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The Sutra On Wisdom at The Hour of Death - 84000
The Sutra On Wisdom at The Hour of Death - 84000
Atyayajñānasūtra
འཕགས་པ་འདའ་ཀ་་ས་ས་་བ་ག་པ་ན་པོ ་མདོ།
Āryātyayajñānanāmamahāyānasūtra
Toh 122
Degé Kangyur vol. 54 (mdo sde, tha), folios 153.a–153.b.
v 1.11 2016
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co. CONTENTS
ti. Title
co. Contents
s. Summary
ac. Acknowledgements
i. Introduction
tr. The Translation
c. Colophon
n. Notes
b. Bibliography
g. Glossary
s. SUMMARY
ac. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ac.1 Translated into English by Tom Tillemans’ class in the University of Vienna’s
program of Buddhist Translation Studies in 2014. The introduction was
written by Casey Kemp and Tom Tillemans.
This translation has been completed under the patronage and supervision
of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.
i. INTRODUCTION
i.1 This sūtra, brief though it is, addresses central Mahāyāna concepts in relation
to practices to be carried out at the hour of death. When the Buddha is asked
how one is to consider the mind (or mindset) of a bodhisattva who is about to
die, he replies by giving pith instructions on the nature of phenomena and
the mind, and instructs that a bodhisattva should accordingly engender
specific clear understandings. The Buddha points out that all phenomena are
pure, subsumed within the mind of enlightenment, and naturally luminous.
Entities are impermanent, and the realization of mind is wisdom.
Consequently, a bodhisattva should arouse a clear understanding that no
entities truly exist, a clear understanding of great compassion, a clear
understanding of non-apprehension, a clear understanding of non-
attachment, and a clear understanding that the Buddha should not be sought
elsewhere than in one’s own mind. Although he refers to these instructions as
the wisdom of the hour of death, the implication is that these teachings can
be cultivated and realized throughout a bodhisattva’s lifetime in order to
prepare for death and attain liberation.
i.2 The Sanskrit title of the sūtra is found transcribed in all Kangyurs as Ārya-
ātajñāna-nāmamahāyānasūtra.1 This transcription, however, appears to
have been truncated; as Sanskrit, it is not readily comprehensible, and
certainly not equivalent to the Tibetan ’da’ ka ye shes. Another version of the
Sanskrit title occasionally given is Atijñānasūtra,2 which, although certainly
understandable, yields a meaning quite different from that of the Tibetan.
The more likely Sanskrit phrase that would capture ’da’ ka ye shes is
atyayajñāna (“wisdom at the time of passing away”), and this has been
proposed as a revision of the Sanskrit title in several modern catalogues.3
i.3 There is no extant Sanskrit text to our knowledge, although it is clear that
there was such an original at one time—the Tibetan colophon to Śāntideva’s
commentary mentions that the Indian abbot Dharmarāja collaborated with
Pakpa Sherab (’phags pa shes rab) in the translation of the commentarial
text. The sūtra translation preserved in the Kangyur, however, has no
colophon with the usual mention of the Tibetan translators and Indian
pan ̣d ̣its, and was most likely made not from the Sanskrit but from an earlier
Chinese translation, as the early 9th century Denkarma (ldan dkar ma)
catalogue explicitly includes the Atyayajñāna in a list of sūtras translated
into Tibetan from Chinese. Its inclusion in the Denkarma allows it to be
dated to the first decades of the 9th century at the latest, and possibly earlier
if it was indeed known to King Trisong Detsen (see below). The putative
Chinese version, however, does not seem to have survived and the sūtra does
not seem to figure in the Chinese canon.
i.4 There are two commentaries on this text written by Indian authors in the
Degé Tengyur, one attributed to Śāntideva (c. 8th century) and the other to
Prajñāsamudra (dates unknown).4 There are also six known Tibetan
commentaries, four of which were written by 17th-19th century Gelukpa (dge
lugs pa) scholars, the longest and most detailed being one by the seventh
Dalai Lama, Kelsang Gyatso.5 Our translation mainly follows the commentary
of Prajñāsamudra and, to a lesser degree, that of Cone Drakpa Shedrub (co ne
grags pa bshad sgrub, 1675-1748).
