I CNG TRIT HC TRUNG QUN

Tc Gi: Jaidev Singh

Dch Gi: Thch Vin L
Vin Trit L Vit Nam v Trit Hc Th Gii Xut Bn
---o0o--Ngun
http://thuvienhoasen.org
Chuyn sang ebook 28-7-2009
Ngi thc hin : Nam Thin namthien@gmail.com
Link Audio Ti Website http://www.phatphaponline.org
Mc Lc
VI LI CA DCH GI
CHNG I
1. I THA V NGUYN THY
2. BA GIAI ON TRONG PHT GIO
3. TRUNG LUN: CUC I CA LONG TH (NGRJUNA) V B
(THNH THIN RYADEVA)
4. KHI NGUYN CA PHT GIO I THA (MAHAYNA)
CHNG II
T LIU VN BN (Literary Sources)
5. TRC TC V GIO L CA H PHI TRUNG QUN TRIT HC
6. LONG TH V B (Th K Th Nh Sau Ty Lch)
7. BIN CHNG PHP TRUNG QUN (MADHYAMAKA DIALECTIC) KHI
NGUYN, CU TRC V PHT TRIN
8. NG GP TCH CC CA LONG TH
9. S KHC BIT GIA NGUYN THY V I THA
10. NHNG C IM CHNH CA TRIT HC TRUNG QUN
11. S QUAN TRNG CA KHI NIM V TRUNG O (MADHYAM
PRATIPAD)
12. TUYT I V HIN TNG
13. BIU HIN CA THC TI (SAMVRTI: TC ) V THC TI TUYT
I (PARAMRTHA SATYA: THNG NGHA )
14. CHN NH L NH LAI (TATHAT-TATHGATA)

15. PHP GII (DHARMADHTU) V THC TI (BHTAKOTI)

---o0o---

VI LI CA DCH GI
Bn vn ny ch gii thiu nhng im ch yu c lin quan n trit hc
Trung Qun mt cch ht sc n gin, d vy, vn bao hm c tt c mi
yu im ct li ca h phi Trit hc ny.
Cng trnh bin son ny trnh by mt cch r rng t lch s hnh
thnh v pht trin ca h thng trit hc Trung Qun cho n khi nguyn,
cu trc, s pht trin v mc ch ca Trung Qun phi bin chng php.
Chng nhng th, n cn thuyt minh mt cch tng tn nhng nhn xt
khc nhau v nhng khi nim Pht Php lun v.v... k c nhng l tng v
gii lut, tn gio, Nit bn, quan h duyn khi, gia i Tha v Nguyn
Thy...
i vi ngha Khng v Khng Tnh k c nhng ngha c
bao hm trong phng din gi tr lun v cu th hc cng c vn bn
ny m x, trnh by mt cch rt ro, t m.
Ngoi cc vn trn, bn vn cn minh chng mt cch r rng mt
s khi nim v cng trng yu khc trong c Trung o, Th tc ,
Thng ngha , Chn nh, Php gii v Thc ti v.v... N khng ch gii
thiu v phng hng ph nh ca trit hc Long Th m cn tho lun
cn k v s cng hin cch chnh din ca n.
V, chnh v s hm tng nhng yu im ca bn vn m tt c nhng
nh nghin cu v Trit hc Trung Qun u cho n l mt bn vn v cng
hu dng.
l cch nhn xt v nh gi ca ngi dch t Anh vn sanh
Hoa ng; d vy, c nhn chng ti khng hon ton ng v mt s danh
xng m tc gi s dng biu t mt t quan im ring ca mnh, trong
bao gm nhng kin v cch suy lun. D sao th y cng l mt tc
phm v cng quan yu v ht sc cn bn i vi nhng ai mun nghin
cu v mt t tng ti cc thm o ca Pht gio.
L ra, chng ti ch in phn Vit ng, nhng, c gi tin i chiu,
do vy, ngoi bn Vit ng, chng ti in km c phn Hoa v Anh ng nh

l ph bn cn thit, v, hy vng s gip ch rt ln trong cng vic tm hiu

mt nn o hc vi diu m khng phi ai cng c th lnh hi mt cch d
dng.
Trong khi dch thut, v phi bn vi mt s Pht s khc, do vy, tt
nhin dch gi khng sao trnh khi nhng khim khuyt ngoi mun.
Trong tinh thn cu hc min tc, rt mong cc bc cao minh bi mn b
chnh v, xin hi hng cng c cu nguyn cho Gio Hi Pht Gio Vit
Nam Thng Nht sm c phc hot; php nn, quc nn chng gii tr
th gii thi bnh, nhn sinh an lc.
Dch gi
Cn bt,
Tu Vin Bo Php, Mnh ng 1998
Ngi gi: Qung Hoa
---o0o---

