Uttaratantra: The Seven Vajra Points

I prostrate to all the Clear Evolved Buddhas and the spiritual hero bodhisattvas.

This is the homage offered by the eye-opening translators of the text into Tibetan.

The presentation of the main body of the text now follows. There can be many outlines here, but since I do not have any grounds for certainty in making a definitive one, it is not necessary to give an outline.

(1) The Buddhas, the preventive measures of Dharma, the Assembly, and the source, the purified state, the enlightening qualities and finally the enlightening influence of the Buddhas – the body of all indicative compositions, when gathered in brief, is these seven diamond-strong vajra points.

If we ask what is the subject matter discussed in The Furthest Everlasting Continuum, it is the seven vajra points. If we ask why is this subject matter given the name vajra, meaning diamond-strong, it is because the seven are so profound that except for their being objects of experience that aryas can know – those who have achieved paths of mind of high realization from straightforward, non-conceptual perception of voidness – they are beyond the comprehension of ordinary beings, beginners such as ourselves. Thus, they are difficult to realize and since, once realized, they are points that are of great meaningful benefit, they are called diamond-strong vajras. Moreover, since nothing can shatter or destroy the points discussed in the text, which are so profound and difficult to realize, they are diamond-strong vajras. Thus, the collection of words that indicate them constitutes an explanation having seven diamond-strong vajra points.

If we ask what are the seven vajra points, they are:

1. The Clear Evolved Buddhas, the ultimate type of beings that we can become, the endpoints of evolution to what is of most meaningful benefit to self and others, the totally clear and fully evolved ones.
2. The preventive measures of the Dharma that they proclaim, namely the verbal and realized Dharma.
3. The Assembly or Sangha, those intent on a positive goal, who have actualized the Dharma measures correctly, the intent assembly.
4. The source (khams, Skt. dhatu) refers to "Buddha-nature", namely, the family-trait of a Clear Evolved Buddha (sangs-rgyas-kyi rigs, Skt. buddhagotra; Buddha family-trait). It is called the "essential factor for a Thusly Gone One" (de-gshegs snying-po, Skt. tathagatagarbha; literally, "womb for a Tathagata") or the "essential factor for a Blissfully Gone One" (bde-gshegs snying-po, Skt. sugatagarbha; literally, "womb for a Sugata), referring to the actual nature of the mind when tarnished by fleeting stains.
5. The purified state or, literally, the state of purified growth (byang-chub, Skt. bodhi). When, in addition to, on the basis of, and because of the natural purity of mind, one removes the fleeting stains through the power of opponent forces, then one has the stainless purified state, the enlightenment of a Buddha. On the basis of such a state, there are:
6. The enlightening qualities (yon-tan, Skt. guna), which are corrections of all inadequacies. Specifically, there are the thirty-two qualities that are "ripenings." These are the enlightening qualities of a Buddha. What is continually connected with these qualities is:
7. A Buddha's enlightening influence ('phrin-las, Skt. samudacara, Buddha-activity). These are the seven. The text adds the word finally to enlightening influence from these seven vajra points undoubtedly to make the count certain. Thus, the text reads "... qualities and finally enlightening influence... these seven vajra points." Do you understand?

If we ask did our guiding light Maitreya put together these seven vajra points on his own or did he have scriptural sources from the sutras of our universal teacher, the vanquishing master Shakyamni Buddha; he did have such scriptural sources. If we ask which sutras were his source,

(2a) The sequential connection of these that is due to their defining characteristics, in the order in which they are to be understood, is as in The Sutra (Requested) by King Dharani.

Specifically, Shakyamuni Buddha indicated the seven vajra points in The Sutra Requested by the Bodhisattva King Dharani Ishvara. Nevertheless, Maitreya undoubtedly gathered together meanings and points from many sutras, such as from The Sutra on the Womb for a Thusly Gone One, The Sutra of the Arya Goddess Shrimala Sinhanada, The Sutra Inciting Exceptional Resolve, The Sutra Requested by the Maiden Vimala, and The Prajnaparamita Sutras. Thus, in explaining in accordance with what Shakyamuni Buddha indicated on numerous occasions with such sutras as The Sutra Requested by King Dharani, Maitreya had a scriptural source in the Vanquishing Master's sutras.

