co.

Table of Contents

s.

Summary

s.­1

In The Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities, Maitreya asks the Buddha what qualities bodhisattvas need in order to be sure of completing the path to buddhahood. In response, the Buddha briefly lists eight qualities. Starting with the excellent intention to become enlightened, they include loving kindness, as well as realization of the perfection of wisdom, which the Buddha explains in terms of reflection on the twelve links of dependent origination.

ac.

Acknowledgments

ac.­1

This sūtra was translated by Dr. Karen Liljenberg, with Dr. Ulrich Pagel acting as consultant.

This translation has been completed under the patronage and supervision of 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha.

i.

Introduction

i.­1

The Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities,1 like most of the sūtras that comprise the Ratnakūṭa collection, was translated into Tibetan from a Sanskrit original that is now lost, but that may have dated back as far as the first or second centuries ᴄᴇ, i.e., several centuries before the collection itself was compiled. Apart from the Tibetan Kangyur version, translated in the ninth century, the sūtra is extant only in an earlier Chinese translation.

i.­2

Both the work translated here and the work that precedes it in the collection, The Question of Maitreya,2 focus on the important figure of the bodhisattva Maitreya, who is generally accepted as destined to be the future Buddha of this world-system.

i.­3

In this sūtra, Maitreya asks the Buddha what qualities bodhisattvas need in order to be sure of completing the whole path to buddhahood. The Buddha responds with a list of eight qualities that, while individually all standard elements of the Mahāyāna path, as a set of eight appear to be specific to this text. The Buddha briefly explains each quality and, in his explanation of the last‍—the perfection of wisdom‍—outlines the doctrine of the twelve links of dependent origination in both their “forward” and “reverse” orders, corresponding to causation and cessation.

i.­4

It is difficult to determine the precise historical relationship of The Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities with The Question of Maitreya (Toh 85), the longer sūtra that immediately precedes it. Their themes are obviously closely linked‍—in both, Maitreya questions the Buddha about the bodhisattvas’ qualities. However, their geographic settings differ: The Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities takes place on Vulture Peak Mountain near Rājagṛha, like many other Ratnakūṭa sūtras, while The Question of Maitreya is delivered in a relatively obscure location, Mount Śuśumāra in the country of the Bhargas.

i.­5

Both texts are included in the Denkarma (ldan dkar ma) inventory of early translations, dated to a year of the dragon thought to be most likely 824 (but possibly 812), so they must have been translated by that date. The translation of this one, the shorter sūtra, is attributed to Jinamitra and Danaśila, and Yeshé Dé is said to have corrected it using the revised terminology (skad gsar). Since The Question of Maitreya appears to have needed no such revision, its first Tibetan translation by Jinamitra and Surendrabodhi, under the editorial supervision of Yeshé Dé, may have been slightly later.

i.­6

In the Degé Kangyur, the text has two different titles: the first, in the initial line introducing it as the forty-second section of the Ratnakūṭa, calls it “The Noble Elucidation of the Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities” (’phags pa byams pas chos brgyad zhus pa lung bstan pa), while the second, immediately afterwards, is simply “The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra of the Question of Maitreya” (’phags pa byams pas zhus pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo), which is the same as the title of the preceding text. The Sanskrit titles of both sūtras, as transliterated in Tibetan in the Degé Kangyur, are also the same: Maitreya­paripṛcchā. In other Kangyurs, a variety of similar titles are given, while in some‍—e.g. the Narthang (snar thang) and Stok Palace Manuscript (stog pho brang bris ma) Kangyurs‍—the Sanskrit title includes mention of the eight qualities: Maitreya­paripṛcchā­dharmāṣṭa. Whether the reference to the “eight qualities” figured in the title of the Sanskrit original or, if not, at what stage it was integrated into the title as a convenient way of distinguishing this text from the preceding one, is difficult to determine. In the Tibetan title, at least, inclusion of the eight qualities was a feature in some Kangyurs and text catalogues early in the imperial period, even if it was not universal. It is found (as ’phags pa byams pas zhus pa’i chos brgyad pa) in the early ninth century Denkarma inventory mentioned above.

i.­7

This sūtra and the preceding one in the Ratnakūṭa section, both often simply called The Question of Maitreya, are not to be confused with a third sūtra of the same name in the General Sūtra (mdo sde) section, Toh 149, a short work (also set in Rajagṛha) in which Maitreya asks a quite different question.

i.­8

The main Tibetan text used for the present translation was the Degé (sde dge) edition of the Kangyur. Other Kangyurs were also consulted but, apart from the one noted, no significant variations were found.

Text Body

The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra
The Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities
1.

The Translation

[F.116.b]


1.­1

Homage to all the buddhas and bodhisattvas!


