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Karandavyuha Sutra

by Mithun Howladar | 2018 | 73,554 words

This page relates “Conclusion� of the Karandavyuha Sutra (English translation and analytical study): an important 4th century Sutra extolling the virtues and powers of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara. The Karandavyuhasutra also introduces the mantra “Om mani padme hum� into the Buddhist Sutra tradition.

Conclusion

The Buddhism, prior to its decline in the land of its origin, developed in India into two chapters, (1) Ś屹첹Բ or otherwise called īԲԲ and (2) ǻ󾱲ٳٱԲ also known as ѲԲ. The term ѲԲ refers to ǻ󾱲ٳٱԲ in supersession to Ś屹첹Բ on several grounds referred by Āⲹ ṅg in his ūٰṃk. One of the specific point deferent between the two is that a Bodhisattva attends a higher spiritual state than that of a wayfarer of Ś屹첹Բ. Another important point is that the ǻ󾱲ٳٱԲ developed independent process of spiritual practice. From this point of view the ǻ󾱲ٳٱԲ holds two facts in practice (1) the method of and (2) the method of mantra. These are called respectively naya and mantranaya. Both these practices are supported by the literary sources of ǻ󾱲ٳٱԲ which are classified from different angles in different manners.

It is also further to be noted that these ѲԲ ūٰ represent ǻ󾱲ٳٲ辱ṭa첹, or the canon (Ā) of ѲԲ Buddhist tradition.The ѲԲ ūٰ are also classified into several categories like

  1. ʰñūٰ propounding ūԲⲹ to be ultimate reality
  2. ٲṃśaٱ첹 ūٰ (consisting of different ū󲹲, like Ҳṇḍū,Kāraṇḍyavyūha etc.)
  3. Sukhāvatīvyūha ūٰ related to the cult of Amitāvha the great Bodhisattva ǰ쾱ٱś.

As mentioned above the two spiritual practices of Bodhisattvas are dealt with in different ūٰ of ѲԲ. The text under study namely Āⲹ Kāraṇḍyavyūha ūٰ (KVS) is a significant ūٰ because it aims at uniting these two facets of these spiritual practices of ѲԲ Buddhism. Kāraṇḍyavyūha ūٰ (KVS), the text under study belongs to the ղū categories of Buddhist ѲԲ ūٰ. From these literary sources it is also confirmed that altruist a Bodhisattva, by the practice of , attends higher merits of benevolence, moral conduct, tolerance, vigour, meditative excellence and wisdom creditable to engage for rendering welfare service to those who suffer.

Avatamśaka ūٰ in the Bodhisattva-Բ play an important role to elucidate merits in excellence of the Buddha. In the growth of Buddhalogy among the Buddhists, engaged for spiritual quests of bliss in tranquility, Buddha’s merits in excellence may not be transcendent beyond the experiences of our worldly life. That refers to the reverse course in ascending order pratiloma-krama. ‘How to get rid of suffering� is the root problem in respect to the beings belonging under the ‘Wheel of Existence� sridpa’i’khor lo, popularly known as bhavacakra.

With above objectives, Gautama the Buddha used to enter into deep meditation under tranquil status of his crown ṣṇṣa. Later on, he narrated his meditative experience before the assembly of the Brethren at Jetavana Vihāra at Ś屹ī. In this context the text belonging to Avatamśaka ūٰ enunciates the impact of the six-syllabled mantra O� Ѳṇi Padme Hū� which may lead a practitioner up to the high sphere by dint of merits with grace of ǰ쾱ٱś Bodhisattva.

Among the Nava-󲹰貹ⲹ series of spiritual outburst, traditionally accepted as the Buddha’s sayings, Avatamśaka(s) Ҳṇḍū(s), as a specific treatise in the Sanskrit literature of the Indian Buddhists, may claim to be unique.