i.5 The Atyayajñāna is included in lists of sūtras known as the Five Royal
Sūtras and Ten Royal Sūtras, two sets of profound, relatively short, and pithy
works6 traditionally said to have been translated on Padmasambhava’s
recommendation and used for daily practice by the 8th century Tibetan king
Trisong Detsen (khri srong lde btsan). Their use is said to have contributed
(along with other practices) to the king’s life being prolonged by thirteen
years beyond the limit predicted by astrological reckoning. The texts
recounting this incident list the applications or uses of each of these texts; in
the case of the Atyayajñāna, this is meditation or cultivation (sgom pa). In
the same accounts the sūtra is described as being of definitive meaning.7
Another Tibetan tradition explains that the Five Royal Sūtras each present
the condensed, essentialized meaning of five of the major canonical texts, all
much longer, known as the Five Sets of One Hundred Thousand.8 From this
viewpoint, the Atyayajñāna represents the essence of the Mahāparinirvān ̣a-
sūtra (Toh 119-120). Yet another, more prosaic, explanation sometimes
found for the epithet “royal” being applied to these works is simply that each
of them, compared to other works on similar themes, is of paramount
importance.
i.6 The Atyayajñāna is considered particularly important in several Tibetan
Buddhist traditions, including Dzogchen (rdzogs chen) and Mahāmudrā.
Roger Jackson points out that it seems to be the only sūtra from the Kangyur
that is included in indigenous Tibetan lists of Indian canonical texts on
Mahāmudrā. As a search of the Tibetan Buddhist Research Center
(www.tbrc.org) data reveals, the Atyayajñāna is quoted by well-known
Tibetan authors of all schools—including Gampopa (sgam po pa, 1079-1153),
Sakya Pan ̣d ̣ita (sa skya paN+Di ta, 1182-1251), Karmapa Rangjung Dorje
(rang byung rdo rje, 1284-1339), Longchen Rabjampa (klong chen rab
’byams pa, 1308-1364), Shākya Chogden (shAkya mchog ldan, 1428-1507),
Drukpa Padma Karpo (’brug pa pad+ma dkar po, 1527-1592), Tāranātha (tA
ra nA tha, 1575-1634), and the Fifth Dalai Lama, Ngawang Lobzang Gyatso
(ngag dbang blo bzang rgya mtsho, 1617-1682). The most frequent excerpt
quoted is from the final verses on the mind (1.14):
i.7 Unsurprisingly, this brief yet well known sūtra has been translated into
English a number of times. Several translations can be found on the internet,
including translations by Ruth Sonam, Erik Tsiknopoulos, and at least one
anonymous version. Published translations include those by Roger Jackson
(2009), Sherab Raldri (2010), and Tony Duff (2011). A translation of the
sūtra together with translations of Prajñāsamudra’s and Śāntideva’s
commentaries has been published online by Lhasey Lotsawa Translations
(2015). We hope that our translation will contribute to readers’ appreciation
of this remarkable and justly celebrated work.
THE TRANSLATION
1.2 Thus did I hear at one time. While the Blessed One was residing in the palace
̣ realm,9 he taught the Dharma to the
of the king of the gods in the Akanisṭ ha
entire assembly.
1.3 The bodhisattva mahāsattva Ākāśagarbha then paid homage to the Blessed
One and asked, “Blessed One, how should we think about the mind of a
bodhisattva who is about to die?”
1.4 The Blessed One replied, “Ākāśagarbha, when a bodhisattva is about to die,
he should cultivate the wisdom of the hour of death. The wisdom of the hour
of death is as follows:
1.5 All phenomena are naturally pure. So, one should cultivate the clear
understanding that there are no entities.
1.6 All phenomena are subsumed within the mind of enlightenment. So, one
should cultivate the clear understanding of great compassion.10
1.7 All phenomena are naturally luminous. So, one should cultivate the clear
understanding of non-apprehension.
