Seven Vajra Points: Uttaratantra – Asanga - Part 4 - Lesson 7 - with Lama Choedak Rinpoche

A Course on Mahayana Buddhist Philosophy: Seven Vajra Points: Uttaratantra – Asanga

Uttaratantra is one of the main textbooks studied in Tibetan monasteries as it deals with seven key universal Mahayana Buddhist teachings. Uttaratantra is not a Tantric text as the title may suggest. It is one of the five major texts mythically attributed to Maitreya but primarily codified by Asanga. Rongton Sheja Kunrig (1367-1449) is one of the earliest Tibetan commentators on all five texts. Lama Choedak Rinpoche, who heard teaching on this text from the late Khenpo Khedrup in Lumbini in 1974, will be teaching on the basis of Rongton’s commentary to the world wide audience of Zoom, Facebook and YouTube.
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18 Great Texts:

The first volume consist on the subject of Paramita (phar phyin) and the five major texts by Maitreya, they are: 

(1) Ornament of Clear Realisation (Abhisamayalankara) by Maitreya and Asanga and its commentary by Buton Rinchen Drub, 

(2) Ornament of Mahayana Sutras (Mahayana Sutralankara) by Maitreya and Asanga and its commentary by Rongton Sheja Kunrig, 

(3) Discriminating the Middle and Extreme (Madhyanta Vibhanga) by Maitreya and Asanga and its commentary by Rongton Sheja Kunrig, 

(4) Discriminating the Dharma and Reality of Dharma (Dharma Dharmata Vibhanga) by Maitreya and Asanga and its commentary by Rongton Sheja Kunrig 

(5) Utttaratantra by Maitreya and Asanga and its commentary by Rongton Sheja Kunrig and also by Dolbupa Sherab Gyaltsen. These are all brought to the world by Asanga and are known as the ‘Five Treatises of Maitreya’. 

The second volume consist of logic and epistemology (tshad ma) which comprises 

(6) Compendium of Logic (Pramana Samucchaya) by Dignaga and its commentary by Gewa Gyatso, 

(7) Certainty of Logic (Pramana Vinishcaya) by Dharmakirti and its commentary by Buton Rinchen Drub, 

(8) Treasury of Logic (Pramana Yukataniddhi) by Sakya Pandita and its commentary by Lowo Khenchen Sonam Lhundrup (1456-1581).

The third volume consist of texts on moral ethics known as Vinaya (‘dul ba) which comprises 

(9) Individual Liberation Discourse (Pratimoksha sutra) and its commentary by Poekhangpa Rinchen Gyaltsen 

(10) Root Discourses of Moral Ethics (Vinaya mulasutra) and its commentary by Kongton Wangchuk Drup.

The fourth volume consist of two texts on metaphysics known as upper and lower Abhidharma (mngon pa) which comprises 

(11) Treasury of Supreme Knowledge (Abhidharmakosha) by Vasubandhu and its commentary by Chim Namkha Drak (1210-1285), 

(12) Compendium of Supreme Knowledge (Abhidharma Samuccaya) by Asanga and its commentary by Sazang Mati Panchen (1294-1376).

The fifth volume consist of texts of the Middle Way, Madhyamaka philosophy (dbu ma) which comprises 

(13) Fundamental Wisdom of Middle Way (Mulamadhyamakakarika) by Nagarjuna and its commentary by Rongton Sheja Kunrig, 

(14) Entering the Middle Way (Madhyamavatara) by Chandrakirti and its commentary by Gorampa Sonam Senge and 

(15) Four Hundred Stanzas (Catuhshataka) by Aryadeva and its commentary by Rendawa Shonu Lodro (1349-1422) and Drakpa Zangpo. These three are known as ‘Fundamental, Entering and Four’ (rtsa ‘jug bzhi gsum). 

The sixth volume consist of texts that deal with discrimination of the three vows, i.e. pratimoksha, bodhisattva and vajrayana vows which is the study of 

(16) Trisamvaraprabheda by Sakya Pandita and its commentary by Poekhangpa Rinchen Gyaltsen.

(17) Bodhisattvacaryavatara by Shantideva and its commentary by Gyalsay Ngulchu Thokme (1291-1371) and 

(18) Lamrim by Bodong Chokle Namgyal (1376-1451) are also included. These two texts also belong to the Paramita, the first volume.

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