Kāraṇḍyavyūha ūٰ, the text under study belongs to the ղū categories of Buddhist ѲԲ ūٰ. The text is one of the most important ղū-ūٰ from the climax of the large text of the Avataṃśataka ūٰ. By the 3rd century B.C. ѲԲ ūٰ, developed in different dimension. Particularly Ratnakūṭa ūٰ and Avalokitaśvara ūٰ might claim distinction from Prajña ūٰ, which probably appeared in south India. The ղū-ūٰs were excellent in narrating eminence of Buddha and Bodhisattva. In due course the popular Buddhism among the ѲԲ had a tendency to deal the eminent personifications as the Buddha. In that respect ṇḍū’s have a lien and along with Ҳṇḍū are taken in account here.

The ṇḍū, may claim an antiquity with authentic evidence in the process of change over from the Ҳṇḍū.The book will remain as a source book for future research scholars and will establish itself as a leading reference book for scholars working on the magnificent fabric of the Philosophy supplied by Buddhism and Buddhist Culture. English translation of the Kāraṇḍayūha ūٰ will be lighted not only the Asian Buddhist scholars but also the European Buddhist researchers. Its language and linguistic study will make a bridge between Pāṇinīan and Non-Pāṇinīan Sanskrit language usages.

The ṇḍū is the source of the most prevalent mantra of Tibetan Buddhism: O� Ѳṇi Padme Hū�. It marks a significant stage in the growing importance of ǰ쾱ٱś within Indian Buddhism in the early centuries of the first millennium. In a series of narratives within narratives, the ūٰ describes ǰ쾱ٱś’s activities in various realms and the realms contained within the pores of his skin. It culminates in a description of the extreme rarity of his mantra, which, on the Buddha’s instructions, Bodhisattva īṇaṣk󾱲 obtains from someone in ṇaī who has broken his monastic vows. This ūٰ provided a basis and source of quotations for the teachings and practices of the eleventh-century Ѳṇi Kabum, which itself served as a foundation for the rich tradition of Tibetan ǰ쾱ٱś practice.

In the cult of ǰ쾱ٱś, during the course of expunction of ѲԲ as a popular Buddhism, ǰ쾱ٱś became the compassion in manifestation. Gradually ǰ쾱ٱś, who is believed to be a human being dedicated for the altruistic cause, was defined later on. A cult in favour of ǰ쾱ٱś developed and the metrical version of KVS might be younger in śǰ첹. The prose version elaborates how ǰ쾱ٱś could enter into six realms of wheel of life. It stands on a theistic approach as a manifestation of Ā󾱲ܻ. In the Buddhist thought idea of the Ā徱ܻ appears to the later innovation after the development of ٳⲹ岹 and emanation of ŚūԲⲹ. Ā󾱲ܻ is regarded as ⲹū or ‘self-originated�. Among them (Nathgayi) is regarded as Ā徱ٳ. In the Buddhist pantheon he is also occupied a prominent position. He, therefore, created universe through meditation as M. Winternitz referred. In this regard it may be mentioned that the theistic Buddhism with Ā徱ܻ developed after the inclusion of the Tantra among the Buddhists. Āǰ쾱ٲś appeared in the threshold in popular Buddhism and theistic Buddhism.

Indian culture is highly indebted to Buddhism and Buddhist literature for inducting certain rich thought in its texture and providing certain tissues that are resplendent for all time to come in their own light in its magnificent fabric. Buddhism is noted for its lofty philosophy of Humanism, the emphasis placed by it on the qualities of non-violence and truth, maintenance of purity of character and newness of thought. It is because of this, that Buddhism could spread itself in different parts of the globe and many countries accepted it as its national faith. It is strange that though Buddhism originated from India it could not exist in the country of its origin for long time to come, but transcended the boundaries of the country of its origin and got itself spread in the neighbouring countries like Burma and Tibet, China and Japan. Just as Buddhism became one of the great religious and spiritual movements of the world, a great part of the Buddhist literature in and Sanskrit languages was also universalized. Even since then, Buddhist literature has inspired the minds of thinkers and the hearts of poet’s world over. The post -modern civilization has once again challenged the peaceful co-existence of nations and the whole of the culture biome. Through wide impact of Buddhist thought preserved in ancient Indian Buddhist literature the nations of the world can be led out of the impase in which modern man is miserably enmeshed today. With the Buddhist literature only we set our foot in the bright day light of history and even the darkness of history of Vedic and the epic literature is dispelled to certain extent by this light. Here different aspects of Buddhist literature require a fresh investing action with fresh points of view.

