Passage

gsum pa byang sems dang sngags kyi theg pa'i khyad par gyi bzhi'am bco lngar ra le'i rgyud las gsungs pa'i lta ba ni/

1) lta ba 2) spyod pa 3) sems bzung dang

4) rgyu dang 5) 'bras bu 6) lam dang ni

7) dus dang 8) rnal 'byor 9) longs spyod dang

10) bdag gzhan don dang 11) dgongs pa dang [167]

12) ngal dub 13) mtha' spangs 14) tshegs chungs dang

15) tshogs bsags pa'i khyad par dang

khyad par rnam pa bco lnga yis
rig 'dzin theg pa khyad par 'phags/ zhes so/

1) [lta ba] phyogs ltung dang bral bas blang dor dang bral ba dang/

2) spyod pa bgag (sic) sgrub dang bral bas bag yangs pa dang/

3) sems bzung ba'i thabs ni/ rtsa rlung thig le la snang du bsnun bas bde ba rgyas pas shes pa yul la mi 'phro bas mi rtogs pa 'phel bas sems bzung b'ai thabs zab pa dang/

4) rgyu ni lus ngag yid gsum he ru ka'i sku gsung thugs su gnas pas rgyu gnyis 'bras bur gnas pa'o/

5) 'bras bu ni sku bzhi ye shes lnga dang ldan pas 'bras bu gzhan las khyad par du 'phags pa dang/

6) lam ni thabs mang ba dang zab pa dang/ sla ba ste sgrub sla ba dang/

7) dus ni skal pa grangs med kyi dus la mi ltos par/ tshes gcig la sangs rgya bas dus myur ba dang/

8) rnal 'byor ni lam rim pa gnyis kyi rnal 'byor dang ldan pas rnal 'byor mang ba dang/

9) longs spyod ni 'dod yon lnga mi spong bar lam du byed pas longs spyod rgya che ba dang/

10) don ni rang don dang gzhan don dus gcig sgrub pas don 'grub sogs che ba dang/

11) dgongs pa ni gang yin gyis rtogs par mi nus pas dgongs pa zab pa dang/

12) ngal dub spang ba ni/ rten 'brel lus la sgrigs pas rtogs pa sems la char ba dang/ mi 'grub pa bsgrub pa'i ngal dub med pas las sla ba dang/ mi 'grub pa bsgrub pa'i ngal dub med pas las sla ba dang/

13) mtha' spangs pa ni/ dangs ma lus la rgyas pas rjes su chags pa chen pos [168] 'gro ba dag du byed cing/ 'gro don 'byung bas zhi ba'i mtha' spang/ rtog pa rang sar 'gog ste so so rang rig pa'i ye shes skyes pa na/ stong nyid rtog pa srid pa'i mtha' spangs pas mtha' gnyis rang sar grol ba dang/

14) tshegs chung ba ni/ lus dang srog la 'phangs med du gtong ba'i dka' tshegs mi dgos par/ rtsa thig rlung gsum la snad du snun pas/ spang bya lus kyis stong/ yon tan lus la skye bas sgrub sla bas tshegs chung ba'o/

15) tshogs bsag pa ni rang gi phung khams skye mched lha ru gsal ba la/ ci za ci mthung tshogs 'khor du rol pas tshogs zhor la rdzogs pa dang bco lngas pha rol tu phyin pa'i theg pa las khyad par du 'phags pa'o/

Note

In this passage, 'Ba' ra ba discusses the four or fifteen ways that Mantrayāna is superior to the Bodhisattvayāna. The Grub mtha' mdzod (see the entry from this work {116506:87.2}), a text by his contemporary Klong chen pa, seems to have been a source for 'Ba' ra ba's presentation.

by David Higgins

Passage

gsang sngags bya ba theg pa chen po yin/ theg pa chen po bya ba gzhan don byed pa yin/ gzhan don byed pa la yang 'bras bu sku gsum thob dgos/ sku gsum thob par byed pa la tshogs gnyis bsag dgos/ tshogs gnyis bsag pa la byang chub kyi sems sbyang dgos/ lam bskyed rdzogs gnyis zung du 'jug dgos/ lar byang chub kyi sems med pa'i sngags pa cang mi rung/ theg pa mi che// gsungs pa/ gsang sngags dang mtshan nyid gnyis zer yang phug gcig/ lta spyod gnyis med na gnyis ka nyes su 'gro bas/ lta ba yas phub spyod pa mas 'dzeg/ de gnyis gzung 'brel du nyams su len pa shin tu gal che'o//

