Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra

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A decorative page of a Korean copy of the Heap of Jewels Sutra Goryeo Tripitaka with gilt letters.jpg
A decorative page of a Korean copy of the Heap of Jewels Sutra

The Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra (Sanskrit; traditional Chinese : 大寶積經; simplified Chinese : 大宝积经; pinyin : dàbǎojī jīng, Tib. dam-chos dkon-mchog-brtsegs-pa) is a major ancient collection of Indian Mahāyāna Buddhist sūtras. It is also known simply as Ratnakūṭa Sūtra (寶積經), literally the Sutra of the Heap of Jewels in Sanskrit (kūṭa means ‘accumulation’ or ‘heap’).

Contents

The Mahāratnakūṭa contains many important Mahāyāna sūtras, like the Śrīmālā-devī-siṁhanāda, the Maitreya-paripṛcchā, Kāśyapa-parivarta, and the Sukhāvatīvyūha. The Heap of Jewels collection exists in Chinese and Tibetan translations. It also gives its name to one of the main divisions of Mahayana sutras in the Chinese Buddhist canon and in the Tibetan Buddhist canon.

Overview

The Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra contains 49 texts of varying length, which are termed "assemblies" by tradition. This collection includes the Śrīmālādevī Siṃhanāda Sūtra , the Longer Sukhāvatī-vyūha Sutra , the Akṣobhya-vyūha Sūtra, a long text called the Bodhisattvapiṭaka, and others. [1]

Parts of this collection was brought to China and translated by Bodhiruci in the 8th century. [2] Bodhiruci translated some of the texts, and included others which had been previously translated. This later Bodhiruci (also known as Bodhiruci II) should not be confused with another Bodhiruci who was the translator of the commentary on Ten Stages Sutra.

The Ratnakūṭa collection totals 49 Mahāyāna sūtras, divided into 120 fascicles in the Chinese translation. [3] Garma Chang, who is listed as General Editor of a volume of select sūtras from the Mahāratnakūṭa translated from Chinese into English, (see below, Further Reading, Garma C.C. Chang, (1983). A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras: Selections from the Mahāratnakūṭa Sūtra. Title Page) summarizes the breadth and variety of texts contained in this collection: [1]

We have found this work to contain a broad coverage of various subjects. The topics discussed range from the monastic precepts ( Vinaya ) to intuitive wisdom ( prajñā ), from good deportment to the manifestation of the Tathāgata's light, from illusion ( māyā ) to ingenuity ( upāya ) to the nature of consciousness and the Pure Land practice. It can perhaps be called a small encyclopedia of Mahāyāna Buddhism, which should be useful to general readers as well as to scholars.

In the Taishō Tripiṭaka in volumes 11 and 12a, the Mahāratnakūṭa is the text numbered 310, and texts numbered 311 through 373 are various other translations of some of the sutras contained in the Mahāratnakūṭa.

According to the Nikāyasaṅgraha (a Theravādin text), the Ratnakūṭa Sūtra was composed by the "Andhakas", meaning the Mahāsāṃghika Caitika schools of the Āndhra region. [4] [5] The texts of the sutra seem to have been collected over a number of centuries, and their varying subject matter is suggestive of historical transitions between major eras of Buddhist thought. [1] The collection may have developed from a "Bodhisattva pitaka" attributed to some of the early Mahayana schools. [1]