Now, if we ask how The Sutra Requested by King Dharani indicates these seven vajra points,

(2b) From its introduction, one is to be aware of three of its points, while four from its delineations of the Dharma measures of those with the mindset and the Triumphant Ones.

The introductory chapter of The Sutra Requested by King Dharani indicates the three points of the Three Rare and Supreme Gems. The commentaries indicate how it does this with many quotations from the sutra. As for the remaining four points: the source, enlightenment, its qualities, and enlightening influence, these derive from its delineations of the Dharma measures of those with the mindset and the Triumphant Ones.

The sutra explains the source, Buddha-nature, with its delineation of sixty methods that those with the mindset (blo-ldan, Skt. dhiman) of bodhichitta, namely bodhisattvas, use for purifying their Buddha-nature source. If we ask what are the sixty Dharma measures that those with the mindset of bodhichitta use for purifying their Buddha-natures, they are as found in the commentaries.

First are the four adornments that make these bodhisattvas' behavior beautiful, namely the three trainings and the vital measures (gzungs, Skt. dharani). These are the four adornments. Then, since these bodhisattvas have achieved the awareness that illuminates the hallowed Dharma and have separated themselves from the darkness of naivety, they make very clear the gateways of the Dharma through mindfulness, intelligence, realizations, Dharma, and so on. There are these eight types or aspects of a bodhisattva's illuminating awareness.

Then, there are the sixteen aspects of their compassion. Bodhisattva compassion is aimed at limited beings sick with problems and, through an internal division of these beings as its objects, there are, for instance, individual aspects of compassion aimed at limited beings who have come under the control of various distorted views of reality. We may distinguish limited beings who have four inverted views, those who grasp at things in terms of "me" and "me, as their possessor," and those with the five types of obscurations. Further, there are those with attachment to objects of the six types of cognitive stimulators, those with the seven types of pride, and so forth. The sixteen divisions of compassion derive from its being aimed at such types of limited beings.

Then there are the thirty-two types of enlightening influence that bodhisattvas have. Bodhisattvas have the influence to waken others from the sleep of their naivety, the influence to connect with the broad and extensive Mahayana teachings those with limited awareness who have aspirations for the more modest Hinayana teachings, the influence to connect with the wish for Dharma those whose wishes are not for Dharma, and so on. Bodhisattvas have thirty-two such types of enlightening influence. This makes sixty Dharma measures all together. The chapter of The Sutra Requested by King Dharani that presents these sixty measures through which bodhisattvas purify their Buddha-natures indicates in a thorough fashion the source that is to be purified. That covers the Dharma measures of those with the mindset.

As for the Dharma measures of the Triumphant Ones, the chapter that delineates the Dharma measures of the triumphant Buddhas indicates the remaining three, namely stainless enlightenment, its qualities, and enlightening influence. If we ask what are the Dharma measures of the triumphant Buddhas' enlightenment, these are the sixteen aspects of compassion characterizing the state of enlightenment. They are called rootless and non-abiding, serenely stilled and stilled beyond, possessing natural clear light, having nothing to adopt or reject, and so forth. Enlightenment has sixteen Dharma measures like this and, having attained them, triumphant Buddhas have great compassion with sixteen aspects, differentiated according to a difference in the objects at which it aims. The compassion of a Buddha aims at limited beings who have not attained each of these sixteen measures respectively and who have not realized the meaning of the manner in which enlightenment abides. The chapter that presents these sixteen aspects of compassion in the state of greatest purification and growth indicates enlightenment.

The Buddhas' good qualities are indicated with the ten forces, the four proclamations about which Buddhas are fearless, and the eighteen measures unshared with arhats (liberated beings). Further, as each of these thirty-two qualities – the ten forces, four fearless proclamations, and eighteen unshared measures – acts as an uncommon cause for bringing limited beings under their enlightening influence, this delineation indicates the Buddhas' enlightening influence as well. That covers the delineation of the Dharma measures of the Triumphant Ones.

If we ask what is the order in which to understand the seven vajra points, or what is the way to involve ourselves with them in sequence,

(3) From the Buddhas, the Dharma; from the Dharma, the highly realized arya Assembly; from the Assembly, the essential factor deep awareness, the source (up to) the endpoint, its attainment. And from the attainment of that deep awareness, the supreme purified state, endowed with the powers and so forth, the Dharma measures that bring meaningful benefit to all limited beings.