Note

Padmasambhava notes how Mahāyāna and Mantrayāna are commonly motivated by compassion, their difference being that Mantrayāna does not go in for accepting or rejecting good or evil actions. He then writes the following passage [703.3].

by David Higgins

Passage

de nas theg pa chen po'i tshul nges par bya ba la gnyis te/ theg chung pa las 'phags tshul dang/ rab tu dbye ba'o (Cittamātra and Madhyamaka)/

dang po ni mdo sde rgyan las/

dmigs pa chen po nyid dang ni
de bzhin bsgrub pa gnyis dag dang
ye shes brtson 'grus brtsams pa dang
thabs la mkhas pa gang yin dang
yang dag grub pa chen po dang
sangs rgyas 'phrin las chen po ste
chen po bdun dang ltan pa'i phyir
theg chen zhes ni nges par brjod/ ces so/

de la (1) dmigs pa ni phugs kyi ched du bya ba rang gi don bsgrub pa chung ngu yin la/ gzhan don 'ba' zhig bsgrub pa ni chen po'o/

(2) bsgrub pa ni thabs shes khyad par can zung du 'brel pa ni chen po la/ bral ba ni chung ngu ste (quotes from Sdud pa and Rin chen 'phreng ba)...ces thabs snying rje dang shes rab mtha' gnyis su mi gnas pas srid zhi gnyis las 'da' bar byed de/ mngon rtogs rgyan las/

shes pas srid la mi gnas shing
snying rjes zhi la mi gnas dang/ zhes so/

(3) ye shes ni gang zag gi bdag med tsam mam/ chos kyi byed gzung ba rang bzhin med par rtogs pa nyan rang ste chung ngu la/ bdag gnyis kyis stong par rtogs pa ni byang chub sems dpa'i theg pa chen po'o/

(4) brtson 'grus ni dus thung ngur spro ba zhan pas gzhan don yal bar 'dor bar chung ngu la/ dus ring por spro ba chen pos brtson pa ni... (quotes from Mdo sde rgyan and Spyod 'jug)

(5) thabs ni rang nyid gcig pu zhi ba tshol ba'i thabs ni chung ngu la zlog pa ni chen po ste [89] (quote from Mngon rtogs rgyan)

(6) grub pa ni zhi ba phyogs gcig chung ngu la/ mi gnas pa'i mya ngan yas 'das pa chen po ni chen po ste (quote from Rin po che za ma tog lta bu'i gtam)

(7) 'phrin las ni nyan rang dbyings su zhi bas gzhan don mi 'byung ste/ (quote from Rin po che za ma tog lta bu'i gtam)...theg chen ni sangs rgyas nas 'khor ba ma stongs kyi bar du don mdzad de (quote from Rin po che za ma tog lta bu'i gtam)

Note

This passage argues why theg pa chen po is superior to other vehicles. Klong chen pa interprets the seven chen po which serve to distinguish Mahāyāna from lesser spiritual pursuits, drawn from the Mahāyānasūtrālaṅkāra {116301:xix:5-6}).

by David Higgins

Note

This passage argues why theg pa chen po is superior to other vehicles. Klong chen pa concludes with quotations from two tantras on the superiority of Mahāyāna over Hīnayāna.

by David Higgins

Passage

[10a.2] chen po bdun gyi sgo nas khyad par yod par gsungs pa sogs mtha' yas kyang gnad bsdu na/ lta ba bdag med gnyis rdzogs ma rdzogs dang/ sgom pa thabs shes khyad par can yin min dang/ spyod pa phyin drug dang ldan mi ldan dang/ 'bras bu byang chub chen po bsgrub mi sgrub kyi sgo nas/ khyad par shin tu che bar bzhed de/ kun mkhyen chos rjes [ie. klong chen pa]:

lta ba mkha' 'dra stong nyid bco brgyad dang
sgom pa 'od gsal phyogs chos sum bcu bdun
spyod pa skyon med pha rol phyin pa drug
'bras bu bla med byang chub sgrub rnams yin zhes gsungs pa ltar ro/

Note

This passage argues why theg pa chen po is superior to other vehicles. In this non-sectarian presentation of various important distinctions in Buddhism, 19th century Rnying ma scholar Phyogs las rnam rgyal discusses the distinctiveness of Mahāyāna over lesser vehicles on the authority of such scholars as Klong chen pa. The major distinguishing factor is the Bodhicitta motivation (bsam pa), but the seven points of greatness (chen po) are also important. Phyogs las rnam rgyal summarizes these in four points as follows.

