[deities]]. | He also received teachings on the secret [[mudrās]] of the [[deities]]. | ||
| Line 48: | Line 48: | ||
[[Kumārajīva]] ([[鳩摩羅什]], 344–413), [[Paramārtha]] ([[真諦]], 499–569), [[Xuanzang]] ([[玄奘]], 600– or 602–64), and [[Amoghavajra]] ([[不空金剛]], 705–74) are honored in [[China]] as the four great [[translators]], who contributed greatly to establishing the correspondence between [[Sanskrit and Chinese]] in {{Wiki|sounds}} and rhythms. | [[Kumārajīva]] ([[鳩摩羅什]], 344–413), [[Paramārtha]] ([[真諦]], 499–569), [[Xuanzang]] ([[玄奘]], 600– or 602–64), and [[Amoghavajra]] ([[不空金剛]], 705–74) are honored in [[China]] as the four great [[translators]], who contributed greatly to establishing the correspondence between [[Sanskrit and Chinese]] in {{Wiki|sounds}} and rhythms. | ||
| − | [[Subhakara-Siṁha]] ([[善無畏]], 637–735), [[Vajrabodhi]] ([[金剛智]], 671?–741), and [[Amoghavajra]] are called the Three Great Ones during the [[Kaiyuan]] ([[開元]]) years. | + | [[Subhakara-Siṁha]] ([[善無畏]], 637–735), [[Vajrabodhi]] ([[金剛智]], 671?–741), and [[Amoghavajra]] are called the [[Three Great Ones]] during the [[Kaiyuan]] ([[開元]]) years. |
| − | [[Amoghavajra’s]] {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[disciple]] [[Huiguo]] ([[惠果]], 746–805) received full impartation of the [[Dharma]] from him and became the [[seventh patriarch]], the last one | + | [[Amoghavajra’s]] {{Wiki|Chinese}} [[disciple]] [[Huiguo]] ([[惠果]], 746–805) received full impartation of the [[Dharma]] from him and became the [[seventh patriarch]], the last one in [[China]]. |
| − | Then the [[esoteric]] [[lineage]] was carried on by [[Huiguo’s]] [[Japanese]] [[disciple]] [[Konghai]] ([[空海]], 774–835), who became the [[first patriarch | + | During their days, the [[Esoteric School of Buddhism]] flourished in [[China]]. |
| + | |||
| + | Then the [[esoteric]] [[lineage]] was carried on by [[Huiguo’s]] [[Japanese]] [[disciple]] [[Konghai]] ([[空海]], 774–835), who became the [[first patriarch of the True Word School]] ([[Mantra School]]) in [[Japan]], which has thrived to this day. | ||
| + | |||
| + | An [[Indian]] [[Monk]] who went to [[China]] to disseminate [[Esoteric Buddhism]] and became known in [[China]] as [[Pu-k'ung]]. | ||
| + | |||
| + | See [[Pu-k'ung]]. | ||
| − | |||
[[Amoghavajra]] ([[不空金剛]], 705–74) is referred to as [[Not Empty Vajra]] in [[China]]. | [[Amoghavajra]] ([[不空金剛]], 705–74) is referred to as [[Not Empty Vajra]] in [[China]]. | ||
| − | He is the [[sixth patriarch]] in the [[Buddhist | + | He is the [[sixth patriarch]] in the [[Buddhist esoteric lineage]]. Born in the [[Lion]] {{Wiki|Kingdom}}, present-day [[Sri Lanka]], in southern [[India]], he traveled in his youth with his uncle. |
Later he renounced [[family]] [[life]] and studied under [[Vajrabodhi]] ([[金剛智]]), who took him to {{Wiki|Luoyang}} ([[洛陽]]) in 720, the eighth year of the [[Kaiyuan]] ([[開元]]) years of [[Emperor]] [[Xuanzong]] ([[唐玄宗]]) of the {{Wiki|Tang Dynasty}} (618–907). | Later he renounced [[family]] [[life]] and studied under [[Vajrabodhi]] ([[金剛智]]), who took him to {{Wiki|Luoyang}} ([[洛陽]]) in 720, the eighth year of the [[Kaiyuan]] ([[開元]]) years of [[Emperor]] [[Xuanzong]] ([[唐玄宗]]) of the {{Wiki|Tang Dynasty}} (618–907). | ||
| Line 65: | Line 70: | ||
| − | At twenty, [[Amoghavajra]] was fully [[ordained]] at the [[Guangfu | + | At twenty, [[Amoghavajra]] was fully [[ordained]] at the [[Guangfu Temple]] ([[廣福寺]]) in {{Wiki|Luoyang}} ([[洛陽]]). |
