The Origin of Bodhicitta and Its Development in Chinese Buddhism (Lin 2005)

Dissertation

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Descriptionངོ་སྤྲོད།

This dissertation is a study of the single Buddhist term, ‘bodhicitta’ in which I have attempted to explain the concept, its gradual evolution and development through time. This study, based mainly on 260 treatises from Chinese Buddhist Canon, is divided into six chapters.

The first chapter is an introduction to the origin of the concept of bodhicitta, a summary of the development of the concept of bodhicitta that is explored in the following chapters and the methodological remarks concerning the tools of analysis and interpretation used in this study. The second chapter, “The Development of the Concept of Bodhicitta,” deals with the definition and types of bohicitta, a clarification of the relationship among bodhicitta, Buddha Nature and tathagatagarbha, as well as, their Chinese historical background. The third chapter, “Production of Bodhicitta and its Regression,” discusses the reasons for producing bodhicitta under five categories, the evolution in producing bodhicitta over time, as well as, a comparison and contrast between regression ad non-regressions. The psychological exploration of bodhicitta is concerned with its function associated with consciousness in order to understand how to cultivate the Bodhicitta Way and to attain Buddhahood without regression. The fourth chapter,” Bodhicitta Practice and its Result,” enumerates the practices and the results of bodhicitta, as well as, their significance in Chinese Buddhism in accordance with the time-line between the fourth and teentith centuries CE. In addition bodhicitta and Humanistic Buddhism, bodhicitta and anuttarasammasambodhi, the model of Sakyamuni’s practice and the role of bodhicitta in the achievement of the Buddha’s wisdom, are examined. The sixth chapter concludes all the foregoing chapters with fourteen findings.

Citation

Lin, Mei-feng. "The Origin of Bodhicitta and Its Development in Chinese Buddhism." PhD diss., University of the West, 2005.

