Ratnagotravibhāga

Also known as Analysis of the Jeweled Lineage,, Investigating the Jewel Disposition, The Ultimate Teaching of the Mahāyāna

The Ratnagotravibhāga (Sanskrit, abbreviated as RGV, meaning: Analysis of the Jeweled Lineage, Investigating the Jewel Disposition) and its vyākhyā commentary (abbreviated RGVV to refer to the RGV verses along with the embedded commentary), is an influential Mahāyāna Buddhist treatise on buddha-nature (a.k.a. tathāgatagarbha). The text is also known as the Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra (The Ultimate Teaching of the Mahāyāna).Gardner, Alex. "On the Ratnagotravibhāga." Buddha-Nature: A Tsadra Foundation Initiative, September 12, 2018. https://buddhanature.tsadra.org/index.php/Articles/On_the_Ratnago

Book · Open Library

First published: 1950
Editions: 1
Subjects: Tantras.

via Open Library

Article

33 sections

Contents

Titles
''Ratnagotravibhāga''
''Uttaratantraśāstra''
History
Structure and textual layers
Authorship
Versions and transmission
Sanskrit
Chinese
Tibetan
English Translations
Doctrinal content
The seven vajra topics
Buddha-nature
The dharmakāya, the purified buddha nature
The four perfected qualities
The four inconceivables
Why all beings have buddha nature
Why buddha nature is taught
Emptiness and buddha nature
The supreme teaching
Exegesis and influence
Indian tradition
Tibetan tradition
Buddha nature as a nonimplicative negation
Shentong
The Nyingma Dzogchen view
East Asia
See also
Notes
References
Sources
External links

The Ratnagotravibhāga (Sanskrit, abbreviated as RGV, meaning: Analysis of the Jeweled Lineage, Investigating the Jewel Disposition) and its vyākhyā commentary (abbreviated RGVV to refer to the RGV verses along with the embedded commentary), is an influential Mahāyāna Buddhist treatise on buddha-nature (a.k.a. tathāgatagarbha). The text is also known as the Mahāyānottaratantraśāstra (The Ultimate Teaching of the Mahāyāna). The RGVV was originally composed in Sanskrit, likely between the middle of the third century and no later than 433 CE. The text and its commentary are also preserved in Tibetan and Chinese translations.

The Ratnagotra focuses on the buddha nature present in all sentient beings, which is eternal, blissful, unconditioned and originally pure. This buddha nature is obscured by defilements, but when they are removed, the buddha nature is termed dharmakaya, the ultimate Buddha body. The buddha nature is what is referred to as the "jewel disposition" or "jeweled lineage" (ratnagotra) of the Buddhas. The RGVV often quotes from various tathāgatagarbha sutras and comments on them. The Ratnagotravibhāga is an important and influential text in Tibetan Buddhism and was also important for the Huayan school.