1.­2

Thus did I hear at one time. The Blessed One was staying in Rājagṛha, on Vulture Peak Mountain, together with a great saṅgha of 1,250 monks and 10,000 bodhisattvas. The Blessed One, surrounded by a retinue of many hundreds of thousands, surveyed those before him, and taught the Dharma.

1.­3

At that time, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya was present among that very retinue. He rose from his seat, draped his shawl over one shoulder, set his right knee on the ground, and paid homage with palms joined toward the Blessed One. He then said to the Blessed One, “Would the Blessed One please, if he has time, answer a certain question that I would like to put to the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha?”

The Blessed One [F.117.a] answered the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya, “Maitreya, you may put to the Tathāgata, the Arhat, the perfectly enlightened Buddha whatever question you wish. What I shall say in response to your question will cause you to rejoice.”

1.­4

So, since the Blessed One had given him the opportunity, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya asked the Blessed One, “Blessed One, how many qualities do bodhisattva mahāsattvas need to possess in order to become irreversibly set on supreme and perfect enlightenment without regressing, without regressing in the slightest, and to gain special attainments; to vanquish negative and hostile influences; and, while engaging in the conduct of a bodhisattva, to realize the intrinsic characteristics of all phenomena just as they are and therefore be indefatigable in saṃsāra? And, as well as having that indefatigable mind, through the pristine awareness that does not rely on anything else,3 to awaken quickly to supreme, perfect enlightenment and become a buddha?”

1.­5

The Blessed One replied to the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya, “Very good, Maitreya. It is good that you have thought to ask the Tathāgata a question on this point. Therefore, Maitreya, listen well and retain in your mind what I shall explain to you.”

“Blessed One, please do so,” said the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya, and listened as the Blessed One had instructed him.


1.­6

The Blessed One, in turn, continued, “Maitreya, if bodhisattvas possess eight qualities, they will become irreversibly set on supreme and perfect enlightenment [F.117.b] without regressing, without regressing in the slightest, and will gain special attainments; they will vanquish negative and hostile influences; and, while engaging in the conduct of a bodhisattva, they will realize the intrinsic characteristics of all phenomena just as they are and therefore be indefatigable in saṃsāra. And, as well as having that indefatigable mind, through the pristine awareness that does not rely on anything else, they will quickly awaken to supreme, perfect enlightenment and become a buddha.

1.­7

“What are those eight qualities? Well, Maitreya, they are for bodhisattva mahāsattvas to have excellent intention, excellent application, excellent giving, skill in dedicating merit, excellent loving kindness, excellent compassion, skill in methods, and emancipation in the perfection of wisdom.

1.­8

“Maitreya, how do such bodhisattvas have excellent intention? Well, Maitreya, such bodhisattva mahāsattvas, whether they hear praises or slander of the Buddha, have the intention to attain supreme, perfect enlightenment. Whether they hear praises or slander of the Dharma, they have the intention to attain supreme, perfect enlightenment. Whether they hear praises or slander of the Saṅgha, they have the intention to attain supreme, perfect enlightenment. This, Maitreya, is how the bodhisattvas have excellent intention.

1.­9

“Maitreya, how do such bodhisattvas have excellent application? Well, Maitreya, such bodhisattva mahāsattvas renounce killing, theft, [F.118.a] sexual misconduct, falsehood, slander, harsh speech, and gossip. This, Maitreya, is how the bodhisattva mahāsattvas have excellent application.

1.­10

“Maitreya, how do such bodhisattvas have excellent giving? Well, Maitreya, such bodhisattva mahāsattvas give clothes, food, bedding, curative medicines, and necessities to ascetics, brahmins, poor people, and beggars. Their generosity then becomes pure.4 This, Maitreya, is how the bodhisattvas have excellent giving.

1.­11

“Maitreya, how do such bodhisattvas have skill in dedicating merit? Well, Maitreya, such bodhisattva mahāsattvas dedicate all the accumulations of roots of virtue that they have created through their body, speech, and mind to supreme, perfect enlightenment. This, Maitreya, is how the bodhisattva mahāsattvas have skill in dedicating merit.

1.­12

“Maitreya, how do such bodhisattvas have excellent loving kindness? Well, Maitreya, such bodhisattva mahāsattvas’ physical actions are kind, their verbal actions are kind, and their mental actions are kind. This, Maitreya, is how the bodhisattva mahāsattvas have excellent loving kindness.

1.­13

“Maitreya, how do such bodhisattvas have excellent compassion? Well, Maitreya, the bodhisattva mahāsattvas’ physical actions are without malice, their verbal actions are without malice, and their mental actions are without malice. [F.118.b] This, Maitreya, is how the bodhisattvas have excellent compassion.