by David Higgins

Note

This passage argues why theg pa chen po is superior to other vehicles. Phyogs las rnam rgyal addresses a similar distinction between higher and lower yānas [10a.5]. The texts of some lower yānas go so far as to say there is no liberation (thar pa med par smra ba). While some claim there is no difference in the visions of theg dman individuals who attain understanding of the path of yang gcig (once returner), such as Śāriputra and those Bodhisattvas of Mahāyāna who abide on the tenth bhūmi, they nonetheless maintain that there are differences as to whether their conduct (spyod pa) involves or does not involve the six pāramitās or whether or not or not they attain, as the goal ('bras bu) of their endeavour, nirvāṇa of the greater or lesser vehicle. He goes on to say the following (root text is in bold face).

by David Higgins

Passage

[10b.3] de la <b>snga 'gyur mkhas pa'i</b> dbang po rnams kyi <b>rang bzhin ni</b> grub mtha' gong 'og gis <b>lta grub</b> dang <b>theg pa'i rim pa dag</b> ni bdag med gtan la 'beb cing de'i don bsgom pa'i cha nas theg pa gong 'og 'gal ba yang min mod/ 'on kyang lam <b>rim</b> gyis pa'i sgo nas lta ba gang zag gi bdag med tsam gtan la 'beb cing de'i don bsgom te 'bras bu myang 'das tsam sgrub par byed pa theg dman <b>dang</b>/ de la ltos nas lam <b>cig car</b> ba'i <b>tshul gyis su</b> lta ba bdag med gnyis gtan la phab ste/ de'i don sgom pa'i sgo nas mthar 'bras byang chub chen po sgrub par byed pa theg pa chen po te/ theg pa <b>gong 'og</b> gi <b>khyad par</b> yang <b>dpag yas</b> yod par <b>bzhed</b> do/ rgyu mtshan <b>de</b> nyid kyi <b>phyir</b> theg pa gong 'og tsam du ma zad spyir <b>grub mtha' smra ba bzhi</b> po yang lta ba <b>bka'</b> [11a] <b>rtags</b> kyi <b>phyag rgya</b> bzhi <b>khas len par mthun</b> zhing/ 'og ma gong ma'i lam stegs su gyur bas mi 'gal mod/ <b>'on kyang</b> lta ba gtan la 'beb skabs <b>gsal rgyas rdzogs</b> pa'i <b>tshul</b> du gtan la 'beb nus mi nus kyi khyad par <b>las/ lta grub gong 'og</b> bzhi po'i <b>khyad par</b> yang sin tu <b>che</b> bar bzhed do// (on gsal, rgyas and rdzogs as factors which distinguish rnying ma from gsar ma, see the entry from Grub mtha' mdzod {116506:257.6}).

Passage

ji ltar sa bon sa la lhung ba bzhin [bden gnyis shing rta:492.2, yon tan rin po che mdzod kyi 'grel pa nyi zla'i sgron me:71.4]

sems mchog bskyed pa mi gtso skyes pa gtso/

zhes bstan nas byang chub tu sems bskyed pa tsam ni so so'i skye bo'i rgyud la byang chub dam pa'i sa bon bzhag pa tsam yin gyis/ de mi nyams shing gong 'phel du sbyang la theg pa dman pa'i la gegs su che bas 'di ltar nyan rang gi lam ni nyon mongs pa bye brag pa'i gnyen po tsam du 'gro ba dper na sman gyi bye brag tha dad pa res nad bye brag pa re sel ba bzhin no/ byang chub kyi sems ni lha'i bdud rtsi dang mtshungs te/ des nad mtha' dag pa drung nas 'byin pa ltar nyon mongs pa mtha' dag gi gnyen por 'gro zhing sangs rgyas thob par byed pa'i rgyu ma nor ba yin pas so/

de'i phyir snying stobs chung zhing thabs la mi mkhas pa theg dman gyi lam las ldog pa'i byang chub sems dpa' theg pa chen po'i don zab cing rgya che ba la mkhas pa rnams ni ded dpon snying rje chen pos mi nag mdung thung can bsad pas bskal pa bzhi khri'i tshogs 'dums pa dang/ bram ze'i khye'u skar ma la dga' bas tshong dpon gyi bu mo 'dod pas nyen pa la snying rje chen po'i kun slong gis de srog las skyob pa'i phyir tshangs spyod btang bas tshogs bskal pa nyi khri 'dums pa bzhin grangs med gsum ji lta ba gsog mi dgos pa yin no/ de skad du dri ma med par [bden gnyis shing rta:493] grags pas bstan pa las/

ma ni shes rab pha rol phyin
pha ni thabs la mkhas pa ste
mgon po rnams ni de las skyes
chos la dga' bas chung ma ste
byams dang snying rje bu mo yin
chos dang bden gnyis de yi bu
stong pa'i don sems khyim yin no
de bzhin nyon mongs thams cad ni
ji dgar dbang byed slab ma'
mja' bo byang chub yan lag ste
sems ni byang chub mchog rigs 'gyur
de grogs rtag tu 'grogs pa ni
pha rol phyin pa drug rnams so
mngon shes de yi bzhon pa ste
theg pa chen po bla na med
kha lo bsgyur ba byang chub sems
lam ni zhi ba'i yan lag brgyad/

ces pas byang chub sems dpa'i sde snod kyi lus ma tshang ba med pa bstan pa yin no/