1.8 All entities are impermanent. So, one should cultivate the clear
understanding of non-attachment to anything whatsoever.
1.9 When one realizes mind, this is wisdom. So, one should cultivate the clear
understanding of not seeking the Buddha elsewhere.”
1.11 “Since all phenomena11 are connected with the enlightened mind,
One should cultivate the clear understanding of great compassion.12
1.14 “Since the mind is the cause for the arising of wisdom,
Do not look for the Buddha elsewhere.”
1.15 After the Blessed One had spoken, [F.153.b] the whole assembly, including
the bodhisattva Ākāśagarbha and others, were overjoyed and full of praise for
the Buddha’s words.
c. Colophon
c.1 This concludes the Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra on Wisdom at the Hour of Death.
n. NOTES
4 See bibliography.
Works in Tibetan
’phags pa ’da’ ka ye shes zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. Toh 122, Degé
Kangyur, vol. 54 (mdo sde, tha), folios 153a–153b.
’phags pa ’da’ ka ye shes zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. bka’ ’gyur (dpe
bsdur ma) [Comparative Edition of the Kangyur], krung go’i bod rig pa
zhib ’jug ste gnas kyi bka’ bstan dpe sdur khang (The Tibetan Tripitaka
Collation Bureau of the China Tibetology Research Center). 108 volumes.
Beijing: krung go’i bod rig pa dpe skrun khang (China Tibetology
Publishing House), 2006-2009, vol. 54, pp. 23–24.
’phags pa ’da’ ka ye shes zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. Also in
Khomthar Jamlö (2014, see below), vol. 6, pp 23-24.
Śāntideva. ’da’ ka ye shes zhes bya ba chen po’i mdo’i ’grel pa. Toh 4004,
Degé Tengyur, vol. 116 (mdo ’grel, ji), folios 174a–178a. Also in Khomthar
Jamlö (2014, see below), vol. 6, pp 33-42. English translation in Lhasey
Lotsawa Translations (2015, see below).
Prajñāsamudra. ’da’ ka ye shes kyi mdo’i rnam par bshad pa. Toh 4003,
Degé Tengyur, vol. 116 (mdo ’grel, ji), folios 171a–174a. Also in Khomthar
Jamlö (2014, see below), vol. 6, pp 25-32. English translation in Lhasey
Lotsawa Translations (2015, see below).
Kalsang Gyatso (bskal bzang rgya mtsho), Dalai Lama XII. ’da’ ka ye shes
zhes bya ba’i theg pa chen po’i mdo’i ’grel kun mkhyen ye shes snang ba’i
nyi ma. In his Collected Works [bskal bzang rgya mtsho gsung ’bum].
Gangtok: Dodrup Sangye (1975-1983). Vol. 1, p. 341–406. Also in
Khomthar Jamlö (2014, see below), vol. 6, pp 51-105.
Cone Drakpa Shedrub (co ne grags pa bshad sgrub). ’phags pa ’da’ ka ye shes
dang ’du shes bcu gcig bstan pa’i mdo gnyis kyi ’grel pa. rJe btsun grags
pa bshad sgrub kyi gsung ’bum (computer input, Taipei: The Corporate
Body of the Buddha Educational Foundation, 2010) Vol. 8, p. 452–456.
Also in Khomthar Jamlö (2014, see below), vol. 6, pp 118-125.
Khomthar Jamlö (khoṁ thar ’jam los) (ed.) for si khron pod yig dpe rnying
bsdu sgrig khang. rgyal po mdo bcu’i rtsa ’grel phyogs bsgrigs [The Ten
Sūtras of the King, collected texts and commentaries]. Sichuan: si khron
mi rigs dpe skrun khang [Sichuan Minorities Publishing House], 2014. 10
volumes.
Kawa Peltsek (ska ba dpal brtsegs). pho brang stod thang ldan dkar gyi chos
kyi ’gyur ro cog gi dkar chag. Toh. 4364, Degé Tengyur, vol. 206 (sna
tshogs, jo), folios 294b-310a.
