Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 1

CONTENTS

CONTENTS ...............................................................................................1
Bodhicittavivarana – Exposition of Bodhicitta .......................................2
Introduction.........................................................................................2
Bodhicittavivarana – Verses ...............................................................3
Prologue: The theme of this treatise is bodhicitta. Samvrtitah it is a
yearning for the bodhi of all living beings; paramarthatah it is
the realization of sunyata; i.e., bodhi.........................................3
The significance of developing bodhicitta. (1-3)............................3
Refutation of the belief in an atman, a permanent soul and a
creator, as held by tirthikas . (4-9).............................................4
Refutation of the existence of the skandhas, as held by the
Sravakas. (10-25).......................................................................4
Refutation of the fundamentals of the Vijnanavada: trisvabhava,
svasamvedana, asrayaparivrtti, and alayavijnana. In reality,
vijnana is dependent, momentary, illusory, and empty. (26-56)6
All internal and external dharmas are pratityasamutpanna, or
sunya. To understand this is to realize the absolute bodhicitta,
or liberation from the bonds of karma due to the klesas. (57-72)
...................................................................................................8
A Bodhisattva who has thus become a Buddha is motivated by
karuna (that is, by the power of his previous pranidhanas) to

Bodhicittavivarana apply all possible means ( = upayakausalya) in order to rescue

all beings from samsara. (73-104) ...........................................10
Conclusion: The reader is encouraged to produce bodhicitta. (105-
Exposition of Bodhicitta 111)..........................................................................................12
attributed to Nagarjuna A final dedication of merit. (112) .................................................13
Commentary.............................................................................................14
(a critique of Vijnanavada)
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 2

comprehensive: bodhicitta. It has a relative aspect consisting in the

Bodhicittavivarana – Exposition of desire (prarthana) for the bodhi of all living beings, and an absolute
consisting in the unlimited cognition of sunyata, or bodhi. The
Bodhicitta Bodhicittavivarana thus provides us with a compendium of the
practice and theory of Mahayana addressed to Bodhisattvas, grhasthas
as well as pravrajitas. It may indeed be said to be nothing but a
Introduction vivarana of the celebrated formula of RA IV, 96:
sunyatakarunagarbham ekesarh bodhisadhanam.
This regrettably neglected text comprises 112 stanzas (anustubh)
introduced by a brief prologue in prose. It has sometimes been Sanskrit fragments apart, only two Tibetan versions of the
grouped as a tantric work, but a glance at its contents shows how Bodhicittavivarana are at our disposal. I have identified these in the
unwarranted such a classification is. section on sources and variants in Part I, using the abbreviations A, B,
and C. B, as we would expect from the names of the revisers, is an
The Bodhicittavivarana is never mentioned or cited by Buddhapalita excellent piece of work, and it forms the basis of my edition.
or Candrakirti. On the other hand it forms one of the basic authorities Throughout I have carefully compared A and C. In a few cases A has
for Bhavya in his most mature work, the Ratnapradipa. It is never proved invaluable, (for example, for verse 16, left out in B due to
quoted in his earlier works, the Tarkajvala, Prajnapradipa, and haplography (homoearcton). C is a commentary of high standard. It
[*Kara-]talaratna. Among other 'good' authors citing the quotes pratikas from all the 112 stanzas and explains all debatable
Bodhicittavivarana are especially Asvabhava and Santaraksita. I have points exhaustively. In a few cases, like A, it permits us to emend
also come across scores of quotations by other commentators; corruptions in B. I have, however, only registered variants in A and C
fortunately several of these are in Sanskrit. It is my general when they affect the sense in such a way that it may possibly be more
impression that the Yuktisastika, Catuhstava, and Bodhicittavivarana authentic than the one transmitted by B.
are the most frequently quoted among all works ascribed to
Nagarjuna in later Indian literature. -- Lindtner

The style of the Bodhicittavivarana is similar to that of the

Yuktisastika, Ratnavali, and Catuhstava. From a historical point of
view the most significant feature of this text is its extensive critique
of Vijhanavada; i.e. Buddhist idealism as testified in the
Lankavatarasutra. Having seen how vehemently Nagarjuna attacks
any kind of acceptance of svabhava, one would also expect him to
have criticized those who might have thought themselves justified in
maintaining the absolute existence of vijnana, or citta. But in the texts
dealt with hitherto this happens only incidentally. The
Bodhicittavivarana provides us with the missing link.
None of Nagarjuna's other works exhibit such a well-balanced and
coherent structure as the Bodhicittavivarana. This is to some extent a
natural consequence of the fact that the theme is at once simple and
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 3

Bodhicittavivarana – Verses The significance of developing bodhicitta. (1-3)

Prologue: The theme of this treatise is bodhicitta.