In general, if we explain the steps within the context of our perishable world, for example in the case of the universal spiritual leader, the Lion of the Shakya Clan, first he indicated the enlightening deed of manifesting his prior state of Buddhahood. Thus, the Buddhas come first, don't they? Then, it is from the Buddhas that rounds of transmission of the verbal Dharma measures are set flowing and from that come the rounds of the realized Dharma. Because of that, the text says, From the Buddhas, the Dharma.

Once the triumphant Buddhas have set flow rounds of transmission of the Dharma like this, then when, on the everlasting mental continuum of someone who has practiced them correctly, there arises the quality of having seen with straightforward perception the four true facts (four noble truths) and so on, this person reaches the level of being a member of the arya Sangha, the assembly of highly realized beings who have beheld reality. Thus, because it is from the Buddhas' enlightening speech, or rather from the Dharma set flowing by its rounds of transmission of the Dharma measures, that the arya Assembly comes about, the arya Assembly comes next. As it says in the text, from the Dharma, the highly realized arya Assembly. This explains the order in which we are to understand them.

Now comes from the Assembly, the essential factor. Through the members of the arya Assembly purifying the Buddha-nature sources that are on their everlasting mental continuums – in other words, through the actual paths of the mind that they develop purifying their Buddha-natures of the fleeting stains that tarnish them – the ultimate endpoint is that they manifest enlightenment, a state of greatest purification and growth. Then, since the qualities and enlightening influence are born from their attainments of enlightenment, the text says from the Assembly, the essential factor [translator: more literally from Sanskrit "from the Assembly, the womb" or in a variant Sanskrit manuscript, "in the Assembly the womb."]

Actually, several different ways to explain this point appear in the commentaries. For example, from the Arya Assembly comes the dissolving of tarnishes from their Buddha-natures, the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One. From this dissolving of tarnishes from their Buddha-natures or family-traits, the good qualities – literally, corrections of inadequacy – come to increase, don't they? From the Assembly, the essential factor ("from the Assembly, the womb") connotes this as well.

Then come the words, the essential factor deep awareness, the source (up to) the endpoint, its attainment. According to one commentarial tradition, the arya Sangha's development of progressive levels of highly realized minds purifies the Buddha-nature source within each of them. If we ask up until when does this source remain or what is the boundary for this source or essential factor for a Thusly Gone One; then, according to one commentarial tradition, the essential factor deep awareness is the stainless deep awareness of a Buddha. Up until the endpoint – the final attainment of this stainless deep awareness of a Buddha – the actual reality of the mind, namely the voidness of the mind, when it is with the characteristic of not having been rid of all its fleeting stains is what is called the source. In other words, up until the ultimate attainment of the essential factor deep awareness, the actual reality of the mind is tarnished with fleeting stains. If we think in terms of the uninterrupted path of mind at the final moment of continuity of someone as a limited being, then it is up until this stage, when its fleeting stains are all gotten rid of, that the actual nature namely, the voidness of deep awareness is called the source or "essential factor (the womb) for a Thusly Gone One."

Alternatively, if we still take the essential factor deep awareness as the deep awareness of a Buddha, then since it is from being aimed at the Buddha-nature source or essential factor for a Thusly Gone One – the voidness of one's stained deep awareness – that one must make manifest the stainless essential factor deep awareness, it is like the name of the result being given to the cause. In other words, the "essential factor (the womb) for a Thusly Gone One" as the cause is being given the name of its result. The voidness of one's stained deep awareness is being called the essential factor deep awareness, the deep awareness of a Buddha. One needs to focus on the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One in order to manifest the result, namely stainless enlightenment. If there were no essential factor for a Thusly Gone One, the result would not come about. It would not do if the essential factor (or "womb") were not present as the cause. Therefore, the name of the result is being given as the name of its cause. If we think only in terms of the unaffected actual nature encompassing everything namely, voidness, then it is explained like that.

Now, if we comment on this in connection with what is understood with tantra and explain in terms of the mind of clarity and awareness, it is a different matter all together, isn't it? However, if we take it in accordance with the paramita tradition of far-reaching attitudes (the sutra tradition), then we must think in terms of an unaffected (unconditioned) phenomenon.

