Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words

This page describes “means of acquiring meditation” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.

Part 2 - Means of acquiring meditation

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- Sub-Contents: (+ / -)

Section A - First method: eliminating the sensual desires

Story of the upāsaka tempted by a goddess

Section A.1 - Rejecting colors

Story of Bimbisāra at Āmrapāli’s home

Story of Udayana and the five hundred ṛṣis

Section A.2 - Rejection of pleasant sounds

Story of the Kiṃnarī and the five hundred ṛṣis

Section A.3 - Rejection of pleasant smells

Story of the śrāmaṇera who became a nāga

Padumapuppha-sutta

Section A.4 - Rejecting pleasant tastes

Story of the śrāmaṇera who loved cream

Story of the crown prince who was poisoned by fruit

Section A.5 - Rejection of pleasant touchables

The story of Yaśodharā

Section B - Second method: removing the obstacles

Section B.1 - Removing envy

Section B.2 - Removing malevolence

Section B.3 - Removing laziness-torpor

Section B.4 - Removing excitement (restlessness) and regret

Section B.5 - Removing doubt

Section C - Third method: practicing the five dharmas

Question. – By what means (upāya) is the virtue of meditation (dhyānapāramitā) attained?

Answer. – By eliminating five objects [namely, the five sensual desires], by avoiding five things [namely, the five obstacles] and by using five practices.

Note: This section was repeated almost word for word by Tche yi (538–597), the founder of the T’ien t’ai school. In his Sieou si tche kouan tso tchan fa yao, T 1915, k. 1, p. 463b–465b (tr. Beal, Catena, p. 258–267).

Last Updated: 20 October, 2018