Abstract
Chapter I. Introduction1
- A. Three Periods of the Development of the Doctrine of Bodhicitta5
  - 1. In Ancient India - Previous Lives of Sakyamuni5
    - (a) Initial Bodhicitta of Sakyamuni in the Pāli Text5
    - (b) Initial Bodhicitta of Sakyamuni in the Sanskrit Texts9
    - (c) Initial Bodhicitta of Sakyamuni in the Chinese Texts10
  - 2. Period of Multiplicity13
  - 3. Period of Chinese Buddhism14
- B. Bodhicitta and Anuttarasammāsambodhi14
- C. Bodhicitta, Buddha Nature and Tathāgatagarbha16
- D. Relationship between Bodhicitta, Consciousness and Wisdom21
- E. Evolution of the Classifications of Bodhicitta in Chinese Buddhism24
Chapter II. Development of the Concept of Bodhicitta29
- A. Meaning of Bodhicitta29
  - 1. Mundane Bodhicitta30
  - 2. Supramundane Bodhicitta37
- B. Types of Bodhicitta and their Meanings47
- C. Relationships among Bodhicitta, Buddha Nature and Tathagātagarbha49
  - 1. Buddha Nature50
  - 2. Bodhicitta and Buddha Nature52
  - 3. Bodhicitta and Tathāgatagarbha55
  - 4. Bodhicitta, Buddha Nature and Tathāgatagarbha58
- D. Apocrypha of the First Sutra61
- E. Overview of Bodhicitta and its Chinese Historical Background63
- F. Philosophical Exploration of Bodhicitta67
Chapter III. Production of Bodhicitta and its Regression70
- A. Visualizing/Seeing the Buddha71
- B. Liberating Sentient Beings76
- C. Allowing One to Hear/Listen to the Dharma83
- D. Enhancing One’s Own Meditation Practice89
- E. Aiding One in the Search for Buddhahood97
Chapter IV. Practice and Results of Bodhicitta106
- A. Fourth Century CE: Self-practice and No-Result106
- B. Fifth Century CE: Extending the Self-cultivation for Understanding and the Result of Benefiting the Aspirant108
- C. Sixth Century CE: Practice of Prajñā and Altruism Resulting in Benefiting the Aspirant117
- D. Seventh Century CE: Six Perfections Resulting in Benefiting the Aspirant125
- E. Eighth Century CE: Ten Perfections, Four All-embracing Virtues and Four Sublime States of Mind Resulting in
  Benefiting the Aspirant136
- F. Ninth Century CE: Contemplation on the Moon and the Sound "A" Resulting in Emancipating the Aspirant's Three Karmic Hindrances142
- G. Tenth Century CE: Realizing the Ultimate Bodhicitta144
- H. Eleventh Century CE: A Blend of All the Preceding Practices Resulting in Benefiting the Aspirant147
- I. Twelfth Century CE: No Practice Following the Result of Stopping Samsaric Existence151
- J. Thirteenth Century CE: Practice of Altruism and a Vow To Be Reborn in the Pure Land Without Result152
- K. Fourteenth Century CE: Letting Go of the Two Vehicles and No Occurrence of the Result152
- L. Fifteenth Century CE: Neither Practice Nor Result Except the Reason and the Way of Regression and Non-regression153
- M. Sixteenth Century CE: Neither Practice Nor Result Occurred Except the Meaning and Analogy153
- N. Seventeenth Century CE: Neither Practice Nor Result Other Than the Reason and its Form Occurred154
- O. Eighteenth Century CE: No Text in Terms of Bodhicitta Occurred154
- P. Nineteenth Century CE: Serving Others Resulting in World Peace155
- Q- Twentieth Century CE: Bodhicitta and Humanistic Buddhism156
Chapter V. A Summary of the Milestones of Buddhism within the Last 2,000 Years168
- A. First Occurrence of the Term 'Bodhicitta' in the Third Century168
- B. Five Accessible Categories of the Reason and the Way of Regression/Non-regression170
- C. First Occurrence of the Way of Bodhicitta Practice Focusing on Self-practice170
- D. A Clarification of the Relationship among Bodhicitta, Buddha Nature and Tathāgatagarbha171
- E. Meaning of Bodhicitta First Given by Kumārajīva in the Fifth Century171
- F. Ethics and Universality of Bodhicitta173
- G. Highest Point of the Development of Bodhicitta in the Sixth Century173
- H. Practice of the Six Perfections during the Seventh Century CE175
- I. Integration of Practice between Sutric and Tantric Buddhism176
- J. Termination of the Development of Bodhicitta in the Ninth Century177
- K. Practice of Realizing Ultimate Bodhicitta177
- L. A Blend of All the Preceding Practices178
- M.The Decline of Bodhicitta during the Twelfth Century CE178
- N. The Practice of Altruism and A Vow to Be Reborn in the Pure Land during the Thirteenth Century179
- O. The Practice of Letting Go of the Two Vehicles179
- P. Reviving Bodhicitta through the Production of Bodhicitta for Seeing the Buddha/Hearing the Dharma179
- Q. The Meaning and the Analogy of Bodhicitta in Terms of the Pure Land during the Sixteenth Century CE180
- R. The Reason for Producing Bodhicitta and Its Form Survived Due to Emperial Support180
- S. Development of Bodhicitta in the Eighteenth Century - Returing to Similar Situations as in the Earliest Period180
- T. Serving Others Resulting in World Peace by Ordinary Persons180
- U. Development of Bodhicitta from China through Taiwan and the USA to the Whole World by Master Hsing Yung181
Chapter VI. Conclusion183
Bibliography195
Appendix200
A. General Data on Bodhicitta200
B. Meaning of Bodhicitta217
C. Types of Bodhicitta220
D. Reasons for Producing Bodhicitta222
- D-1. Visualizing/Seeing the Buddha230
- D-2. Liberating Sentient Beings234
- D-3. Allowing One to Hear/Listen to the Dharma239
- D-4. Enhancing One’s Own Meditation Practice242
- D-5. Aiding One in the Search for Buddhahood245
E. Ways of Regression and Non-regression247
F. Ways of Bodhicitta Practice250
G. Result of Bodhcitta256
H. Analogy of Bodhicitta261
I. Form of Bodhicitta262
J. Bodhicitta, Buddha Nature and Tathāgatagarbha263
K.The Model of Sakyamuni's Practice277
L.The Copy of the First Occurrence of the Term 'Bodhicitta' in the Chinese and Sanskrit Texts281
M. The Spread of Bodhicitta282