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Global Lamrim II

Lecture No. 0279

Lamrim Vol. 1: P36-LL3 ~ P37-L15

Date: 17 Jul 2022

Topic: Author of The Drop of Reasoning - Dharmakirti     

Dharmakirti’s father was a Brahman practitioner. Since childhood, Dharmakirti was very smart and nimble, proficient in craftsmanship, medicine, language so on and so forth. In addition, he was very conversant with all the Brahman scriptures and doctrines. At age 18, he already mastered all Brahman doctrines and was very well received by Brahman scholars. Later, he had the opportunity to listen to some teachings on Buddhist sutras and noticed much illogicality in the non-Buddhist scriptures. He thus began to develop profound faith in sublime Buddha Dharma. He thought about beseeching teachers, then he went to rely on the commentator Dharmapala and was ordained. [00:40]

After ordination, he attentively studied the Tripitaka. However, he still felt unfulfilled with what he had learned, he listened to Isvarasena’s Commentary on the Compendium of Validities [Pramāṇa-samuccaya] for three times. After listening for the first time, Dharmakirti was able to understand the intended meaning of Isvarasena; after the second time, Dharmakirti could comprehend the intended meaning of the grand master Dignāga, the author of the Compendium of Validities. After listening for the third time, Dharmakirti found some misinterpretation in what his teacher, commentator Isvarasena had acknowledged. After Dharmakirti revealed those mistaken assertions to his teacher Isvarasena, who was very pleased, as indicated [in the book I am reading to you now], “exhilarated”! Thus, Dharmakirti followed his teacher’s instructions and composed the Compendium of Valid Cognition [Pramāṇavārttika to explain the Compendium of Validities, composed by Dignāga]. [01:25]

After that, he wanted to refute the non-Buddhist doctrines. In order to achieve that, he needed to find out what their doctrines were. At that time, he heard that Brahman Kumarila Bhatta was very proficient in the non-Buddhist doctrines. However, Kumarila Bhatta would not transmit the esoteric terms to anyone other than his own spouse and children. Hence, Dharmakirti had no way to come close to him to learn the non-Buddhist doctrines. Subsequently, Dharmakirti disguised himself as a servant, serving the Brahman Kumarila Bhatta family, doing household chores diligently. See how far Dharmakirti would go for the sake of learning the doctrines! Dharmakirti worked strenuously and gained the trust of the Brahman’s wife. Thus, he could learn the crux of the doctrines  – he got what he was looking for! While serving the Brahman family, he also thoroughly understood the non-Buddhist doctrines. Later, he debated with Kumarila Bhatta in the palace and refuted Kumarila Bhatta’s views with proper perception…. and this Brahman Kumarila Bhatta thus had faith in the Buddhism finally. [02:32]

Later, Savkaracarya, a Brahman merchant, debated with Dharmakirti at the Deer Park, and the Brahman was defeated. Not sure if it was because this Brahman was way too staunch or what; surprisingly, he took his own life after being defeated! How did he do that? He drowned himself in the Ganges River. I  wonder, with what kind of feeling he would drown himself in the river. Next year, Savkaracarya was reborn as the son of his disciple. Sixteen years later, Savkaracarya grew up as a young adult and came to debate with Dharmakirti again – undoubtedly  another battle of life and death! And Savkaracarya failed again. After Savkaracarya was defeated again, what did he do? He drowned himself again. Not sure if it was the Ganges River this time? [03:20]

Then he was reincarnated again. Twelve years later, he wanted to debate with Dharmakirti again! Think about it, he already did it back and forth for three life times – being reborn and reincarnated for three times. On the third time, Dharmakirti was old. This time, the aged Dharmakirti struck once more, and won again finally! Dharmakirti might have given him some advice this time; I am not sure what the detail was. Dharmakirti convinced Savkaracarya to take refuge in Buddha’s teaching finally. That is, instead of drowning himself, he was motivated to rely on Buddha’s teaching. Everyone can think about it: why would I introduce Dharmakirti to you? This is the kind of person, [a distinguished master] and his work, the Drop of Reasoning! [04:04]

During that time, with the support of king Utphullapuspa, Dharmakirti composed Seven Treatises on Valid Cognition* [or Synthetic commentary on the seven books of Pramanavidya], He devoted his entire life in fulfilling the wish of reinvigorating/revitalizing the sublime teaching wherever the teachings had declined. Due to his tireless exhortation and urging - his grand aspiration inspired nearly one hundred thousand followers, monks and lay practitioners alike, took refuge in the Three Jewels. He built a monastery at Kalinga later, where he widely promulgated the sublime teachings and assisted many living beings to take the virtuous path. [04:38]

[*The Seven Treatises on Valid Cognition: 1. Pramāṇavārttika (Ascertainment of Valid Cognition) 2. Pramāṇaviniścaya (Commentary on Dignaga's 'Compendium of Valid Cognition') 3. Nyāyabindu (Drop of Reasoning) 4. Saṃbandhaparīkṣā (Analysis of Relations) 5. Hetubindu (Drop of Reasons) 6. Saṃtānāntarasiddhi (Proof of Others' Continuums) 7. Vādanyāya (Reasoning for Debate)]

Such is the commentator who composed the Drop of Reasoning. Master Atisha heard the teaching once – just one time, and he was able to defeat the non-Buddhist logician. Understandably, Master Atisha was indeed exceptionally intelligent! Here is about what Master Atisha had learned when he was 21 years old, and the story of defeating the non-Buddhist logician [at age fifteen], after he listened to Dharmakirti’s Drop of Reasoning only one time. [05:08]

