This thesis is composed of two parts, one a translation, the other a commentary on the material that has been translated---a set of three well known identically entitled works by the famous Indian Buddhist scholar, Kamalasila (c. 740--795 C.E.). The Bhavanakramas are here translated from both Sanskrit and Tibetan sources. The commentary takes the form of an extended critical Prologue to the texts and is centred around an examination of the notions of meditation and insight as found therein. The first chapter of the commentary examines the various terms for meditation found in the texts and argues for a specific way of translating them that regards as normative only one of these, that is, bhavana . The argument is made that if one is to take the basic Buddhist distinction between intellectual and experiential wisdom seriously, no other concept of meditation will prove satisfactory. The concept of bhavana is contrasted with that of dhyana, and explained in light of other important terms, notably samadhi, samatha and vipasyana. Two different conceptions of samadhi are identified as existing within the texts, one corresponding with dhyana and one with bhavana. The latter is identified as predominant. This conception holds that meditation is not to be principally identified as non-conceptual in nature, but rather encompasses both nonconceptual states and conceptual processes. These latter, however, are not to be identified with ordinary reasoning processes (cintamayi prajna) but rather with a form of experiential knowing (bhavanamayi prajna, vipasyana) that is conceptual in nature. It is in accordance with this conception that the actual translation of the texts has been undertaken. / The second chapter of the commentary examines the concept of insight (vipasyana) in light of the earlier findings. Here the text is analyzed for its explanations of its insight, understood in terms of the important technical term bhutapratyavekṣa . Here an argument is made for translating this term in a particular manner consistent with the conception of meditation outlined in Chapter 1. The term is explored in light of key passages containing descriptions of the cultivation of wisdom as well as in light of other important technical terms appearing in the texts, notably dharmapravicaya, smṛti and manasikara. Chapter 2 closes with a discussion of Kamalasila's ideas of sravaka insight meditation (vipasyana) and how it differs from that of the Mahayana. Most notable in this regard is the suggestion that Kamalasila may have regarded sravaka insight practices (vipasyana) as instances of samatha meditation. In the third chapter the suggestion is made that such considerations could lead to the development of an important area of future research into the differences among diverse Indian Buddhist traditions. The concluding section of Chapter 3 contains a summary of the concrete findings of this analysis.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.82812 |
| Date | January 2002 |
| Creators | Adam, Martin T. |
| Contributors | Hayes, Richard P. (advisor) |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Faculty of Religious Studies.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 001985711, proquestno: AAINQ88405, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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