List of sutras

NumberSanskrit Title [6] English Title [7] Chinese title [8] Tibetan title (Wylie)English translations
1Trisaṁvara-nirdeśaThe Chapter Explaining the Three Vows三律儀會sdom pa gsum bstan pa'i le'u/ Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000.co)
2Anantamukha-pariśodhana-nirdeśaThe Chapter Teaching the Purification of Boundless Gateways無邊莊嚴會sgo mtha’ yas pa rnam par sbyong ba bstan pa’i le’u Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)
3 Tathāgatācintya-guhya-nirdeśa The Secrets of the Tathāgatas 密迹金剛力士會de bzhin gshegs pa’i gsang ba
4Svapna-nirdeśaThe Teaching on Dreams淨居天子會rmi lam bstan pa Translation from Tibetan by 84000
5 Sukhāvatī-vyūha The Array of the Blissful Land 無量壽如來會 (The Assembly of Amitāyus Tathāgata, T. 360)
6 Akṣobhya-tathāgatasya-vyūhaThe Array of the Tathāgata Akṣobhya 不動如來會mi 'khrugs pa'i bkod pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 17 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras
7Varma-vyūha-nirdeśaThe Teaching of the Armor Array被甲莊嚴會go cha’i bkod pa bstan pa Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)
8Dharmadhātu-prakṛty-asambheda-nirdeśaThe Teaching on the Indivisible Nature of the Realm of Phenomena 法界體性無別會chos dbyings rang bzhin dbyer med bstan pa’i mdo Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)
9DaśadharmakaThe Ten Dharmas十法會chos bcu pa'i mdo/
10Samantamukha-parivartaThe Exposition on the Universal Gateway文殊師利普門會kun nas sgo’i le’u
11Raśmisamantamukta-nirdeśaThe Teaching on the Effulgence of Light出現光明會’od zer kun du bkye ba bstan pa
12Bodhisattva-piṭakaThe Basket of Bodhisatva [teachings]菩薩藏經byang chub sems dpa’i sde snod
13Āyuṣman-nanda-garbhāvakrānti-nirdeśaThe Teaching to the Venerable Nanda on Dwelling in the Womb佛爲阿難說處胎會tshe dang ldan pa dga’ bo la mngal na gnas pa bstan pa
14Nanda-garbhāvakrānti-nirdeśaThe Teaching to the Venerable Nanda on Entry into the Womb佛說入胎藏會tshe dang ldan pa dga’ bo la mngal du ’jug pa bstan pa
15Mañjuśrī-buddhakṣetra-guṇa-vyūhaThe Array of Virtues of Mañjuśrī’s Buddhafield 文殊師利授記會’jam dpal gyi sangs rgyas kyi zhing gi yon tan bkod pa
16PitāputrasamāgamanaThe Meeting of Father and Son菩薩見實會yab sras mjal ba'i mdo/
17Pūrṇa-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Pūrṇa富樓那會 / 富樓那問經 / 菩薩藏經gang pos zhus pa Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)
18Rāṣṭrapāla-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Rāṣṭrapāla護國菩薩會經yul ’khor skyong gis zhus pa
19Gṛhapaty-Ugra-paripṛcchāThe Sūtra of Ugra's Questions郁伽長者會 / 郁伽羅越問菩薩經drag shul can gyis zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Nattier, Jan (2005). A Few Good Men: The Bodhisattva Path According to the Inquiry of Ugra (Ugrapariprcchā). Univ of Hawaii Pr.
20Vidyutprāpta-paripṛcchāThe Sūtra of Vidyutprāpta's Questions無盡伏藏會glog thob kyis zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 9 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras
21Bhadramāyākāra-vyākaraṇaThe Prophecy for Bhadra the Illusionist授幻師跋陀羅記會sgyu ma mkhan bzang po lung bstan pa
22Mahā-prātihārya-nirdeśaThe Teaching of the Great Magical Display大變會cho 'phrul chen po bstan pa'i mdo/
23Maitreya-mahāsiṁhanādaThe Great Lion’s Roar of Maitreya摩訶迦葉會 / 大迦葉經byams pa’i seng ge’i sgra chen po Translated from Tibetan by Karen Liljenberg and Ulrich Pagel
24Upāli-paripṛcchāUpāli’s Questions優波離會’dul ba rnam par gtan la dbab pa nye bar ’khor gyis zhus pa
25Adhyāśaya-saṁcodanaInspiring Determination發勝志樂會lhag bsam skul ba Translated from Tibetan by the Blazing Wisdom Translation Group, 84000.co
26Subāhu-paripṛcchāSubāhu's Questions善臂菩薩會lag bzangs kyis zhus pa’i mdo Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)
27Surata-paripṛcchāSurata’s Questions善順菩薩會des pas zhus pa’i mdo
28Vīradatta-gṛhapati-paripṛcchāThe Questions of the Householder Vīradatta勸授長者會khyim bdag dpas byin gyis zhus pa Translated from Tibetan by the University of Calgary Buddhist Studies team, 84000