CHNG I
1. I THA V NGUYN THY
Trit hc i Tha (Mahayna) gm c hai phi, l: Trit hc Trung
Qun (Madhyamaka) hay Khng Lun (Snyavda) v Du D Hnh phi
(Yogcra) hoc Duy Thc Lun (Vijnnavda). y, chng ta ch tho
lun v Trit hc Trung Qun hoc Khng Lun m thi.
Mt cch i cng, Nguyn Thy (Hnayna) v i Tha
(Mayahna) gm c ba danh xng thng dng. Ba danh xng thng dng
dnh cho Nguyn Thy l: Pht Gio Nam Tng, Pht Gio Nguyn
Thy v Tiu Tha (Hnayna) v, ba danh xng dnh cho i Tha l:
Pht Gio Bc Tng, Pht Gio Khai Hin v i Tha (Mayahna).
Hai danh xng u c cc hc gi u Chu t ra, cn hai danh xng
Pht Gio Nam Tng v Pht Gio Bc Tng c t tn theo cn bn
a l. Cc hc gi u Chu gi Pht Gio thnh hnh cc quc gia pha
Bc n nh Nepal, Ty Tng, Trung Quc v Nht Bn l Pht Gio
Bc Tng v h gi Pht Gio thnh hnh nhng nc thuc pha Nam
n nh Tch Lan, Min in, Thi Lan, v.v... l Pht Gio Nam Tng.
S phn bit theo li tht ra khng hon ton chnh xc; bi v, theo tin

s J. Takakusu th Pht Gio thnh hnh ti nhng ni trong Qun o Nam

Dng nh Java va Sumatra, pha Nam n , r rng c s tng ng
vi loi Pht Gio thnh hnh phng Bc n .
S phn bit gia Pht Gio Ngun thy v Pht Gio Khai Hin
c t trn nhng tin tng v nhn xt rng Pht Gio i Tha vn
ch l s pht trin dn dn t gio ngha Pht Gio Nguyn Thy; nhng,
nhn xt trn khng c Pht Gio i Tha (Mayahnists) chp
nhn. Cc hc gi Nht Bn cho rng c Pht cao siu thuyt ging gio
l ca Ngi cho cc mn ty theo kh nng tip nhn ca h. i vi mt
s mn , c Pht truyn t cho h nhng gio ngha thng tc (vyaktaupadsa) gm nhn thc ca Ngi trn mt hin tng; v mt s khc c
trnh tri thc cao hn c Ngi truyn cho nhng gio ngha uyn
thm vi t (guhya-upadsa) bao hm nhn thc ca c Pht v phng din
bn th. c Pht ch thuyt ging v hai gio ngha trn y mt cch
khi qut, v sau hai ngha c trin khai bi nhng bc a-v-l
(acryas) v i (ch acryas c dch sanh ch Hn l gi phm s).
V th, s phn bit v danh xng gia Pht Gio Nguyn Thy v Pht
Gio Khai Hin l mt s kin khng chnh xc. S truyn th v hai loi
gio l trn c thc hin ng thi v song hnh. gio l thng tc
c th c gi l Pht Gio c qung i qun chng bit n v gio
l o diu c th gi l Pht Gio c t ngi bit n. Gio l sau
uyn thm v tinh t hn gio l trc.
D sao th chng ta cng cn phi nghin cu, tm hiu v hai danh t
Pht Gio Nguyn Thy v Pht Gio i Tha th xem chng c
khi nguyn v lu truyn nh th no. Theo nhn xt ca R. Kimura th i
Chng B (Mahsanghikas) l h phi bo tn gio ngha Pht Gio
thng tc, c nhiu tin b v t do hn Thng Ta B (Sthaviras).
Trong cuc hi tp ti T X Ly (Vaisli), cc v t khu thuc i Chng
B (Mahsanghikas) hoc Vijjian (Bt K Tc) b qu trch v trt xut
v cc thy t khu thuc Thng Ta B (Sthaviras) cho rng gio ngha
chnh thng v kin gii ca h b vi phm bi nhng quan im d bit,
v, cng khai ch trch cc thy t khu thuc i Chng B l c t
khu (Ppa Bhikkhus) v k thuyt phi php (Adhamma vadins).
i Chng B (Mahsanghikas) v mun biu th rng gio ngha ca
h l gio ngha u thng, vt hn gio ngha ca Thng Ta B
(Sthaviras), cho nn h t ra danh t i Tha (chic xe ln) lm
tn gi cho h phi ca h v h gi i th l Nguyn Thy (chic xe

