The Circle of Compassion: An Interpretive Study of Karuṇā in Indian Buddhist Literature

Dissertation

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Descriptionངོ་སྤྲོད།

Abstract

This is a study of compassion in the non-tantric literature of Indian Buddhism focused on whether it is correctly characterized as self-abnegating altruism. Because the meanings of concepts like karuṇā, anukampā, and maitrī overlap and dominant terms tend to subsume the meanings of others, this study works with a broad sense of compassion as empathetic sensitivity. It brings to light the strong presence of themes of interpretation that emphasize the circular complementarity of benefiting oneself and benefiting others. This pattern holds even in apparent examples of extreme self-sacrifice and places doubt on assessments of Indian Buddhist ethics as self-abnegating.
The methodology here is based on an argument that Buddhist sūtras are tapestries woven of threads drawn from a common stock of intertextual motifs and themes. It identifies key intertextual themes and then evaluates the range of their interpretive treatment from various philosophical perspectives.
The first chapter explores the general meaning, including the relation of passion to compassion, meditative techniques, powers and benefits, and the theme of svaparārtha. The second focuses on compassion as the motivation for the path. It shows strong continuities between mainstream and Mahāyāna Buddhism, in the double-edged aspirations of arhats and bodhisattvas to pursue personal development for the sake of others. It definitively documents that the bodhisattva vow can not be read as a renunciation of enlightenment. The third analyzes compassion and the realization of emptiness as a moment on the path, focusing on sources that direct the bodhisattva to skillfully postpone nirvāṇa by avoiding the realization of emptiness. Apparently advocating renunciation of enlightenment, they actually guide the practitioner to buddhahood through avoidance of arhat's nirvāṇa. The fourth examines the relationship of compassion to selflessness and emptiness, tracing the discussion of the ontological ālambana of karuṇā with a special focus on Prajñākaramati's commentary on the Bodhicaryāvatāra of Śāntideva. It concludes that even the highest compassion is based on conventional truth, but that this is a conventional wisdom informed by the realization of emptiness.

Citation

Jenkins, Stephen Lynn. "The Circle of Compassion: An Interpretive Study of Karuṇā in Indian Buddhist Literature." PhD diss., Harvard University, 1999.

Scholarship on

Bodhicaryāvatāra

An "Introduction to Bodhisattva Practice," the Bodhisattvacaryāvatāra is a poem about the path of a bodhisattva, in ten chapters, written by the Indian Buddhist Śāntideva (fl. c. 685–763). One of the masterpieces of world literature, it is a core text of Mahāyāna Buddhism and continues to be taught, studied, and commented upon in many languages and by many traditions around the world. The main subject of the text is bodhicitta, the altruistic aspiration for enlightenment, and the path and practices of the bodhisattva, the six perfections (pāramitās). The text forms the basis of many contemporary discussions of Buddhist ethics and philosophy.

Text

Bodhicaryāvatārapañjikā

Written by Prajñākaramati (950–1030), the Bodhicaryāvatārapañjikā is considered to be the most important Indian commentary on the Bodhicaryāvatāraby Śāntideva. This commentary explains the words in the verses (tshig 'grel), with additional commentaries on difficult points. Excluding The Dedication Chapter, it has only nine chapters.

Text

Abstractp. i
Dedicationp. vi
Acknowledgementsp. vii

Introduction and Methodological Comments

General Approachp. 1
Structure of the Dissertationp. 4
Methodologyp. 7
Scriptural Sourcesp. 17
The Use of Śāstrasp. 21
Conclusionsp. 22

Chapter I: The Benefit of Self and Other

Introductionp. 25
Anukampāp. 33
Mettāp. 35
Passion and Compassionp. 40
Meditation Techniquesp. 42
Upekṣāp. 46
Benefits of Compassionp. 47
Svaparārthap. 55

Chapter II: Compassion As The Fundamental Motivation For The Path

Introductionp. 63
Lokānukampāp. 65
Mettacittap. 67
Śākyamuni's Decision to Teachp. 72
The Plowing Festival and Great Renunciationp. 75
Śākyamuni as Bodhisattva: Dīpamkara Jātakap. 78
The Cult of Arhatsp. 81
Conclusions Regarding Mainstream Buddhismp. 81
The Bodhisattva Vowp. 83
The Common Vowp. 85
- Dharmasamgīti Sūtra and Compassion From the Firstp. 88
- The Upāyakauśalya Sūtra: A Synchronic Conception of the Pathp. 90
- Icchantika Bodhisattvas: The Laṅkāvatāra Sūtrap. 93
- The Prajñāpāramitā and Descent into the Hell Realmsp. 96
Vows of the Celestial Bodhisattvas and Buddhas
- Kṣitigarbhabodhisattvapraṇidhāna Sūtra:p. 102
- Sukhāvatīvyūha Sūtrap. 105
Conclusionp. 109

Chapter III: Compassion, Nirvāṇa and the Realization of Emptiness

Introductionp. 113
Wisdom and Compassion p. 118
On Not Directly Realizing Emptinessp. 126
Realization of Emptiness and the Bodhisattva Bhūmisp. 135
- Daśabhūmika Sūtrap. 136
- Sūtras Reflecting a Similar Patternp. 141
- Daśbhūmikasūtraśāstrap. 146
- Bodhisattvabhūmip. 147
- Madhyamakāvatārap. 149
- The Perfection of Wisdom Sūtras and the Abhisamayālaṃkārap. 156
Conclusionsp. 158

Chapter IV: The Object of Compassion

Introductionp. 161
Anātman and Mettā
- Theravāda Sourcesp. 163
- Abhidharmakośa on Mahākaruṇāp. 169
Śūnyatā and Anālambana
- Even Though There Are No Sentient Beingsp. 179
The Three Alāmbana of Karuṇāp. 188
- Akṣayamatinirdeśa Sūtrap. 189
- Akṣayamatinirdeśaṭīkāp. 191
- Bodhisattvabhūmip. 194
- Mahāyānasūtrālaṃkārap. 199
- Tathāgatagarbha Thoughtp. 203
- Candrakīrtip. 205
- Summaryp. 212
Śāntideva and Prajñākaramati: Compassion for Illusory Beingsp. 215

General Conclusionp. 228

Appendix I: The Intention for Enlightenment in Mahāyāna Sūtrasp. 235
Appendix II: A Note on Avalokiteśvarap. 238
Appendix III: Notes on the Theme of Not Directly Realizingp. 239
Appendix IV: Abhidharmakośa/Abhidharmaḍīpa on Mahākaruṇāp. 243