Exceptionally {{Wiki|intelligent}}, he was well regarded by his [[teacher]] [[Vajrabodhi]], who imparted to him all five divisions of the teachings on the three secrets: [[body]], {{Wiki|voice}}, and [[mind]]. | Exceptionally {{Wiki|intelligent}}, he was well regarded by his [[teacher]] [[Vajrabodhi]], who imparted to him all five divisions of the teachings on the three secrets: [[body]], {{Wiki|voice}}, and [[mind]]. | ||
| Line 73: | Line 78: | ||
He first visited [[Sri Lanka]] and received from [[Nāgabodhi]] ([[龍智]]) the [[Vajra]] Summit [[Yoga]], which had been initially imparted in eighteen assemblies, and the [[Mahāvairocana]] [[Great Compassion]] [[Store]], as well as the Five-Division [[Empowerment]], | He first visited [[Sri Lanka]] and received from [[Nāgabodhi]] ([[龍智]]) the [[Vajra]] Summit [[Yoga]], which had been initially imparted in eighteen assemblies, and the [[Mahāvairocana]] [[Great Compassion]] [[Store]], as well as the Five-Division [[Empowerment]], | ||
| − | the Secret [[Book]] of [[Mantras]], and some five hundred [[sūtras]] and treatises | + | the Secret [[Book]] of [[Mantras]], and some five hundred [[sūtras]] and treatises. |
| − | |||
| − | |||
| + | He also received teachings on the secret [[mudrās]] of the [[deities]]. | ||
| + | After traveling extensively across the five regions of [[India]], [[Amoghavajra]] returned to [[Chang-an]] ([[長安]]), [[China’s]] {{Wiki|capital}}, in 746, the fifth year of the [[Tianbao]] ([[天寶]]) years. | ||
| + | There he gave an [[esoteric]] [[empowerment]] to [[Emperor]] [[Xuanzong]] ([[唐玄宗]]). Later on, the [[emperor]] named him [[Knowledge]] [[Store]] and bestowed upon him the purple robe because his practice successfully brought rainfall. | ||
In 771, the sixth year of the [[Dali]] ([[大曆]]) years of {{Wiki|Emperor Daizong}} ([[唐代宗]]), [[Amoghavajra]] presented his {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|translations}} of seventy-seven [[Sanskrit]] texts in 101 fascicles with a table of contents, and requested to have them included in the [[Tripiṭaka]]. | In 771, the sixth year of the [[Dali]] ([[大曆]]) years of {{Wiki|Emperor Daizong}} ([[唐代宗]]), [[Amoghavajra]] presented his {{Wiki|Chinese}} {{Wiki|translations}} of seventy-seven [[Sanskrit]] texts in 101 fascicles with a table of contents, and requested to have them included in the [[Tripiṭaka]]. | ||
| Line 84: | Line 90: | ||
Then the [[emperor]] conferred upon him a title, [[Great Vast Knowledge Tripiṭaka Master]]. | Then the [[emperor]] conferred upon him a title, [[Great Vast Knowledge Tripiṭaka Master]]. | ||
| − | In the sixth month of 774, sensing that his [[time]] was due, [[Amoghavajra]] wrote the [[emperor]] a farewell [[letter]] and [[offered]] his [[ritual]] [[objects]], a [[bell]] and a five-spoke | + | In the sixth month of 774, sensing that his [[time]] was due, [[Amoghavajra]] wrote the [[emperor]] a farewell [[letter]] and [[offered]] his [[ritual]] [[objects]], a [[bell]] and a [[five-spoke vajra]]. |
{{Wiki|Lying}} on his side, he [[died]] at the age of seventy. A memorial [[pagoda]] was erected at the [[Daxingshan]] [[Temple]] ([[大興善寺]]), for keeping his [[relics]]. | {{Wiki|Lying}} on his side, he [[died]] at the age of seventy. A memorial [[pagoda]] was erected at the [[Daxingshan]] [[Temple]] ([[大興善寺]]), for keeping his [[relics]]. | ||
| Line 99: | Line 105: | ||
During their days, the [[Esoteric]] School of [[Buddhism]] flourished in [[China]]. | During their days, the [[Esoteric]] School of [[Buddhism]] flourished in [[China]]. | ||