nh). V vy, danh t Nguyn Thy v i Tha dn dn tr thnh thng

dng v, d nhin ch c Pht Gio i Tha mi s dng n.
---o0o--2. BA GIAI ON TRONG PHT GIO
Ba giai on ny c th thy mt cch d dng trong trit hc Pht Gio
v Tn Gio.
1) Giai on A T t Ma (bhidharmic i Php) t khi c Pht
nhp dit cho n th k th I sau Ty Lch.
y l giai on v thc ti lun v a nguyn lun ca Pht Gio.
Phng php m h phi ny s dng l s phn tch. Hu ht trit hc
ch yu ca giai on ny l em hin tng ca tm l v vt l phn tch
thnh dharmas (o php), sainskrta (ha hp hay hn nh). S quan
tm chnh yu trong giai on ny l tinh thn cu tc hc ca tm l hc
(psychological-soteriological) m tn hiu u th ni bc nht ca h phi
ny l s kt hp gia l tnh ch ngha v thin nh thc tin. Ngn ng
c s dng trong giai on ny l ch Pli v hc phi ny c bit
vi tn gi l Nguyn Thy (Hnayna).
2) S trin khai ca Pht Gio o diu (Esoteric teachings)
Giai on th hai l giai on trin khai gio ngha o diu ca c
Pht, nhng gio ngha c lu truyn trong i Chng B
(Mahsanghikhas), mt giai on ng thi vi giai on A T t Ma
(bhidharmic). S quan tm ch yu ca giai on ny l tinh thn cu hc
ca tn hc (ontological storeriological). Nt ni bt nht ca hc phi ny
l s kt hp gia ch thuyt siu l tnh v Yoga (Du Gi).
Mc ch ch yu ca n l tm hiu, nghin cu v Svabhva (bn
th ca thc ti) t n s tri nhn v liu gii v n trong chnh t thn
bng cch pht trin tr tu (Prajna). Ngn ng c s dng trong giai on
ny l Phn vn (Sainskrta) hoc Tp Phn vn. Hc phi ny mang tn l
i Tha (Mahayna). Trong giai on u, hc phi ny c tn gi l
Trit hc Trung Qun (Madhyamaka Philosophy) hay Khng Lun
(Sunyavda) v sau l Du Gi Hnh phi (Yogcra) hoc Duy Thc