Buddhist literature is preserved mainly in four Indian languages:

1. The famous Buddhist poet śṣa wrote in standard Sanskrit language. His Sanskrit is flawless, although it does not always follow strictly the rules of Pāṇini's grammar. Many Sanskrit works of Brahmanical tradition too ignored these rules. The philosophical texts of پ岹, Vijñanavāda and ⲹ첹 schools of Buddhism too were composed in the similar variety of Sanskrit.

2. The second is middle Indic dialect in which the Prākṛit Dhammapāda is written and which is published by Senart in JAS, IX - 12 in 1898, pp.193. This text was reprinted by B. Barua and S. Mitra in 1921 with a translation of Senart's new textual notes and exegetic notes. Some scholars are of the view that the language of this text was based on a north -western middle Indian dialect. There is no evidence to prove the existence of any such religious texts, which might have formed part of a canon and preserved in any middle Indian dialect.

3. The third language preserving the Buddhist religious literature contains the largest Buddhist literature, even now preserved in original. It is called and is considered to be the sacred language of the ճ岹 Buddhism. Opinions of scholars as to the origin of this middle Indic language are divided. The majority of them believe that it is a literary language based on Western or west central middle Indic dialect of Buddha's time.

4. The fourth language is the main subject of the present survey. Different names have been suggested by different scholars. Previously it was called �ٳ dialect�. Scholars like senart and M. Winternitz named it mixed Sanskrit. Similarly opinions regarding the origin and linguistic features of this language also differ. At the very outset it seems essential to point -out that the Buddhist religious literature composed in language is certainly rich and vast. However, it does not represent the literature of all the branches of Buddhism and is confined to the literature of one particular Buddhist, namely the ճ岹. In addition to it several other Buddhist sects produced their religious literature in several other languages mentioned above. The ճ岹 tradition asserts that from the earliest times there were differences of opinions among the early disciples of the Buddha regarding the usage of a language for the propagation of Buddha's words. It is clearly mentioned in the texts of the Theravādins that the Buddha directed his disciples to learn and preach his Dhamma words in their respective dialects. Such a liberal attitude of the master paved the way for collecting his teachings in different dialects and languages. A Buddhist monk -scholar of 8th century A. D. named Vinitadeva also says that the پ徱Բ used Sanskrit, the Mahāsānghikas Prākṛita, the Sammitiyas Apabhraṃśa and the Sthaviravādins Paiśacī. It shows that there existed a valuable literature of Buddhist, which was composed in languages other than . As most of the north Indian Buddhist texts of several Buddhist schools were composed in mixed and pure Sanskrit, therefore the analysis of this language and literature is essential to have a complete and clear picture of Indian Buddhist literature.

The mention of the Ṣa�-, the fulfillment of which is compulsory for the Bodhisattvas, is frequently found in the works of both the پ徱Բ and the Ѳṅg󾱰첹, and both are responsible for the growth of the large mass of Բ literature, the central theme of which is the fulfillment of the s.

Like other Buddhist Sanskrit works, the Բ literature also has attached “the greatest importance to the s, which distinguish the Bodhisattvas from the inferior arhats and Pratyeka Buddhas. These latter are regarded as representative of merely negative ethical ideals, while the s are put forward as a scheme of positive moral development�. In this formula of s the latter Buddhists had combined “the social virtues of a righteous layman householder with the ascetic ideals of meditative monks�. Thus they provided a bridge in the form of these s between the two i.e. popular and monastic Buddhism. It was “not only to inspire faith, but also to encourage people in the performance of Բ, Śī, ṣānپ, īⲹ, DhԲ and ʰñ that they invented story after story and associated them not only with the life of Buddha but also with the lives of persons who attained prominence in the history of the Buddhist faith�. A number of instances can be quoted from the pages of the Բ literature which, directly or indirectly, reveal their stress upon the performance of the six s.