1.
Samvrtitah it is a yearning for the bodhi of all living beings;
Bowing to the glorious Vajrasattvas embodying the mind of
paramarthatah it is the realization of sunyata; i.e., bodhi.
enlightenment, I shall expound the development of the
bodhicitta that abolishes [the three kinds of] existence [in
It has been stated: "Due to the sameness [or] selflessness of samsara].
phenomena, one's own mind — devoid of all entities, exempt
from the skandhas, elements, sense-fields, and subject and 2.
object — is originally unborn; in essence empty.” The Buddhas maintain that bodhicitta is not enveloped in
notions conscious of a self, skandhas, and so forth, [but] is
Just as the Buddhas, our Lords, and the great Bodhisattvas always marked by being empty [of any such notions].
have produced the thought of Great Enlightenment (maha-
bodhicitta), thus I shall also, from now until [I dwell] in the heart 3.
of enlightenment, produce the thought of Great Enlightenment [Those] with minds [only] tinged by compassion must develop
in order to save living beings unsaved, liberate those not [bodhicitta] with particular effort. This bodhicitta is constantly
liberated, console those not consoled, and lead to nirvana developed by the compassionate Buddhas.
those who have not arrived at nirvana.

When a Bodhisattva, having practiced a course by way of

mantras, has thus produced the bodhicitta that in its relative
aspect has the nature of aspiration, he must by means of
meditational development produce the absolute bodhicitta.
Therefore I will reveal its nature.
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 4

Refutation of the belief in an atman, a permanent soul and a Refutation of the existence of the skandhas, as held by the
creator, as held by tirthikas . (4-9) Sravakas. (10-25)

4. 10.
When the self imagined by the tirthikas is analyzed logically, it This [empirical] world, free from a self and the rest, is
obtains no place within the [five] skandhas. vanquished by the [Sravakas'] understanding of the skandhas,
elements, sense-fields, and subject and object.
5.
If it were [identical with] the skandhas [the self] would not be 11.
permanent, but the self has no such nature. And between Thus the benevolent [Buddhas] have spoken to the Sravakas of
things permanent and impermanent a container-content the five skandhas: form, feeling, apprehension, karma-
relationship is not [possible]. formations and consciousness.

6. 12-13.
When there is no so-called self how can the so-called creator But to the Bodhisattvas [the Buddha], the best among those
be permanent? [Only] if there were a subject might one begin who walk on two legs, has always taught this doctrine about the
investigating its attributes in the world. skandhas: "Form is like a mass of foam, feeling is like bubbles,
apprehension is like a mirage, karma-formations are like the
7. plantain, and consciousness is like an illusion."
Since a permanent [creator] cannot create things, whether
gradually or all at once, there are no permanent things, whether 14.
external or internal. The form skandha is declared to have the four great elements
as its nature. The remaining [four skandhas] are inseparably
8. established as immaterial.
Why [would] an efficacious [creator] be dependent? He would
of course produce things all at once. A [creator] who depends 15.
on something else is neither eternal nor efficacious. Among these eye, form, and so forth are classified as [the
eighteen] elements. Again, as subject-object these are to be
9. known as the [twelve] sense-fields.
If [he] were an entity he [would] not be permanent, for things
are perpetually instantaneous (since [you] do not deny that 16.
impermanent things have a creator). Form is not the atom, nor is it the [organ] of sense. It is
absolutely not the active sense [of consciousness]. [Thus] an
instigator and a creator are not suited to producing [form].
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 5

17. 24.
The form atom does not produce sense consciousness, The deluded see illusions, mirages, cities of gandharvas, and
[because] it passes beyond the senses. If [empirical forms are so forth. Form manifests in the same way.
supposed to] be created by an assemblage [of atoms], this
accumulation is unacceptable.

18.
If you analyze by spatial division, even the atom is seen to
possess parts. That which is analyzed into parts — how can it
logically be an atom?

19.
Concerning one single external object divergent judgments
may prevail. Precisely that form which is pleasant [to one
person] may appear differently to others.

20.
Regarding the same female body, an ascetic, a lover and a wild
dog entertain three different notions: "A corpse!" "A mistress!"
"A tasty morsel!"

