Gems from the Kalavinka Dharma Treasury
A Few Translation Excerpts from Kalavinka Press Books
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The Essentials of Buddhist Meditation
By the Tiantai Mountain Shramana Zhiyi (Chih-i) - (538-597 ce).
Essentials for Practicing Calming-and-Insight and Dhyana Meditation is a calming-and-insight (samatha-vipasyana) meditation manual deeply rooted in the early Indian Buddhist meditation tradition. It offers perhaps the most reliable, comprehensive, and practically useful Buddhist meditation instruction currently available in English.
Prefaces: a) Song Dynasty Yuanzhao Preface; b) Tiantai Zhiyi's Original Preface
Chapter 2, Renunciation of Desires as Preventing Success in Meditation
Chapter 3, Elimination of the Hindrances to Success in Meditation
Chapter 6, The Actual Cultivation
Chapter 7, Manifestation of Roots of Goodness
Chapter 8, Recognition of the Work of Demons
Chapter 9, Treatment of Disorders
Chapter 10, Realization of the Fruits
The Six Dharma Gates to the Sublime
By the Tiantai Mountain Shramana Zhiyi (Chih-i) - (538-597 ce).
This ideal companion volume to The Essentials of Buddhist Meditation explains the six practices crucial to success in traditional Indian Buddhist breath (anapana) and calming-and-insight (samatha-vipasyana) meditation. Correctly implemented, these six "gates" lead the practitioner to realize the third of the four truths (cessation), of which the "sublimity" referenced in the title is one of the four canonically-described practice aspects.
Chapter 1, The Six Gates in Relation to the Dhyana Absorptions
Chapter 2, The Six Gates in Terms of Sequential Development
Chapter 3, The Six Gates in Accordance with Suitability
Chapter 4, The Six Gates as Means of Counteraction
Chapter 5, The Six Gates in Terms of Mutual Inclusion
Chapter 6, The Six Gates in Terms of Identities and Differences
Chapter 7, The Six Gates in Accordance with the Reversed Orientation
Chapter 8, The Six Gates According to Contemplation of Mind
Chapter 9, The Six Gates According to the Perfect Contemplation
Chapter 10, The Six Gates in Accordance with the Signs of Realization
Nagarjuna's Guide to the Bodhisattva Path
The Bodhisambhara Shastra with Abridged Bhikshu Vasitva Commentary.
Treatise by Arya Nagarjuna (ca 2nd c.); Commentary Abridgement by
the Translator.
The Bodhisambhara Shastra (lit. "Treatise on
the Provisions for Enlightenment") describes the essential
prerequisites for realizing the complete enlightenment of a buddha.
Part 1, The Bodhisambhara Treatise, Excerpt 1
Part 1, The Bodhisambhara Treatise, Excerpt 2
Part 1, The Bodhisambhara Treatise, Excerpt 3
Part 2, The Abridged Commentary & Translator's Notes, Excerpt 1
Part 2, The Abridged Commentary & Translator's Notes, Excerpt 2
Part 2, The Abridged Commentary & Translator's Notes, Excerpt 3
The Bodhisambhara Treatise Commentary
The Sole Extant Commentary on Nagarjuna's Bodhisambhara Shastra.
By the early Indian monk, Bhikshu Vasitva (ca 300-500 ce).
This is a very detailed commentary on the meaning of each stanza comprising Arya Nagarjuna's Treatise on the Provisions for Enlightenment. It is the only extant traditional commentary on this important work by Nagarjuna.
Part 1, The Bodhisambhara Treatise, Excerpt 1
Part 1, The Bodhisambhara Treatise, Excerpt 2
Part 1, The Bodhisambhara Treatise, Excerpt 3
Part 2, The Vasitva Commentary, Excerpt 1
Part 2, The Vasitva Commentary, Excerpt 2
Part 2, The Vasitva Commentary, Excerpt 3
Part 2, The Vasitva Commentary, Excerpt 4
Part 2, The Vasitva Commentary, Excerpt 5
Part 2, The Vasitva Commentary, Excerpt 6
Nagarjuna on the Six Perfections
Chapters 17-30 of Exegesis on the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra.
By Arya Nagarjuna (ca 2nd c.).
In this long free-standing section of his Perfection of Wisdom Exegesis, Nagarjuna sets forth numerous stories, analogies, and analyses as he explores the deepest meaning of giving, moral virtue, patience, vigor, meditative discipline, and transcendent wisdom, the six primary practices forming the core of the Bodhisattva Path.
The Perfection of Giving, Excerpt 1
The Perfection of Giving, Excerpt 2
The Perfection of Giving, Excerpt 3
The Perfection of Giving, Excerpt 4
The Perfection of Moral Virtue, Excerpt 1
The Perfection of Moral Virtue, Excerpt 2
The Perfection of Moral Virtue, Excerpt 3
The Perfection of Patience, Excerpt 1
The Perfection of Patience, Excerpt 2
The Perfection of Vigor, Excerpt 1
The Perfection of Vigor, Excerpt 2
The Perfection of Dhyana Meditation, Excerpt 1
The Perfection of Dhyana Meditation, Excerpt 2
The Perfection of Wisdom, Excerpt 1
The Perfection of Wisdom, Excerpt 2
The Earliest Edition of Nagarjuna's Ratnavali.