29Udayanavatsarāja-paripṛcchāQuestions of King Udayana of Vatsa優陀延王會bad sa’i rgyal po ’char byed kyis zhus pa Translation from Tibetan by 84000.co
30Sumatidārikā-paripṛcchāQuestions of the Girl Sumati妙慧童女經bu mo blo gros bzang mos zhus pa
31Gaṅgottarā-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Gaṅgottarā恒河上優婆夷會gang gA’i mchog gis zhus pa
32Aśokadatta-vyākaraṇaAśokadattā’s Prophecy無畏德菩薩會 / 無畏德經mya ngan med kyis byin pa lung bstan pa
33Vimaladattā-paripṛcchāVimaladatta's Questions無垢施菩薩應辯會 / 無垢菩薩分別應辯經dri ma med kyis byin pas zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 5 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras
34Guṇaratnasaṁkusumita-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Guṇaratnasaṅkusumita功德寶花敷菩薩會yon tan rin chen me tog kun tu rgyas pas zhus pa Translation from Tibetan by Dharmachakra translation Group (84000)
35Acintyabuddhaviṣaya-nirdeśaThe Teaching on the Inconceivable Scope of a Buddha善德天子會sangs rgyas kyi yul bsam gyis mi khyab pa bstan pa
36Susthitamati-devaputra-paripṛcchāThe Sūtra of the Devaputra Susthitamati's Questions善住意天子會lha'i bu blo gros rab gnas kyis zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 4 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras
37Siṁha-paripṛcchāSiṃha’s Questions阿闍世王子會seng ges zhus pa Translated from Tibetan by the Kīrtimukha Translation Group, 84000.co
38Upāyakauśalya-jñānottara-bodhisattva-paripṛcchāBodhisattva Jñānottara's Questions on Skillful Means大乘方便會 (The Mahayana Assembly of Skillful Means)byang sems ye shes dam pas zhus pa'i le'u/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 22 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras
39Bhadrapāla-śreṣṭhi-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Bhadrapāla the Merchant賢護長者會 / 移識經tshong dpon bzang skyong gis zhus pa
40Dārikā Vimalaśraddhā paripṛcchāThe Questions of the Girl Vimalaśraddhā (or Vimalaśuddha)淨信童女會bu mo rnam dag dad pas zhus pa Translated from Tibetan by The Karma Gyaltsen Ling Translation Group, 84000
41Maitreya-paripṛcchā-dharmāṣṭakaThe Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities彌勒菩薩問八法會byams pas chos brgyad zhus pa Translated from Tibetan by Karen Liljenberg and Ulrich Pagel, 84000
42Maitreya-paripṛcchāThe Questions of Maitreya彌勒菩薩所問會byams pas zhus pa Translated from Tibetan by Karen Liljenberg, 84000
43Kāśyapa-parivartaThe Kāśyapa Discourse普明菩薩會 / 古大寶積經od srungs kyi le'u/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 20 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras
44Ratnarāśi-sūtraThe Mass of Jewels寶梁聚會 / 寶梁經rin po che'i phung po'i mdo/
45Akṣayamati-paripṛcchāAkṣayamati's Questions無盡慧菩薩會blo gros mi zad pas zhus pa'i mdo/Translation from Chinese in Chapter 21 of Garma Chang's A Treasury of Mahāyāna Sūtras
46Saptaśatikā-nāma-prajñāpāramitāThe Seven Hundred [ śloka ] Perfection of Wisdom 文殊說般若會 (The Assembly Where Mañjuśrī Expounds Prajñāpāramitā)sher phyin bdun brgya pa/
47Ratnacūḍa-paripṛcchāRatnacūḍa's Questions寶髻菩薩會gtsug na rin po ches zhus pa'i mdo/
48 Śrīmālā-devī-siṁhanāda The Lion's Roar of Śrīmālādevī勝鬘夫人會lha mo dpal phreng gi seng ge'i sgra'i mdo/
49Ṛṣi-Vyāsa-paripṛcchāThe Rishi Vyāsa’s Questions廣博仙人會drang srong rgyas pas zhus pa Translated from Tibetan by David Jackson, 84000

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Sangharakshita. The Eternal Legacy: An Introduction to the Canonical Literature of Buddhism. 2006. p. 168-169
  2. Pederson, K. Priscilla (1980). "Notes on the Ratnakūṭa Collection"
  3. "The Korean Buddhist Canon: A Descriptive Catalog (T 310)".
  4. Adikaram, E.W. Early History of Buddhism in Ceylon. 1953. p. 100
  5. Paul, Diana. The Buddhist Feminine Ideal. 1980. p. 12
  6. "OpenPhilology | Texts". OpenPhilology. Retrieved 2021-12-24.
  7. "Heap of Jewels". 84000.co. Retrieved 2024-12-08.
  8. "NTI Reader". ntireader.org. Retrieved 2024-12-08.

Further reading