| − | Then the [[esoteric]] [[lineage]] was carried on by [[Huiguo’s | + | Then the [[esoteric]] [[lineage]] was carried on by [[Huiguo’s Japanese disciple]] [[Konghai]] ([[空海]], 774–835), who became the [[first patriarch of the True Word School]] ([[Mantra]] School) in [[Japan]], which has thrived to this day. |
</poem> | </poem> | ||
{{R}} | {{R}} | ||
Revision as of 13:27, 7 January 2016
Amoghavajra
不空 (Skt; Jpn Fuku) Amoghavajra (705-774): Famous Indian Buddhist monk and disciple of Vajrabodhi who arrived in China in 720 to help transmit the esoteric teachings. an :
Chinese term for all things that are dark and unbeneficial to sentient beings. The opposite of “ming” which means brightness.
Amoghavajra (不空金剛, 705–74) is referred to as Not Empty Vajra in China. He is the sixth patriarch in the Buddhist esoteric lineage.
Born in the Lion Kingdom, present-day Sri Lanka, in southern India, he traveled in his youth with his uncle. Later he renounced family life and studied under Vajrabodhi (金剛智), who took him to Luoyang (洛陽) in 720, the eighth year of the Kaiyuan (開元) years of Emperor Xuanzong (唐玄宗) of the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
Amoghavajra was then sixteen. Another version of the story goes that he was the son of a Brahmin in northern India. Orphaned as a child, he went to China with his uncle and then studied under Vajrabodhi.
At twenty, Amoghavajra was fully ordained at the Guangfu Temple (廣福寺) in Luoyang (洛陽).
Exceptionally intelligent, he was well regarded by his teacher Vajrabodhi, who imparted to him all five divisions of the teachings on the three secrets: body, voice, and mind.
After Vajrabodhi died, Amoghavajra, honoring his teacher’s instruction, set out for India in search of the esoteric Dharma. Together with Hanguang (含光), Huibian (慧辯), and others, he traveled by sea.
He first visited Sri Lanka and received from Nāgabodhi (龍智) the Vajra Summit Yoga, which had been initially imparted in eighteen assemblies, and the Mahāvairocana Great Compassion Store, as well as the Five-Division Empowerment, the Secret Book of Mantras, and some five hundred sūtras and treatises.
He also received teachings on the secret mudrās of the deities.
After traveling extensively across the five regions of India, Amoghavajra returned to Chang-an (長安), China’s capital, in 746, the fifth year of the Tianbao (天寶) years.
There he gave an esoteric empowerment to Emperor Xuanzong (唐玄宗). Later on, the emperor named him Knowledge Store and bestowed upon him the purple robe because his practice successfully brought rainfall.
In 771, the sixth year of the Dali (大曆) years of Emperor Daizong (唐代宗), Amoghavajra presented his Chinese translations of seventy-seven Sanskrit texts in 101 fascicles with a table of contents, and requested to have them included in the Tripiṭaka.
Then the emperor conferred upon him a title, Great Vast Knowledge Tripiṭaka Master.
In the sixth month of 774, sensing that his time was due, Amoghavajra wrote the emperor a farewell letter and offered his ritual objects, a bell and a five-spoke vajra. Lying on his side, he died at the age of seventy.
A memorial pagoda was erected at the Daxingshan Temple (大興善寺), for keeping his relics.
Kumārajīva (鳩摩羅什, 344–413), Paramārtha (真諦, 499–569), Xuanzang (玄奘, 600– or 602–64), and Amoghavajra (不空金剛, 705–74) are honored in China as the four great translators, who contributed greatly to establishing the correspondence between Sanskrit and Chinese in sounds and rhythms.