By Arya Nagarjuna (ca 2nd c.).
This is Tripitaka Master Paramartha's earliest (ca 550 ce) complete edition of Nagarjuna's Ratnavali, a 500-stanza treatise on the Bodhisattva Path in the form of a spiritual advisor's letter to an Indian King. In it, Nagarjuna presents both abstruse teachings and practical advice to lay and monastic practitioners.
Chapter 1, On Gaining Happiness and Liberation, Excerpt 1
Chapter 1, On Gaining Happiness and Liberation, Excerpt 2
Chapter 2, Advice on Various Topics, Excerpt 1
Chapter 2, Advice on Various Topics, Excerpt 2
Chapter 3, The Provisions for Gaining Enlightenment, Excerpt 1
Chapter 3, The Provisions for Gaining Enlightenment, Excerpt 2
Chapter 4, Guidance Especially for Rulers, Excerpt 1
Chapter 4, Guidance Especially for Rulers, Excerpt 2
Chapter 5, On Right Practice for Monastics, Excerpt 1
Chapter 5, On Right Practice for Monastics, Excerpt 2
The Three Earliest Editions of Nagarjuna's Suhrllekha.
Via Tripitaka Masters: Gunavarman, Sanghavarman, & Yijing.
This is a guide to right Buddhist practice presented in the form of a letter of spiritual counsel to an Indian King.
The Gunavarman Translation, Excerpt 1
The Gunavarman Translation, Excerpt 2
The Sanghavarman Translation, Excerpt 1
The Sanghavarman Translation, Excerpt 2
The Yijing Translation, Excerpt 1
The Yijing Translation, Excerpt 2
Marvelous Stories from the Perfection of Wisdom
As told by Arya Nagarjuna in his Exegesis on the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra.
This volume consists of 130 didactic stories and short Dharma anecdotes selected from Nagarjuna's immense commentary on the Great Perfection of Wisdom Sutra. Each story is "framed" by the inclusion of Nagarjuna's introductory and summarizing Dharma discussions.
Excerpt 1, Stories on the Perfection of Giving
Excerpt 2, Stories on the Perfection of Moral Virtue
Excerpt 3, Stories on the Perfection of Patience
Excerpt 4, Stories on the Perfection of Vigor
Excerpt 5, Stories on the Perfection of Dhyana Meditation
Excerpt 6, Stories on the Perfection of Wisdom
Excerpt 7, Stories on Various Topics
Excerpt 8, Stories on Various Topics
Excerpt 9, Stories on Various Topics
Excerpt 10, Stories on Various Topics
On Generating the Resolve to Become a Buddha
Three Works on Bodhicitta:
On Generating the Resolve to Become a Buddha. By Arya Nagarjuna. (Chapter Six of his Ten Grounds Vibhasa)
Exhortation to Resolve on Buddhahood. By dhyana master & pureland patriarch, Sheng'an Shixian. (1686-1734)
Exhortation to Resolve on Buddhahood. By the Tang literatus, dhyana practitioner, and prime minister, Peixiu. (797-870)
Nagarjuna's On Generating the Resolve to Become a Buddha, Excerpt 1
Nagarjuna's On Generating the Resolve to Become a Buddha, Excerpt 2
Shramana Sheng'an Shixian's Exhortation to Resolve on Buddhahood, Excerpt 1
Shramana Sheng'an Shixian's Exhortation to Resolve on Buddhahood, Excerpt 2
Peixiu's Exhortation to Resolve on Buddhahood, Excerpt 1
Peixiu's Exhortation to Resolve on Buddhahood, Excerpt 2
Vasubandhu's Treatise on the Bodhisattva Vow
By Vasubandhu Bodhisattva (ca 300 ce).
This is Vasubandhu's treatise on the meaning of the Sutra on Generating the Resolve to Become a Buddha. In it, this famous and prolific treatise master presents an inspiring discussion of the essential nature and benefits of the bodhisattva vow along with a treatment of the six perfections through which bodhicitta is brought to fruition.
Excerpt 1: Chapter 1, Exhortation to Generate the Resolve
Excerpt 2: Chapter 2, Generating the Resolve
Excerpt 3: Chapter 3, The Establishment of Vows
Excerpt 4: Chapter 4, The Perfection of Giving
Excerpt 5: Chapter 5, The Perfection of Moral Virtue
Excerpt 6: Chapter 6, The Perfection of Patience
Excerpt 7: Chapter 7, The Perfection of Vigor
Excerpt 8: Chapter 8, The Perfection of Dhyana Meditation
Excerpt 9: Chapter 9, The Perfection of Wisdom
Excerpt 10: Chapter 10, The Dharma Gateway of Accordance with Reality
Excerpt 11: Chapter 11, Emptiness and Signlessness
Excerpt 12: Chapter 12, On the Merit and Preservation of Dharma
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