Shākya Chogden (shAkya mchog ldan). blo mchog pa’i dri lan sogs. In
Shākya mchog ldan gyi gsung ’bum, vol. 17 (tsa). Kathmandu: Sachen
International, 2006, p. 619-636.
Nyangrel Nyima Özer (nyang ral nyi ma ’od zer). “Zanglingma” (slob dpon
pad+ma ’byung gnas kyi skyes rabs chos ’byung nor bu’i phreng ba /
rnam thar zangs gling ma. In rin chen gter mdzod chen mo. New Delhi:
Shechen Publications (2007-8), vol. 1, pp 1-190. English translation in
Tsogyal (1993, see below).
Duff, Tony (tr.). The Noble One Called “Point of Passage Wisdom,” A Great
Vehicle Sutra . Kathmandu: PKTC (2011).
Jackson, Roger. “Two Bka’ ’gyur Works in Mahāmudrā Canons: The Ārya-
ātajñāna-nāma-mahāyānasūtra and the Anāvila-tantra-rāja.” In
Journal of the International Association of Tibetan Studies no. 5,
www.jiats.org (http://www.jiats.org), 2009.
Lhasey Lotsawa Translations (tr.). The Noble Wisdom of the Time of Death
Sūtra: and Commentaries by Prajñāsamudra and Śāntideva.
Kathmandu: Lhasey Lotsawa Translations and Publications (2015).
https://lhaseylotsawa.org (https://lhaseylotsawa.org/assets/texts/The-
Noble-Wisdom-of-the-Time-of-Death-Sūtra-and-Commentaries.pdf)
Tsogyal, Yeshe (Kunsang, Erik P. and Schmidt, Marcia B., trs.). The Lotus-
Born: The Life Story of Padmasambhava. Boston: Shambhala (1993).
g. GLOSSARY
g.1 Akanisṭ ha
̣
’og min
འོག་ན།
Akanisṭ ha
̣
The eighth and highest level of the Realm of Form (rūpadhātu, gzugs khams), and thus part of the
world of the Brahmā gods (brahmaloka, gtsang ris); it is only accessible as the result of specific states
of dhyāna. According to some texts this is where non-returners (anāgāmin) dwell in their last lives. In
other texts it is the realm of the enjoyment body (samb
̣ hogakāya, longs spyod rdzogs pa’i sku) and is a
buddhafield associated with the Buddha Vairocana; it is accessible only to bodhisattvas on the tenth
level.
g.2 Ākāśagarbha
nam mkha’i snying po
ནམ་མཁ་ང་པོ།
Ākāśagarbha
An important bodhisattva, his name means “essence of space.” He is one of the “eight great close sons”
(asṭ ạ mahopaputra, nye ba’i sras chen brgyad).
g.4 Cultivate
sgom pa
མ་པ།
bhāvanā
ོ ོ
ལ་པོ་མདོ་།
-
(1) Bhadracaryāpranidhāna
̣ (bzang spyod smon lam, in chapter 44 of the Avatamṣ aka); for aspiration
(smon lam), and described as vast (rgya chen). (2) Vajravidāranạ̄ dhāranị̄ (rdo rje rnam ’joms, Toh
750); for ablution (khrus). (3) Prajñāpāramitāhrdaya
̣ (shes rab snying po, Toh 21 and 531); for the
view (lta ba), and described as profound (zab mo). (4) Atyayajñāna (’da’ ka ye shes, Toh 122); for
cultivation (sgom pa) and described as of definitive meaning (nges don). (5) bya ba ltung bshags (part
of Vinayaviniścayopālipariprcchā,
̣ Toh 68); for purification of karmic obscurations (las sgrib dag pa).
g.8 Luminous
’od gsal
འོད་གསལ།
prabhāsvara
g.9 Non-apprehension
mi dmigs pa , dmigs pa med pa
་དགས་པ། , དགས་པ་ད་པ
g.10 Subsumed
’dus pa
འས་པ།