Subhakara-Siṁha (善無畏, 637–735), Vajrabodhi (金剛智, 671?–741), and Amoghavajra are called the Three Great Ones during the Kaiyuan (開元) years.
Amoghavajra’s Chinese disciple Huiguo (惠果, 746–805) received full impartation of the Dharma from him and became the seventh patriarch, the last one in China.
During their days, the Esoteric School of Buddhism flourished in China.
Then the esoteric lineage was carried on by Huiguo’s Japanese disciple Konghai (空海, 774–835), who became the first patriarch of the True Word School (Mantra School) in Japan, which has thrived to this day.
An Indian Monk who went to China to disseminate Esoteric Buddhism and became known in China as Pu-k'ung.
See Pu-k'ung.
Amoghavajra (不空金剛, 705–74) is referred to as Not Empty Vajra in China.
He is the sixth patriarch in the Buddhist esoteric lineage. Born in the Lion Kingdom, present-day Sri Lanka, in southern India, he traveled in his youth with his uncle.
Later he renounced family life and studied under Vajrabodhi (金剛智), who took him to Luoyang (洛陽) in 720, the eighth year of the Kaiyuan (開元) years of Emperor Xuanzong (唐玄宗) of the Tang Dynasty (618–907).
Amoghavajra was then sixteen. Another version of the story goes that he was the son of a Brahmin in northern India. Orphaned as a child, he went to China with his uncle and then studied under Vajrabodhi.
At twenty, Amoghavajra was fully ordained at the Guangfu Temple (廣福寺) in Luoyang (洛陽).
Exceptionally intelligent, he was well regarded by his teacher Vajrabodhi, who imparted to him all five divisions of the teachings on the three secrets: body, voice, and mind.
After Vajrabodhi died, Amoghavajra, honoring his teacher’s instruction, set out for India in search of the esoteric Dharma. Together with Hanguang (含光), Huibian (慧辯), and others, he traveled by sea.
He first visited Sri Lanka and received from Nāgabodhi (龍智) the Vajra Summit Yoga, which had been initially imparted in eighteen assemblies, and the Mahāvairocana Great Compassion Store, as well as the Five-Division Empowerment,
the Secret Book of Mantras, and some five hundred sūtras and treatises.
He also received teachings on the secret mudrās of the deities.
After traveling extensively across the five regions of India, Amoghavajra returned to Chang-an (長安), China’s capital, in 746, the fifth year of the Tianbao (天寶) years.
There he gave an esoteric empowerment to Emperor Xuanzong (唐玄宗). Later on, the emperor named him Knowledge Store and bestowed upon him the purple robe because his practice successfully brought rainfall.
In 771, the sixth year of the Dali (大曆) years of Emperor Daizong (唐代宗), Amoghavajra presented his Chinese translations of seventy-seven Sanskrit texts in 101 fascicles with a table of contents, and requested to have them included in the Tripiṭaka.
Then the emperor conferred upon him a title, Great Vast Knowledge Tripiṭaka Master.
In the sixth month of 774, sensing that his time was due, Amoghavajra wrote the emperor a farewell letter and offered his ritual objects, a bell and a five-spoke vajra.
Lying on his side, he died at the age of seventy. A memorial pagoda was erected at the Daxingshan Temple (大興善寺), for keeping his relics.
Kumārajīva (鳩摩羅什, 344–413), Paramārtha (真諦, 499–569), Xuanzang (玄奘, 600– or 602–64), and Amoghavajra (不空金剛,
705–74) are honored in China as the four great translators, who contributed greatly to establishing the correspondence between Sanskrit and Chinese in sounds and rhythms.
Subhakara-Siṁha (善無畏, 637–735), Vajrabodhi (金剛智, 671?–741), and Amoghavajra are called the Three Great Ones during the Kaiyuan (開元) years.
Amoghavajra’s Chinese disciple Huiguo (惠果, 746–805) received full impartation of the Dharma from him and became the seventh patriarch, the last one in China.
During their days, the Esoteric School of Buddhism flourished in China.
Then the esoteric lineage was carried on by Huiguo’s Japanese disciple Konghai (空海, 774–835), who became the first patriarch of the True Word School (Mantra School) in Japan, which has thrived to this day.