Note

This passage argues why theg pa chen po is superior to other vehicles. Elaborating on how to engender byang chub sems bskyed, 'Jigs med gling pa illustrates the superiority of Mahāyāna (likened to the elixir of the gods) over lesser pursuits (likened to various medicines for treating sundry illnesses). After further highlighting the significance of Mahāyāna, he quotes a passage of rare beauty from a sūtra that epitomizes the whole of the Bodhisattva path.

by David Higgins

Passage

...thabs kyis zing pa'i bdag 'dzin dang nyon mongs pa ni yon tan skye ba'i rgyu yin pa 'di theg pa chen po'i khyad chos so/ spyir sems stobs kyi khyad par 'dir brjod pa'i dgos pa'ang/... (see text)

...[596.3] de bas na thabs la mkhas pa dang/ snying stobs che ba dang/ smon lam gyi rang 'bras mngon du gyur pa nyid kyis gzhan don du dmigs pa rgya che ba dang/ mngon mtho dang nges legs 'grub pas don che ba rnams 'jig rjen las 'das pas zang zing med pa dang/ dge ba gang du 'phel bas mi zad pa ste/ rgyan las/

(1) rgya che ba dang (2) zang zing med
(3) don che ba dang (4) mi zad pa
spyin pa la sogs thams cad kyi
yon tan bzhir ni shes par bya/

Note

This passage argues why theg pa chen po is superior to other vehicles. At the beginning of his treatment of the pāramitās, 'Jigs med gling pa highlights the special feature of Mahāyāna.

by David Higgins

Passage

26 gang chen mtsho 'dra sangs rgyas theg pa che [587]
go cha mchog sogs bdun gyis 'phags pas na [496]
theg pa mkha' dra gzhal med khang chen nyid

de la theg pa chen po ni thabs dang spyod pa dang/ chos kyi tshul rgya mtsho las kyang gang chen mtshor gyur pa yin la/ theg pa chung ngu ni ba glang rmig rjes kyi chu'i rang bzhin [588] du lta ste chen po bdun dang ldan pa dang mi ldan pa'i phyir ro/

(1) de la dmigs pa chen po ni chos nyid nam mkha' 'dra ba la dmigs par nus la chung ngus mi nus so/

(2) sgrub pa chen po ni lam dang spyod pa'i dus na rang gzhan gnyis ka'i don chen po sgrub pa nyid de/ nyan rang la rang don las med do/

(3) ye shes chen po ni bdag gnyis kyis stong pa'i chos nyid snying rje dang zung du 'jug pa'i ye shes yod pa theg dman la med do/

(4) brtson 'grus chen po bskal pa grangs med par sems can gyi don du spro ba nyan rang la med do/

(5) thabs la mkhas pa chen po srid zhi gnyis kyi mtha' la mi gnas pas don sgrub pa nyid nyan rang la med do/

(6) grub pa chen po sangs rgyas nas gzhan don dang/ stobs sogs kyi yon tan mtha' yas ldan pa theg dman la med do/

(7) 'phrin las chen po 'khor ba ji srid par gzhan don lhun grub tu 'byung ba nyid nyan rang la med la/ theg chen la yod pas 'phags te/ (quotes the same passage from Mdo sde rgyan {116301} on seven chen po as under the entry from Grub mtha' mdzod {116506:87.2})

Note

This passage argues why theg pa chen po is superior to other vehicles. Klong chen pa again takes up the theme of of the seven chen po (this work is later than the Grub mtha' mdzod {116506} which the author occasionally refers to; the Grub mtha' mdzod in turn makes occasional reference to the Sems nyid ngal gso {116036}). However, comparison shows that the treatment differs slightly on certain points (Klong chen pa does not cite texts to support his interpretations as he does in the Grub mtha' mdzod). The page numbers in the following passage are from two editions of Yid bzhin mdzod autocommentary. Both remain unidentified. (However, Higgins indicates that p. 587 is from the Gangtok ed. and p. 496 from the Derge ed.).

by David Higgins