As for the extent of the pervasion between the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One and the naturally abiding family-trait, this is something I do not know very clearly. When we speak of the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One, then, as comes later in the text concerning what establishes the existence of Buddha-nature family-traits, there are three points that establish them. Moreover, from the point concerning the existence of family-traits, when the text goes on to explain the family-traits, it explains two of them. It explains the naturally abiding family-traits such as the voidness of the mental continuum and the evolving family-traits such as the network of positive force (collection of merit). Since the text explains two types of traits, do we understand the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One (tathagata-garbha) as being all these family-traits (gotra)?

Even if we do consider them like that, then since the naturally abiding traits are static (permanent) and, as we say in logic, if you include in a set both elements that are static and elements that are functional phenomenon (nonstatic, impermanent), then the set is to be considered static, we would have to conclude like that rule of logic. Even though the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One includes elements that are not static in addition to some that are not functional phenomena; nevertheless, speaking in general, we would inevitably have to say it is static. On the other hand, there are undoubtedly those who say that the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One refers exclusively to the naturally abiding family-traits, which have existed without any beginning. I do not know how to decide on this matter.

Addressing the most learned masters in the audience, so what could it be? What is the pervasion between the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One and the naturally abiding family-traits? Are they the same, or how do we set them? One of you speak up; I do not know clearly myself. When we say the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One, do we need to think in terms of it pervading in general both the evolving traits and the naturally abiding ones, or should we think only in terms of the naturally abiding traits?

You say it is a general term. If we look at the classic texts, it seems as though this should be the case. There are two types of family-traits: the traits that have been present with the mental continuum without beginning and those that arise from pure training. Then, if it is an essential factor for a Thusly Gone One, it is not pervasive that it is an unaffected phenomenon. Yet, it is said that the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One is unaffected. What does it say in the various monastic college textbooks? Abbot Emeritus Khen Rinpoche and then Tsultrim Rinchen, the two of you tell me. You are holders of the two main Gelug opinions.

First Khen Rinpoche, tell me, is there mention or not in your textbooks of which has greater and which has less pervasion? It has? What does it say? The family-traits are taken as more pervasive. Then, the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One is taken as the naturally abiding family-trait, is it? It is exclusively the naturally abiding trait, isn't it; and the evolving family-traits are not included as it. Correct? So then, if it is a essential factor for a Thusly Gone One, it is pervasive that it is an unaffected phenomenon.

Now, what is the difference concerning this in the textbooks of your monastic college, Tsultrim Rinchen? Does it say that the evolving traits are not included as the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One? They say they are not, correct? Well then, what is the pervasion between the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One and the naturally abiding family-traits? What does it explain? What does it set for the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One? The actual nature of the reality of the mind, does it? And, is this the naturally abiding family-trait? I see; the textbook does not actually present it like that.

When the Sakyas explain the causal everlasting continuum of the all-encompassing foundation, Khyentse Wangchug in his Notes on the Paths and Their Results says that the source, the essential factor for a Blissfully Gone One, is the simultaneously arising clear light mind; and, out of being affected or unaffected, it is an affected (conditioned) phenomenon. Out of affected phenomena being either a form of physical phenomena, a way of being aware of something, or an affecting variable that is neither, it is a way of being aware of something; and out of the two true phenomena (two truths), it is a superficially true phenomenon (a superficial truth, relative truth, conventional truth) that conceals something deeper. He says that, doesn't he?

However, Mangto Ludrub Gyatso says in his works that it is a deepest true phenomenon (deepest truth, ultimate truth), doesn't he? Thus, among the learned Sakya masters, this is a point upon which the learned Sakya masters give varying explanations. Then later on, I think it was the learned Sakya master from Kham, Dezhung, who wrote a refutation of this position, that it is a deepest true phenomenon.

When the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One is explained as the actual nature of the mind when tarnished with stains and asserted as that, then when the actual nature of the mind is cleared and evolved as a Buddha, it is not counted as an essential factor (a womb) any more. However, when we think in terms of the causal everlasting continuum of the all-encompassing foundation, taken in terms of mere clarity and awareness, how are we to understand this? When it is spoken of as acting as the foundation for the coming about of all three – samsara, nirvana, and the paths of the mind – then would it not be better to count it in the deep awareness of the level of being a Buddha?

