Groundless paths the prajnaparamita sutras, the o ( (179)

Snow Lion Publications
P. O. Box 6483
Ithaca, NY 14851 USA
(607) 273-8519
www.snowlionpub.com
Copyright © 2012 Tsadra Foundation
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without prior
written permission from the publisher.
Printed in USA on acid-free recycled paper.
Typeset by Stephanie Johnston based on a design by Gopa & Ted2, Inc.
Drawing of Patrul Rinpoche by Chris Banigan.
ISBN-10: 1-55939-375-0
ISBN-13: 978-1-55939-375-1
Library o f Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

O-rgyan-jigs-med-chos-kyi-dbaň-po, Dpal-sprul, b. 1808.
[Selections. English. 2012]
Groundless paths : the Prajňápáramitá sutras, the Ornament of clear
realization, and its commentaries in the Tibetan Nyingma tradition /
translated and introduced by Karl Brunnholzl.
p. cm. — (The Tsadra Foundation series)
Includes translations from Tibetan.
Chiefly based on Tsoň-kha-pa Blo-bzaň-grags-pa s Legs bšad gser
phreň.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-1-55939-375-1 (alk. paper)
ISBN-10: 1-55939-375-0 (alk. paper)
1. Abhisamayálaňkára--Criticism, interpretation, etc.--Early works to
1800. 2. Rňiň-ma-pa (Sect)--Doctrines--Early works to 1800.1.
Brunnholzl, Karl. II. Tsoň-kha-pa Blo-bzaň-grags-pa, 1357-1419. Legs
bšad gser phreň. III. Title.

BQ1955.07513 2012
294.3’85—dc23
2011030232


Contents
I N T R O D U C T IO N

19

T R A N SL A T IO N S

35

The General Topics o f The Treatise on the Pith Instructions on
Prajnaparam ita, The O rn a m e n t of Clear Realization1

37

Presentation o f the body o f the text

58

Detailed explanation o f the b ranches

71

Explanation o f the knowledge o f all aspects

72

Generation o f bodhicitta (the nature o f the path)

72

Receiving the instructions (what purifies the generation o f
bodhicitta)

79

The branches conducive to penetration (the fruition o f the
instructions)

114

The foundation o f practice

124

The focal object o f practice

134

The aim o f practice

136

The practice o f donning the armor o f the mahàyàna

138

The practice o f engagement

142

The practice o f the equipments

156

The practice o f final deliverance

185

Detailed explanation o f the branches o f the knowledge o f the path
(the means o f attainment)
The branches o f the path

186
186

The path o f Sràvakas

199

The path o f pratyekabuddhas

201

The path o f seeing

204

The function o f the path o f familiarization

210

The path o f familiarization a s aspiration

211

Its benefit

213


6 Groundless Paths
The path o f familiarization as dedication

213

The path o f familiarization as rejoicing

214

The path o f familiarization a s accomplishment

215

The pure path o f familiarization

216

Detailed explanation o f the branches o f the knowledge o f entities
(what is to be relinquished)

219

The nature o f the knowledge o f entities

219

The reasons for presenting closeness and distance

220

The divisions o f the factors to be relinquished and their remedies 225
The nature o f the training

228

The aspects o f the training

231

Explaining the actual path o f seeing

231

Detailed explanation o f the complete training in all aspects—
the cause that makes one gain mastery

235

Explaining the aspects to be trained in

235

T he trainings o w n nature

274

The qualities to be attained

276

The flaws to be rejected

278

The defining characteristics to be known

283

The factors conducive to liberation (what is to be relied on in the
mind stream)

289

The tim e o f the arising o f the special training

291

The irreversible persons

294

What makes one attain buddhahood (the supported)

302

What purifies the twofold buddha realm (the support)

303

The cause for promoting the welfare o f others in this buddha
realm, the training in skill in means

303

Detailed explanation o f the branches o f the culminating training—
the result over which mastery is to be gained
The culmination o f the path o f preparation

309
310

The culmination o f heat

310

The culmination o f peak

311

The culmination o f poised

readiness

The culmination o f the supreme dharma

312
312

The culmination o f the path o f seeing

313

The culmination o f the path o f familiarization

337

T he culmination o f the uninterrupted path

346

Its factors to be relinquished

347

Contents 1
Detailed explanation o f the branches o f the serial training (the cause
o f stabilization)

355

The serial training that is the path

355

The serial training that makes the path special

356

The serial training that makes the path pure

357

Detailed explanation o f the branches o f the instantaneous training
(the result o f stabilization)

358

The instantaneous training in terms o f nonmaturation

358

The instantaneous training in terms o f maturation

359

The instantaneous training in terms of the lack of characteristics

359

The instantaneous training in terms o f nonduality

359

Detailed explanation o f the branches o f the dharmakàya (the fruition
o f having engaged in the trainings)

360

The svàbhàvikakâya

362

The wisdom kàya

363

The sàmbhogikakàya

363

The nairmànikakàya

364

The nature o f enlightened activity (their activity)

367

A W ord C om m entary on The Treatise on the Pith Instructions on
Prajnàpâram itâ, The O rn a m e n t o f Clear Realization

397

Presentation o f the body of the text

400

Detailed explanation o f its branches

406

The explanation o f the knowledge o f all aspects

406

Generation o f bodhicitta

406

Receiving the instructions (what purifies the generation o f
bodhicitta)

409

The branches conducive to penetration (the fruition o f the
instructions)

414

The foundation o f practice

422

Its focal object

424

Its aim

425

The armorlike practice (the practice o f donning the armor
through motivation)

425

The practice o f engagement

426

The practice o f the equipments

427

The practice o f final deliverance

437


8 Groundless Paths
The detailed explanation o f the branches o f the knowledge o f the
path (the means to attain the knowledge o f all aspects)

438

The branches o f the path

439

The knowledge o f the path o f knowing the path o f ¿ravakas

440

The knowledge o f the path o f knowing the path of
pratyekabuddhas

441

The path o f seeing

443

The function o f the path o f familiarization

447

The path o f familiarization as aspiration

447

Its benefit

448

The path o f familiarization as dedication

449

The path o f familiarization as rejoicing

450

The path o f familiarization o f accomplishing the qualities

451

The pure path o f familiarization

451

The detailed explanation o f the branches o f the knowledge o f entities
(what is to be relinquished)

454

The nature o f the knowledge o f entities

455

The reasons for presenting closeness and distance

455

The divisions o f the factors to be relinquished and their remedies 456
The nature o f the training that is the manner o f practicing it

458

The equality o f the training

460

The fruition o f having practiced in this way

460

Detailed explanation o f the branches o f the complete training in
all aspects—the cause that makes one gain mastery

463

The aspects to be trained in

464

The training s own nature

469

The qualities to be attained

471

The flaws to be rejected

472

The defining characteristics to be known

473

The factors conducive to liberation (what is to be relied on in
the mind stream)

483

The time o f the arising o f the special training

485

The persons who are the supports for the arising o f the special
training in the mind stream

487

What makes one attain buddhahood (the supported)

498

What purifies the twofold buddha realm (the support)

499

The cause for promoting the welfare o f others in this buddha
realm (the training in skill in means)

500