21.
Things are efficacious due to being like objects. Is it not like an
offense while dreaming [i.e., nocturnal emission]? Once
awakened from the dream the net result is the same.

22.
As to the appearance of consciousness under the form of
subject and object, [one must realize] that there exists no
external object apart from consciousness.

23.
In no way at all is there an external thing in the mode of an
entity. This particular appearance of consciousness appears
under the aspect of form.
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 6

Refutation of the fundamentals of the Vijnanavada: 31.

trisvabhava, svasamvedana, asrayaparivrtti, and [But mind] that is past does not exist, [while] that which is future
alayavijnana. In reality, vijnana is dependent, momentary, is nowhere discovered. [And] how can the present [mind] shift
illusory, and empty. (26-56) from place [to] place?

32.
25. [The alayavijnana] does not appear the way it is. As it appears
The purpose of the [Buddha's] teachings about the skandhas, — it is not like that. Consciousness essentially lacks substance;
elements, and so forth is [merely] to dispel the belief in a self. it has no other basis [than insubstantiality].
By establishing [themselves] in pure consciousness the greatly
blessed [Bodhisattvas] abandon that as well. 33.
When a lodestone is brought near, iron turns swiftly around;
26. [though] it possesses no mind, [it] appears to possess mind. In
According to Vijhanavada, this manifold [world] is established just the same way,
to be mere consciousness. What the nature of this
consciousness might be we shall analyze now. 34.
The alayavijnana appears to be real though it is not. When it
27. moves to and fro it [seems to] retain the [three] existences.
The Muni's teaching that "The entire [world] is mere mind" is
intended to remove the fears of the simple-minded. It is not a 35.
[teaching] concerning reality. Just as the ocean and trees move though they have no mind,
the alayavijnana is active [only] in dependence on a body.
28.
[The three natures] — the imagined, the dependent, and the 36.
absolute — have only one nature of their own: sunyata. They Considering that without a body there is no consciousness, you
are the imaginations of mind. must also state what kind of specific knowledge of itself this
[consciousness] possesses!
29.
To [Bodhisattvas] who rejoice in the Mahayana the Buddhas 37.
present in brief the selflessness and equality of [all] By saying that a specific knowledge of itself [exists] one says it
phenomena [and the teaching] that mind is originally unborn. is an entity. But one also says that it is not possible to say,
"This is it!"
30.
The Yogacarins give predominance to mind in itself. [They] 38.
claim that mind purified by a transformation in position To convince themselves as well as others, those who are
[becomes] the object of its own specific [knowledge]. intelligent [should] always proceed without error!
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 7

39. 47.
The knowable is known by a knower. Without the know-able no The magnanimous Buddhas who reside in the heart of
knowing [is possible]. So why not accept that subject and enlightenment and all the compassionate [Bodhisattvas] always
object do not exist [as such]? know sunyata to be like space.

40. 48.
Mind is but a name. It is nothing apart from [its] name. Therefore [Bodhisattvas] perpetually develop this sunyata,
Consciousness must be regarded as but a name. The name which is the basis of all phenomena; calm, illusory, baseless;
too has no own-being. the destroyer of existence.

41. 49.
The Jinas have never found mind to exist, either internally, Sunyata expresses non-origination, voidness, and lack of self.
externally, or else between the two. Therefore mind has an Those who practice it should not practice what is cultivated by
illusory nature. the inferior.

42. 50.
Mind has no fixed forms such as various colors and shapes, Notions about positive and negative have the mark of
subject and object, or male, female, and neuter. disintegration. The Buddhas have spoken [of them in terms of]
sunyata, [but] the others do not accept sunyata.
43.
In brief: Buddhas do not see [what cannot] be seen. How could 51.
they see what has lack of own-being as its own-being? The abode of a mind that has no support has the mark of
[empty] space. These [Bodhisattvas] maintain that development
44. of sunyata is development of space.
A 'thing' is a construct. Sunyata is absence of constructs.
Where constructs have appeared, how can there be sunyata? 52.
All the dogmatists have been terrified by the lion's roar of
45. sunyata. Wherever they may reside, sunyata lies in wait!
The Tathagatas do not regard mind under the form of know-
able and knower. Where knower and knowable prevail there is 53.
no enlightenment. Whoever regards consciousness as momentary cannot accept
it as permanent. If mind is impermanent, how does this
46. contradict sunyata?
Space, bodhicitta, and enlightenment are without marks;
without generation. They have no structure; they are beyond 54.
the path of words. Their 'mark' is non-duality. In brief: When the Buddhas accept mind as impermanent, why
should they not accept mind as empty?
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 8

