Atiśa's Introduction to the Two Truths, and Its Sources

Journal Article

Please note that many items in our library are simply pages that represent a detailed library catalog entry and citation of someone else's work, presentation, or performance. Read our General Disclaimer for more information.

Descriptionངོ་སྤྲོད།

This article presents a critical edition, translation, and analysis of Atiśa's Satyadvayāvatāra (Introduction to the Two Truths), tracing the development of the Madhyamaka theory of two truths from Nāgārjuna to Atiśa over nearly a millennium.

Lindtner demonstrates that while Nāgārjuna established the two truths doctrine as a pedagogical tool to reconcile absolute reality with Buddhist Abhidharma concepts, later Madhyamaka thinkers—particularly Bhāvya—developed increasingly sophisticated responses to epistemological and ontological objections raised by Yogācāra and Mīmāṃsaka opponents. The theory evolved from Nāgārjuna's simple distinction between conventional truth (saṃvṛtisatya) and absolute truth (paramārthasatya) into more complex formulations involving subdivisions of each truth and the use of logical inference to indicate the absolute.

Atiśa's Satyadvayāvatāra, a concise 28-verse text, represents the culmination of this tradition, synthesizing insights from Nāgārjuna, Candrakīrti, Bhāvya, Dharmakīrti, Śāntideva, and Śāntarakṣita. Rather than introducing original philosophy, Atiśa functions as a faithful transmitter who expertly summarizes the core issues: the twofold nature of conventional truth (false and genuine), the ineffability yet pedagogical necessity of discussing the absolute, the role of pramāṇas in debate versus realization, and the indispensability of conventional truth as a means to understanding emptiness. The article includes extensive translations from Nāgārjuna's authentic works with their ancient commentaries, demonstrating the sources upon which Atiśa's synthesis depends.

Citation

Lindtner, Christian. "Atiśa's Introduction to the Two Truths, and Its Sources." Journal of Indian Philosophy 9, no. 2 (1981): 161–214.

Recension of

Satyadvayāvatāra

Atiśa based his teaching of Madhyamaka thought and practice on the two realities, conventional reality (saṃvṛtisatya) and ultimate reality(paramārthasatya). Entry to the Two Realities succinctly lays out in twenty-eight verses a general exposition on the two realities. Atiśa composed this work between 1012 and 1025 while residing in Sumatra and studying under Serlingpa. Serlingpa inquired about Atiśa's philosophical views in a letter and Atiśa composed this set of verses as a response. Atiśa wrote Entry to the Two Realities in order to change the philosophical view of Serlingpa from a Yogācāra position to that of the Madhyamaka. Atiśa's introductory text on Madhyamaka presents his understanding based on the synthesis of a number of previous Indian Madhyamaka thinkers. (Source: James Apple, Atiśa Dīpaṃkara: Illuminator of the Awakened Mind, 127.

Text

Translation of

Satyadvayāvatāra

Atiśa based his teaching of Madhyamaka thought and practice on the two realities, conventional reality (saṃvṛtisatya) and ultimate reality(paramārthasatya). Entry to the Two Realities succinctly lays out in twenty-eight verses a general exposition on the two realities. Atiśa composed this work between 1012 and 1025 while residing in Sumatra and studying under Serlingpa. Serlingpa inquired about Atiśa's philosophical views in a letter and Atiśa composed this set of verses as a response. Atiśa wrote Entry to the Two Realities in order to change the philosophical view of Serlingpa from a Yogācāra position to that of the Madhyamaka. Atiśa's introductory text on Madhyamaka presents his understanding based on the synthesis of a number of previous Indian Madhyamaka thinkers. (Source: James Apple, Atiśa Dīpaṃkara: Illuminator of the Awakened Mind, 127.

Text

Scholarship on

Satyadvayāvatāra

Atiśa based his teaching of Madhyamaka thought and practice on the two realities, conventional reality (saṃvṛtisatya) and ultimate reality(paramārthasatya). Entry to the Two Realities succinctly lays out in twenty-eight verses a general exposition on the two realities. Atiśa composed this work between 1012 and 1025 while residing in Sumatra and studying under Serlingpa. Serlingpa inquired about Atiśa's philosophical views in a letter and Atiśa composed this set of verses as a response. Atiśa wrote Entry to the Two Realities in order to change the philosophical view of Serlingpa from a Yogācāra position to that of the Madhyamaka. Atiśa's introductory text on Madhyamaka presents his understanding based on the synthesis of a number of previous Indian Madhyamaka thinkers. (Source: James Apple, Atiśa Dīpaṃkara: Illuminator of the Awakened Mind, 127.

Text