1.­14

“Maitreya, how do such bodhisattva mahāsattvas have skill in their methods? Well, Maitreya, such bodhisattva mahāsattvas are skilled in conventional truth, they are skilled in the absolute truth, and they are skilled in both. This, Maitreya, is how the bodhisattva mahāsattvas have skill in their methods.

1.­15

“Maitreya, how do such bodhisattva mahāsattvas have emancipation in the perfection of wisdom? Well, Maitreya, such bodhisattva mahāsattvas correctly train as follows.

1.­16

“They think, ‘Because one thing exists, another one arises; because this is born, that is born. Conditioned by ignorance, karmic formations come into being. Conditioned by karmic formations, consciousness comes into being. Conditioned by consciousness, name and form come into being. Conditioned by name and form, the six sources of perception come into being. Conditioned by the six sources of perception, contact comes into being. Conditioned by contact, feeling comes into being. Conditioned by feeling, craving comes into being. Conditioned by craving, grasping comes into being. Conditioned by grasping, existence comes into being. Conditioned by existence, birth comes into being. Conditioned by birth, aging and death come into being, as well as misery, lamentations, suffering, unhappiness, and agitation. That is how this great heap of suffering comes into being; without these conditions, it does not come into being.

1.­17

“ ‘When these conditions cease to exist, it also ceases. When ignorance ceases, karmic formations cease. When karmic formations cease, consciousness ceases. When consciousness ceases, name and form cease. When name and form cease, the six sources of perception cease. When the six sources of perception cease, contact ceases. When contact ceases, feeling [F.119.a] ceases. When feeling ceases, craving ceases. When craving ceases, grasping ceases. When grasping ceases, existence ceases. When existence ceases, birth ceases. When birth ceases, aging, death, misery, lamentations, suffering, unhappiness, and agitation cease. That is how this great heap of suffering ceases.’ This, Maitreya, is how the bodhisattva mahāsattvas have emancipation in the perfection of wisdom.

1.­18

“Maitreya, if bodhisattva mahāsattvas possess those eight qualities, they will become irreversibly set on supreme and perfect enlightenment without regressing, without regressing in the slightest, and will gain special attainments; they will vanquish negative and hostile influences; and, while engaging in the conduct of a bodhisattva, they will realize the intrinsic characteristics of all phenomena just as they are and therefore be indefatigable in saṃsāra. And, as well as having that indefatigable mind, through the pristine awareness that does not rely on anything else, they will quickly awaken to supreme, perfect enlightenment and become a buddha.”

1.­19

After the Blessed One had spoken these words, the bodhisattva mahāsattva Maitreya, together with the monks, as well as all the worlds of gods and men, demigods and gandharvas, rejoiced and praised what the Blessed One had said.


1.­20

This concludes The Question of Maitreya‌ on the Eight Qualities, the forty-second of the one hundred thousand sections of the Dharma discourse known as The Noble Great Heap of Jewels.

c.

Colophon

c.­1

Translated, edited, revised according to the new terminology, and finalized by the Indian preceptors Jinamitra and Danaśila together with the chief editor and translator Bandé Yeshé Dé.

n.

Notes

n.­1
In the Degé Kangyur this title, included within the text, is preceded by this introductory sentence: “From The Noble Dharma Discourse, the Great Heap of Jewels in one hundred thousand sections, section 42: ‘The Noble Elucidation of the Question of Maitreya on the Eight Qualities’ in a half-fascicle” (’phags pa dkon mchog brtsegs pa chen po’i chos kyi rnam grangs le’u stong phrag brgya pa las le’u bzhi bcu rtsa gnyis pa ste ’phags pa byams pas chos brgyad zhus pa lung bstan pa / bam po phyed pa). See i.6 for a discussion of the various titles by which this text is known.
n.­2
They are sūtra numbers 42 and 41, respectively, in the Tibetan version of the Ratnakūṭa collection, but are numbered 86 and 85 in the Tōhoku catalogue of the Degé Kangyur as a whole.
n.­3
Tentative translation of gzhan gyi kha na ma las pa’i ye shes.
n.­4
The Degé and the other tshal pa Kangyurs have sbyin pa dag tu gyur pa yin te. The Stok Palace Kangyur has sbyin bdag tu gyur pa yin te, which would mean “he becomes their benefactor.”
b.

Bibliography

’phags pa byams pas zhus pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo, Toh 86, Degé Kangyur, vol. 44 (dkon brtsegs, cha), folios 116b –119a.

’phags pa byams pas zhus pa 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. 44, pp. 323–329.

’phags pa byams pas zhus pa chos brgyad pa’i mdo, Stok Palace Manuscript Kangyur (stog pho brang bris ma), vol. 40, folios 198b–202b.

g.

Glossary

Types of attestation for names and terms of the corresponding source language

AS

Attested in source text

This term is attested in a manuscript used as a source for this translation.