Next, is about Master Atisha’s “study of the esoteric Tantra teachings: Then, he received complete initiation from the guru Rahulagupta, lord of contemplation of the Black Mountain Temple, who had a vision of the glorious Hevajra and had received prophecies from Vajradakini. He was given the secret name Jnanaguhyavajra. [v.1 p.37]” [05:31]

Let’s turn to page 105, the Chinese text of Rinpoche’s Introduction to the Four Interwoven Annotations; it says: Then, Master Atisha’s “study of the Tantra teachings; that is, how he received the Tantra teaching, apart from receiving the Sutrayana trainings. “The Bangala Black Mountain Temple” was in the city of Bangala, and that was how the temple was named by its geographic location. Then, what is “lord of contemplation”? That refers to his attainment of the Tantra training. As to “who had a vision of the glorious Hevajra and had received prophecies from Vajradakini”, these were all describing his teacher; who was the teacher? It says in the text, “He received complete initiation from the guru Rahulagupta”. The guru that Master Atisha relied on was Rahulagupta in Sanskrit, also known as “Rahulain” or “Rahulami”. When Master Atisha was listening to this guru’s teaching, he received complete initiation from the glorious Hevajra. Although Rinpoche did not specify the initiation was from the glorious Hevajra, it should be so. “He was given the secret name Jnanaguhyavajra,” after receiving the tantric initiation, Master Atisha was given the secret name Jnanaguhyavajra. [06:27]

讲次 | 0279 (2020-11-30 ~ 2020-12-02)

标题 | 《正理滴论》作者──法称论师

《广论》段落 | P3-L7 ~ P3-L10 特如大卓垄巴云……立密讳为智密金刚。

入门段落 | 第1册 P104-LL6 ~ P105-L8 《正理滴论》是一部量论......称为智密金刚。

备注 | 四家合注《白话校注集》第1册 P112-L8注释⑥~ P112-LL6注释⑥ 父为外道婆罗门......令诸众生得入善道。

(更新日期: 2022年7月17日)

00:00

法称论师的父亲是一个外道婆罗门，他自幼很聪明、敏捷，娴习工巧、医方、声明等，还有对于外道的典籍、外道的宗义也很善巧，在十八岁的时候他就已经通达了一切外道宗义，深受诸外道婆罗门喜爱。后来有机缘听了少许佛经，就觉察到外道的论典有诸多的非理之处，于是对圣教深生信解，他想去找他的老师，就前往依止法护论师出家了。00:44

出家精研三藏，可是还是觉得意犹未足，又从善达《集量论》的自在军论师听过三次《集量论》。第一次听完了之后，就完全地通晓自在军的密意；再听一遍的时候，就通晓了《集量论》的作者陈那论师的密意；第三次听，就发现他的老师自在军论师承许的是有一些错误的。他启白了论师之后，他的上师非常欢喜，这里边写“大喜过望”！然后就依照他的老师指示造了《释量论》。01:25

之后，他想要破除外道宗义。要破除外道宗义的话，得知道外道宗义是什么，那时候就听说婆罗门鸠摩罗梨罗非常善巧通达外道典籍。可是这个人他那些隐密的词语除了他的妻儿是不传的，所以没办法亲近他了解外道的宗义。结果法称论师就乔装打扮变成了奴仆，到他们家里伺候他们，然后勤做家务。你看看为了学习！他非常非常勤劳，深得婆罗门妻子的信任，得以请问宗义要处——就问到了那些！他一边承侍那个外道，一方面彻底了解了外道宗义。后来就在王宫与鸠摩罗梨罗辩论，以正理广破他的宗，结果令这个外道信了佛教了。02:32

后来就有一个商羯罗婆罗门，于鹿野苑与他辩论，然后这个婆罗门就失败了。不知道是个性太过刚烈还是怎样，他辩败了之后居然就去自杀了！怎么自杀的？就去投恒河自杀，怀着不知道一种什么样的心情去投河自尽。隔年就投生为他徒弟的儿子，十六年之后他又长成一个小大人，又来找法称论师辩论了，这绝对是生死之战！结果又败了。又败了之后，他又做什么？他又再度地投河。不知道是不是又去投恒河了？03:20

然后他又再转世了，十二年之后，他要再跟法称论师大战！想想，他已经来回折腾三次了，投生、转世这样三次，法称论师已经年迈了。然后年迈的法称论师再次地出战，结果法称论师又胜出了！这回可能是劝他吧，我不知道那个情节是怎么样的，终于令他皈信了佛教，没有再去死了，就彻底皈信佛教。大家可以想想，我为什么要给大家讲一下法称论师何许人也？就是这样的一个人，他的《正理滴论》！04:04

在这个期间，法称论师在华严王的护持下，著作七部量论。穷尽毕生之力，他唯一的所求就是希望在圣教衰微的那个地方，再把圣教振兴起来。由于法称论师广大劝发——他的广大愿，皈依佛教的僧俗将近十万人之多。后来就在伽陵伽罗建了一个寺院，广宣正法，令诸众生得入善道。04:38

就是这样的一个论师他写的《正理滴论》。阿底峡尊者听了一遍，一遍喔！就把那个外道战败了，所以不是一般的聪明！这是在写阿底峡尊者的二十一岁学习，乃至他仅听一次《正理滴论》就把外道辩败了这样的一个故事。05:08