Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

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

This page describes “prantakotika dhyana” 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.

Note: The prāntakoṭika is none other than the fourth dhyāna taken to its maximum. It is defined in Kośa, VII, p. 95–96.

Among the dhyānas, there is one that reaches the summit (prāntakoṭa). What is meant by summit? There are two kinds of arhat: the arhat capable of regressing (parihāṇadharma) and the arhat incapable of regressing (aparihāṇadharma). The arhat incapable of regressing who has attained mastery (vaśita) over all the profound dhyānas and samāpattis is able to produce the prāntakoṭidhyāna; possessing this dhyāna, he is able to transform [187c] his longevity into wealth and wealth into longevity.

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