55. All internal and external dharmas are pratityasamutpanna,

From the very beginning mind has no own-being. If things could or sunya. To understand this is to realize the absolute
be proved through own-being, [we would] not declare them to bodhicitta, or liberation from the bonds of karma due to the
be without substance. klesas. (57-72)

56.
This statement results in abandoning mind as having 57.
substantial foundation. It is not the nature of things to transcend As sweetness is the nature of sugar and hotness that of fire, so
[their] own own-being! [we] maintain the nature of all things to be sunyata.

58.
When one declares sunyata to be the nature [of all
phenomena] one in no sense asserts that anything is destroyed
or that something is eternal.

59.
The activity of dependent co-origination with its twelve spokes
starting with ignorance and ending with decay [we] maintain to
be like a dream and an illusion.

60.
This wheel with twelve spokes rolls along the road of life. Apart
from this, no sentient being that partakes of the fruit of its
deeds can be found.

61.
Depending on a mirror the outline of a face appears: It has not
moved into it but also does not exist without it.

62.
Just so, the wise must always be convinced that the skandhas
appear in a new existence [due to] recomposition, but do not
migrate [as identical or different].

63.
To sum up: Empty things are born from empty things. The Jina
has taught that agent and deed, result and enjoyer are [all only]
conventional.
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 9

64. 72.
Just as the totality [of their causes and conditions] create the Those who do not know sunyata will have no share in
sound of a drum or a sprout, [so we] maintain that external liberation. Such deluded beings wander [among] the six
dependent co-origination is like a dream and an illusion. destinies, imprisoned within existence.

65.
It is not at all inconsistent that phenomena are born from
causes. Since a cause is empty of cause, [we] understand it to
be unoriginated.

66.
That phenomena [are said] not to arise indicates that they are
empty. Briefly, 'all phenomena' denotes the five skandhas.

67.
When truth is [accepted] as has been explained, convention is
not disrupted. The true is not an object separate from the
conventional.

68.
Convention is explained as sunyata; convention is simply
sunyata. For [these two] do not occur without one another, just
as created and impermanent [invariably concur].

69.
Convention is born from karma [due to the various] klesas, and
karma is created by mind. Mind is accumulated by the vasanas.
Happiness consists in being free from the vasanas.

70.
A happy mind is tranquil. A tranquil mind is not confused. To be
unperplexed is to understand the truth. By understanding truth
one obtains liberation.

71.
It is also defined as reality, real limit, signless, ultimate
meaning, the highest bodhicitta, and sunyata.
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 10

A Bodhisattva who has thus become a Buddha is motivated 80.

by karuna (that is, by the power of his previous The inevitable and unceasing suffering of hunger, thirst, mutual
pranidhanas) to apply all possible means ( = upayakausalya) slaughter, and torments result from causing pain.
in order to rescue all beings from samsara. (73-104)
81.
Know that beings are subject to two kinds of maturation: [that
73. of] Buddhas [and] Bodhisattvas and that of good and bad
When ascetics (yogacarin) have thus developed this sunyata, rebirth.
their minds will without doubt become devoted to the welfare of
others, [as they think]: 82.
Support [living beings] with your whole nature and protect them
74. like your own body. Indifference toward beings must be
"I should be grateful to those beings who in the past bestowed avoided like poison!
benefits upon me by being my parents or friends.
83.
75. Though the Sravakas obtain a lesser enlightenment thanks to
"As I have brought suffering to beings living in the prison of indifference/ the bodhi of the Perfect Buddhas is obtained by
existence, who are scorched by the fire of the klesas, it is fitting not abandoning living beings.
that I [now] afford them happiness."
84.
76. How can those who consider how the fruit of helpful and
The sweet and bitter fruit [that beings in] the world [obtain] in harmful deeds ripens persist in their selfishness for even a
the form of a good or bad rebirth is the outcome of whether single moment?
they hurt or benefit living beings.
85.
77-78. The sons of the Buddha are active in developing
If Buddhas attain the unsurpassed stage by [giving] living enlightenment, which has steadfast compassion as its root,
beings support, what is so strange if [those] not guided by the grows from the sprout of bodhicitta, and has the benefit of
slightest concern for others receive none of the pleasures of others as its sole fruit.
gods and men that support the guardians of the world, Brahma,
Indra, and Rudra? 86.
Those who are strengthened by meditational development find
79. the suffering of others frightening. [In order to support others]
The different kinds of suffering that beings experience in the they forsake even the pleasures of dhyana; they even enter the
hell realms, as beasts, and as ghosts result from causing Avici hell!
beings pain.
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 11

