BODHIDHARMA I Sessho (2420-1506) THE LANKAVATARA SUTRA A MAHAYANA TEXT Translated for the first time from the original Sanskrit by DAISRTZ TEITARO SUZUKI ( ROUTLEDGE & KEGAN PAUL LTD Broadway House, 68-74 Carter Lane London, ECAFirst published 1932 Reprinted 1956 PREFACE At is more than seven years now since I began the study of the Laikdvatara Siitra quite seriously, but owing to various interruptions I have not been able to carry out my plan as speedily as I wished. My friends in different fields of life have been kind and generous im various ways, and I now send out to the perusal of the English-reading public this humble work of mine. There are yet many difficult and obscure passages in the Sutra, which I have been unable to unravel to my own satisfaction. All such imperfections are to be corrected by competent scholars. I shall be fully content if I have made the understanding of this significant ‘Mahayana text easier than before, even though this may be only to a very slight degree. In China Buddhist scholars profoundly earned and endowed with spiritual insights made three or four attempts extending over a period of about two hundred and fifty years to give an intelligible rendering of the Laikdvatara, It goes without saying that these have helped immensely the present translator. May his also prove a stepping board however feeble towards a fuller interpretation of the Sutra! ‘The present English translation is based on the Sanskrit edition of Bunyn Nanjo’s published by the Otani University Press in 1928 Tam most grateful to Mr Dwight Goddard of Thetford, ‘Vermont, U.S. A., who again helped me by typing the entire manuseript of the present book. ‘To assist me in this way ‘was indeed part of the object of his third visit to this side of the Pacifie. Says Confucius, “Is it not delightful to have a friend come from afar?” The saying applies most appro- riately to this case. It was fortunate for the writer that he could secure the support and help of the Keimeikwai, a corporation organised to help research work of scholars in various fields of culture ; for without it his work might have dragzed on yet for somevi PREFACE, time to come. There is so much to be accomplished before Ihe has to appear at the court of Emma Daiwo, to whom he could say, ‘Here is my work; humble though it is, T have tried to do my part to the full extent of my power."” The writer renders his grateful acknowledgment here to all the advisers of the Society who kindly voted for the speedy culmination of this literary task-—a task which he tenderly svishes would do something towards a better appreeiation by the West of the sourees of Eastern life and culture. Whatever literary work the present author is able to put before the reader, he eannot pass on without mentioning, in it the name of his good, unselfish, publie-minded Buddhist friend, Yakichi Ataka, who is always willing to help him in every possible way. If not for him, the author could never have carried out his plans to the extent he has so far ac- complished, Materially, no visible results ean be expected of this kind of undertaking, and yet a scholar has his worldly needs to meet, Unless we ereate one of these fine days an ideal community in which every member of it ean put forth all his or her natural endowments and moral energies in the direction best fitted to develop then and in the way most useful to all other members generally and individually, many obstacles sire sure to bar the passage of those who would attempt things of no commercial value, Until then, Bodhi sattvas of all kinds are sorely needed everywhere. And is this not the teaching of the Lawkdvatara Sutra, whieh in its English warb now lies before his friend as well as all other readers? ‘Thanks are also due to the writer's wife who went over the whole manuscript to give it whatever literary improve- ment it possesses, to Mr Hokei Izumi who gave helpful sug- gestions in the reading of the original text, and to Professor Yenga ‘Teramoto for his ungrudying cooperation along the line of ‘Tibetan knowledge. Daisers Terran SuzuKt ‘Kyoto, November, 1931 (the sinth year of Showa) CONTENTS BODHIDHARMA, by Sessba (1120-1506) sess sProntinpigce PREFACE Seta idebiet i INTRODUCTION 0... i CHAPTER ONE, RAVANA, LORD OF LANES, 3 ASKS FOR INSTRUCTION, CHAPTER TWO. COLLECTION OF ALL THE DHARMAS ot Mahimati Praises the Buddha with Verses . on. Muhimati's “One Husdred and Bight Questions” 23 rants Pie One Hundred a it Negton” soe sav Concerning the Viiiauae ee 4. Soveu Kinds of Self mature (Grabhdva) sscsccs. 35 § VE Seven Kinds of Pirst Principle (naramdrtha), and ‘the Philosophers” Wrong. Views ‘yang the Mind Rejected 35 {VIL Bryoncous Views held by Some Brahmans and SrmanaConcotang Continsation, toy The Buddhist Views. Conceraing Sual Subjects as Alageonjadna, Nirvana, Mied-only, te Attainaeaie of the Bodhaatta se 36 {VIL Vhe Bodhisattva’s Liseipling himself in. Self reniisation 7 20 sax, ‘The Erolutiow and Function of the Vighimass ‘he Spiritual Discipline vf the Bodhisattva; Verses on the Alayirocean and Vijhina-maves s..eres 8 $x ‘Phe Bodisittva is to Understand the Signitieation ‘of Mind-only, sss 4“ $XI(a). The hace Aspects of Noble Wisdom (aryajiana) 44 § XI). The Attainment of the Tathigataky 45 §XIL Logie on the Ifure’s Kors. 6 § XI Verses on the Alayavisdna and Mind-only ss. 49 XIV. Purification of the Gatilows, Instantaneous sd Gradual 49 $XV. —— Nishyaudaaddha, Diurmata Buddioy aud Nir. ‘ina Buddha a XVI The Srivaka's Reatisaiion and. Attachment to the ‘Notion of Self-aature edt 2 § XVI The Eternal Unthinkable 88 Nievana and Alayavijiana % |All Things sve Unborn ‘The Five Classes of Syiritual Insight Verses on the Triple Vehicle