Gen, do you take the essential factor for a Blissfully Gone One as pervasive with being unaffected? You say it is? No, it is not pervasive. The essential factor for a Blissfully Gone One is not pervasive with being unaffected. The all-knowing Gyaltsab Je himself has said in his works that the essential factor for a Blissfully Gone One is to be explained as three-fold and these include the parts or factors on the mental continuums of limited beings that allow for a Buddha's enlightening influence to enter and affect them. There is the enlightening influence for superior rebirth and the enlightening influence for the superlative states of liberation and enlightenment. Correspondingly, there are the factors for the enlightening influences for what is superior and what are superlative to enter. This makes the essential factor for a Blissfully Gone One lose its position of being unaffected. After discussing that point, Gyaltsab Je includes among the essential factors (this womb) the abilities or potentials for generating a Buddha's qualities as explained in the sutras. These qualities have nowhere to go other than being affected phenomenon.

Furthermore, in A Commentary on "The Sutra on Highly Realized Deep Awareness for the Point of Going Beyond," the supremely triumphant Seventh Dalai Lama has said that the mind of mere clarity and awareness is a essential factor for a Thusly Gone One, and it evolves to the state of a Buddha. Thus, concerning the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One, the voidnesses of them are unaffected phenomena, but within the set of their elements, one can undoubtedly explain that there are affected phenomena. This is probably the case even in terms of the sutras. What Gyaltsab Je said, after all, was strictly and solely in terms of the sutras. Thus, in terms of them as well, the essential factor for a Thusly Gone One is not pervasive with being an unaffected phenomenon.

Nevertheless, as for being unaffected and being a naturally abiding family-trait, could there be among the naturally abiding traits some that are affected phenomena? I have a little indecisive wavering concerning this. If we try to understand the evolving traits and the naturally abiding traits from the point of view of the terms for them, when we say "naturally abiding traits," they are traits that, without beginning, have been abiding as parts of ourselves. "Evolving traits" are traits that come about newly from circumstances and conditions and which, through fertilization by conditions such as listening to the Dharma, are fit to evolve to become the Buddha-bodies that are affected phenomena. They are the traits that come about from a perfect adopting of Dharma measures.

This being so, then although mind's nature of mere clarity and awareness changes from moment to moment, nevertheless since it cannot be set as something the nature of which did not exist before and has to be made anew, it turns out to be something with no beginning, doesn't it? Because of that, when we speak of family traits that have been present without beginning or traits that have been abiding as our self-nature, we need to consider, for instance, primordial mind or simultaneously arising deep awareness. They are present with no beginning; they are not made anew by circumstances; they are not affected fleetingly by causes and conditions. These are points that we must ponder like this in terms of tantra. And, whether it is inappropriate to call them naturally abiding traits, I really do not know.

The paramita classics, the sutras, set only voidness as the naturally abiding family-trait. So, are there differences here? Are the ways of explaining in the context of The Furthest Everlasting Continuum and in the paramita sutras somewhat different, or is it that in terms exclusively of the sutras, the naturally abiding family traits are pervasive with being unaffected phenomena, but in terms of the sutras and tantras together, they are undoubtedly not pervasive? I really do not know. In any case, that is the way it is. The essential factor deep awareness, the source (up to) the endpoint of its attainment.

And from the attainment of that deep awareness refers to the fact that up until attaining the deep awareness of a Buddha, it is called the source, the essential factor for a Blissfully Gone One. Then, from having purified the mind of its fleeting stains together with their propensities, comes the purified state, supreme enlightenment. Based on that, come the qualities of the powers and so forth: And from the attainment of that deep awareness, the supreme purified state, endowed with the powers, and so forth. The final line of the verse, the Dharma measures that bring meaningful benefit to all limited beings refers to a Buddha's enlightening influence, which brings about what is beneficial for all limited beings. That is the explanation of the order in which we are to understand the seven vajra points. Let us leave it here for today.

May whatever I have just explained all be put into practice. May whatever positive force I have built up from explaining the Dharma contribute toward all beings accordantly achieving it.