ѲԲ originated in India and subsequently spread throughout China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, Central Asia, Vietnam, and Taiwan. Followers of ѲԲ have traditionally regarded their doctrine as the full revelation of the nature and teachings of the Buddha, in opposition to the earlier ճ岹 tradition, which they characterize as the HinaԲ. ѲԲ Buddhism followers believe that, the genesis of ѲԲ Buddhism took place at the time of the Buddha. Mahāyānists belief is based on the evidence proved in the ʰñ literature and related systems. Some scholars think that the process of the ѲԲ movement was started at the time of the Buddha’s Ѳ貹Ծṇa. The ѲԲ movement has investigated and developed more fruitful ideas of the Buddha. This movement had two stages. At the initial stage, the Buddha’s doctrines were advocated, and at the later stage, the arguments were made against Early Buddhism.The first stage is known as the religious movement of ѲԲ. It was almost complete at the end of first century BC. ѲԲ sutras which are also known as Vaipulya ūٰ introduce religious aspect of ѲԲ Buddhism. The second stage is known as the doctrinal development of ѲԲ. It was formulated during the period from the first to the six century CE. During this period, the important Mahāyānist philosophers like 岵ܲԲ, ṅg, Vasubandhu, Diṅnāga, and ٳ󲹰īپ had contributed to the development of Buddhism and Buddhist logic. In this way, the movement of ѲԲ Buddhism lasted for more than eight centuries.

In contrast to the relative conservatism of earlier Buddhist schools, which adhered closely to the recognized teachings of the historical Buddha, ѲԲ embraces a wider variety of practices, has a more mythological view of what a Buddha is, and addresses broader philosophical issues. Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki says "the term ѲԲ was first used to designate the highest principle, or being, or knowledge, of which the universe with all its sentient and non-sentient beings is a manifestation, and through which only they can attain final salvation or Ծṇa. ѲԲ was not the name given to any religious doctrine, nor had it anything to do with doctrinal controversy, though later it was so utilized by the progressive school."-Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki 1908:7. Two major ѲԲ schools arose in India: ⲹ첹 (Middle Path) and Vijñanavāda (Consciousness only; also known as ۴Dz峦). With the spread of ѲԲ Buddhism beyond India, other indigenous schools appeared, such as Pure Land Buddhism and Zen.

The Buddhist and fragment of Agama, which have come down to us in the mixed composition. ٳ is metrical composition together with prose matter. In general, saying in the metrical composition ٳ in the ṇḍū is precise in expression and condensed in substance.

The metrical composition are therefore presumed to be an earlier in the following ground:

  1. Convenient to keep in memory.
  2. Easy to detect error in recitation of a verse on account of metrical structure.
  3. Phonograms in different meters are popularly elegant and pleasant to listeners for lucidity.
  4. A ٳ as the Buddha-saying is believed to be spontaneous outburst having both Ծٳ and Աٳ.
  5. The language with less Sanskrit grammatical orderliness is elegant to listen and melodious in short presentation.
  6. Simplification in expression for usage.

It may be assumed that Gautama the Buddha already dealt, metrical composition in a novel process that had been invoked with Vedic seers and other intelligent exponent of the pre-Buddhist days.

According to the Buddha Teachings, it is extremely difficult for one to receive the teachings of ǰ쾱ٱś and the Six-Syllable Mantra. However, due to our accumulated merits, we are able to learn about ǰ쾱ٱś, his development process, his great mission and his accomplishments. We also learn about the inconceivable merits of the Mantra, we should rejoice and cherish this. If we recite this Mantra, which liberates all the beings from , we will be able to purify our misdeeds, clear our obscurations and perfect our Bodhicitta.

Thus we should:

� Take the Āⲹ ǰ쾱ٱś as our Yidam (deity),

� Recite the Six Syllables as the essence mantra,

� Be free from the fear of going to the lower realms.

With this I complete my study on Kāraṇḍyavyūha ūٰ say that Āⲹ ǰ쾱ٱś and the Six-Syllable Mantra with a stanza from the Thirty Seven Practices of a Bodhisattva:

� Due to the virtue arising from this, may all sentient beings

� By means of the supreme and conventional Bodhicittas,

� Become the Protector Avalokiteshvara who does not abide in the

Extremes of cyclic existence and solitary salvation.

ye 󲹰 hetu-󲹱 ٳ� teṣāṃ tathāgato hyavadat /
teṣāṃ ca yo nirodha 𱹲� ī śṇa //

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