87. 95.
They are wonderful; they are admirable; they are most As long as they have not been admonished by the Buddhas,
extraordinarily excellent! Nothing is more amazing than those Sravakas [who are] in a bodily state of cognition remain in a
who sacrifice their person and riches! swoon, intoxicated by samadhi.

88. 96.
Those who understand the sunyata of phenomena [but also] But once admonished, they devote themselves to living beings
believe in [the law of] karma and its results are more wonderful in varied ways. Accumulating stores of merit and knowledge,
than wonderful, more astonishing than astonishing! they obtain the enlightenment of Buddhas.

89. 97.
Wishing to protect living beings, they take rebirth in the mud of As the potentiality of both [accumulations], the vasanas are
existence. Unsullied by its events, they are like a lotus [rooted] said to be the seed [of enlightenment]. That seed, [which is] the
in the mire. accumulation of things, produces the sprout of life.

90. 98.
Though sons of the Buddha such as Samantabhadra have The teachings of the protectors of the world accord with the
consumed the fuel of the klesas through the cognitive fire of [varying] resolve of living beings. The Buddhas employ a
sunyata, the waters of compassion still flow within them! wealth of skillful means, which take many worldly forms.

91-92. 99.
Having come under the guiding power of compassion they [Teachings may differ] in being either profound or vast; at times
display the descent [from Tusita], birth, merriments, they are both. Though they sometimes may differ, they are
renunciation, ascetic practices, great enlightenment, victory invariably characterized by sunyata and non-duality.
over the hosts of Mara, turning of the Dharmacakra, the
request of all the gods, and [the entry into] nirvana. 100.
Whatever the dharams, stages, and paramitas of the Buddhas,
93. the omniscient [Tathagatas] have stated that they form a part of
Having emanated such forms as Brahma, Indra, Visnu, and bodhicitta.
Rudra, they present through their compassionate natures a
performance suitable to beings in need of guidance. 101.
Those who thus always benefit living beings through body,
94. words, and mind advocate the claims of sunyata, not the
Two [kinds] of knowledge arise [from] the Mahayana to give contentions of annihilation.
comfort and ease to those who journey in sorrow along life's
path— so it is said. But [this] is not the ultimate meaning.
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 12

102. Conclusion: The reader is encouraged to produce

The magnanimous [Bodhisattvas] do not abide in nirvana or bodhicitta. (105-111)
samsara. Therefore the Buddhas have spoken of this as "the
non-abiding nirvana/'
105.
103. [In] Mahayana this bodhicitta is said to be the very best. So
The unique elixir of compassion functions as merit, [but] the produce bodhicitta through firm and balanced efforts.
elixir of sunyata functions as the highest. Those who drink it for
the sake of themselves and others are sons of the Buddha. 106.
[In this] existence there is no other means for the realization of
104. one's own and others' benefit. The Buddhas have until now
Salute these Bodhisattvas with your entire being! Always seen no means apart from bodhicitta.
worthy of honor in the three worlds, guides of the world, they
strive to represent the lineage of the Buddhas. 107.
Simply by generating bodhicitta a mass of merit is collected. If it
took form, it would more than fill the expanse of space!

108.
If a person developed bodhicitta only for a moment, not even
the Jinas could calculate the mass of his merit!

109.
The one finest jewel is a precious mind free of klesas. Robbers
like the klesas or Mara cannot steal or damage it.

110.
Just as the high aspirations of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas in
samsara are unswerving, those who set their course on
bodhicitta must make [firm their] resolve.

111.
No matter how amazing [all this seems], you must make efforts
as explained. Thereafter you yourself will understand the
course of Samantabhadra!
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana 13

A final dedication of merit. (112)

112.
Through the incomparable merit I have now collected by
praising the excellent bodhicitta praised by the excellent Jinas,
may living beings submerged in the waves of life's ocean gain
a foothold on the path followed by the leader of those who walk
on two legs.
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana
14

Commentary
Nagarjuna’s Bodhicittavivarana
15

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