AO

Attested in other text

This term is attested in other manuscripts with a parallel or similar context.

AD

Attested in dictionary

This term is attested in dictionaries matching Tibetan to the corresponding language.

AA

Approximate attestation

The attestation of this name is approximate. It is based on other names where the relationship between the Tibetan and source language is attested in dictionaries or other manuscripts.

RP

Reconstruction from Tibetan phonetic rendering

This term is a reconstruction based on the Tibetan phonetic rendering of the term.

RS

Reconstruction from Tibetan semantic rendering

This term is a reconstruction based on the semantics of the Tibetan translation.

SU

Source unspecified

This term has been supplied from an unspecified source, which most often is a widely trusted dictionary.

g.­1

application

  • sbyor ba
  • སྦྱོར་བ།
  • —
g.­2

Country of the Bhargas

  • yul bha rga
  • ཡུལ་བྷ་རྒ།
  • bharga
g.­3

emancipation

  • nges par byung ba
  • ངེས་པར་བྱུང་བ།
  • —
g.­4

giving

  • gtong ba
  • གཏོང་བ།
  • —
g.­5

indefatigable

  • mi skyo ba
  • མི་སྐྱོ་བ།
  • —
g.­6

intention

  • bsam pa
  • བསམ་པ།
  • —
g.­7

intrinsic characteristics

  • ngo bo nyid kyi mtshan nyid
  • ངོ་བོ་ཉིད་ཀྱི་མཚན་ཉིད།
  • —
g.­8

Maitreya

  • byams pa
  • བྱམས་པ།
  • maitreya

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The bodhisattva Maitreya is an important figure in many Buddhist traditions, where he is unanimously regarded as the buddha of the future era. He is said to currently reside in the heaven of Tuṣita, as Śākyamuni’s regent, where he awaits the proper time to take his final rebirth and become the fifth buddha in the Fortunate Eon, reestablishing the Dharma in this world after the teachings of the current buddha have disappeared. Within the Mahāyāna sūtras, Maitreya is elevated to the same status as other central bodhisattvas such as Mañjuśrī and Avalokiteśvara, and his name appears frequently in sūtras, either as the Buddha’s interlocutor or as a teacher of the Dharma. Maitreya literally means “Loving One.” He is also known as Ajita, meaning “Invincible.”

For more information on Maitreya, see, for example, the introduction to Maitreya’s Setting Out (Toh 198).

g.­9

malice

  • gnod sems
  • གནོད་སེམས།
  • —
g.­10

Mount Śuśumāra

  • chu srin byis pa gsod lta bu’i ri
  • ཆུ་སྲིན་བྱིས་པ་གསོད་ལྟ་བུའི་རི།
  • śuśumāragiri

Sometimes has the alternative Sanskrit spelling Śiśumāragiri.

g.­11

perfection of wisdom

  • shes rab kyi pha rol tu phyin pa
  • ཤེས་རབ་ཀྱི་ཕ་རོལ་ཏུ་ཕྱིན་པ།
  • prajñāpāramitā

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The sixth of the six perfections, it refers to the profound understanding of the emptiness of all phenomena, the realization of ultimate reality. It is often personified as a female deity, worshiped as the “Mother of All Buddhas” (sarva­jina­mātā).

g.­12

Vulture Peak Mountain

  • bya rgod phung po’i ri
  • བྱ་རྒོད་ཕུང་པོའི་རི།
  • gṛdhra­kūta­parvata

Definition from the 84000 Glossary of Terms:

The Gṛdhra­kūṭa, literally Vulture Peak, was a hill located in the kingdom of Magadha, in the vicinity of the ancient city of Rājagṛha (modern-day Rajgir, in the state of Bihar, India), where the Buddha bestowed many sūtras, especially the Great Vehicle teachings, such as the Prajñāpāramitā sūtras. It continues to be a sacred pilgrimage site for Buddhists to this day.

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84000. The Question of Maitreya (2) on the Eight Qualities (Maitreya­paripṛcchā­dharmāṣṭa, byams pas chos brgyad zhus pa, Toh 86). Translated by Karen Liljenberg and team. Online publication. 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, 2024. https://84000.co/translation/toh86.Copy
84000. The Question of Maitreya (2) on the Eight Qualities (Maitreya­paripṛcchā­dharmāṣṭa, byams pas chos brgyad zhus pa, Toh 86). Translated by Karen Liljenberg and team, online publication, 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, 2024, 84000.co/translation/toh86.Copy
84000. (2024) The Question of Maitreya (2) on the Eight Qualities (Maitreya­paripṛcchā­dharmāṣṭa, byams pas chos brgyad zhus pa, Toh 86). (Karen Liljenberg and team, Trans.). Online publication. 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha. https://84000.co/translation/toh86.Copy
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