Lun (Vijnvda). Giai on cui ny l t th k th II sau Ty Lch n

nm 500.
3) S pht trin ca Mt Tng (Tantra)
Giai on th ba l giai on mt ch. Giai on ny l giai on t
nm 500 n nm 1000 A.D. sau Ty Lch. S quan tm ch yu ca giai
on ny l tinh thn cu tc hc ca V Tr Lun (cosmical soteriological).
Ch thuyt thn b l im c sc ni bt nht ca trng phi ny. Trng
phi ny ch trng vo s iu ha v tr v s dng mt ch (mantra) cng
nh nhng phng php thn b t n cnh gii gic ng. Ngn ng
c s dng trong giai on ny phn ln l Phn vn (Sainskrta) v
Apabhrainsa (tp tc ng). Chn Ngn Tha (Mantrayna), Kim Cang Tha
(Vajrayna), Cu Sanh Tha (Sahajayna) v Thi Lun Tha
(Klacakrayna) l bn trng phi ch yu ca Mt Tng.
y, chng ta ch quan tm v thi u ca giai on II, cn giai on
I v III th tm thi khng tho lun.
Trung Lun (Madhyamaka Sstra) hoc Trung Qun Tng
(Madhyamaka Kriks) do Long Th sng tc v c Nguyt Xng
(Kandrakrti) ch gii nhng Stcherbtsky ch dch chng th nht v
chng th hai mi lm, nhng chng ny cng chnh l hai chng tho
lun v s quan h ca nhn qu v nit bn (Nirvna). Trong phn gii
thiu tng qut ny, ngi vit c gng tm lc ton b h thng t tng
Trung Qun (Madhyamaka).
---o0o--3. TRUNG LUN: CUC I CA LONG TH (NGRJUNA) V
B (THNH THIN RYADEVA)
S tn ti ch yu ca Trit hc Trung Qun (Madhyamaka
philosophy) chnh l Trung Lun (Madhyamaka Sstra) ca Long Th v
T Bch Lun (Catuh - Sataka) ca B (ryadeva).
Ti n , nhng kinh in c lin quan n Pht Gio i Tha u
hon ton b tht lc. Nhng nhng bn dch sang Hoa ng, Nht ng v
Ty Tng ng th hin vn cn c lu gi. Phn ln vn kin i tha u
dng Phn vn (Sainkskrta) hoc Tp Phn vn ghi chp. Nhng sch ca

cc hc gi nghin cu v Pht Gio ng c tin cy hin vn cn tn ti,

a s u c vit bng Phn vn.
Vo nm 1833, ng Brian Houghton Hodgson c c n lm
c s ti Kthamandu Nepal v, trong cng v ny ng phc v ti
n nm 1843.
Trong sut thi gian ny, ng pht hin c 381 cun kinh Pht
bng Phn vn nguyn bn. Nhng bn tho ny c chia ra v chuyn n
nhiu on th hc thut khc nhau hiu nh v n hnh. Kt qu
khm ph c rng: Kinh Pht bng Phn vn (Sainkskrta) rt khc vi b
kinh bng ting Pali; v kinh in Pht Gio ti cc nc Trung Quc, Nht
Bn v Ty Tng rt ging vi cc b kinh bng Phn vn. Trong cc bn
tho bng Phn vn c pht hin c b Trung Lun (Madhyamaka Sstra)
ca Long Th v bn Ch Thch Minh C Lun (Prasannapad) ca Nguyt
Xng (Candrakrti).
Sch ny do Louis de la Valle-Poussin su tp v c n hnh trong
Bibliotheca Buddhica, Vol. IV, St. Peterburg, Nga, nm 1912.
n bn sm hn ca n c Saraccandra Stri su tp v do
Buddhist Text Society Calcutta n hnh vo nm 1897. n bn ny c
rt nhiu ch b sai. Poussin s dng sch ny tham kho nhng ng
cng mn hai nguyn bn khc, mt t Cambridge v mt t Paris
i chiu. ng lc, ng cng s dng Trung Qun Tng (Kriks) v
bn ch gii c dch sanh Tng vn (Tibetan) i chiu. Tin s P.
L. Vaidya s dng n bn do Poussin su tp v 1960 ng xut bn
Trung Lun (Madhyamaka Sstra) ca Long Th (Ngrjuna) v bn ch
thch ca Nguyt Xng (Candrakrti) trong Thin Hnh Th (Devangari).
n bn ny c Mithil Vidaptha, Darbanga pht hnh thm.
Stcherbatsky s dng n bn do Poussin su tp vit cun Conception
of Buddhist Nirvna (Khi nim v Nit Bn Pht Gio).
c Pht thng dy rng gio l ca Ngi c tnh cch Trung o
(Madhyam Pratipad-The Middle Path). Khi Long Th B Tt pht trin
trit hc ca ngi, nm vng danh t trng yu ny nn gi trit hc
ca ngi l Trung Qun (Madhyamaka Philosophy Madhyamaiva
madhyamakam) hoc Trung Lun (Madhyamaka-Stra) m nhng tn ca
phi ny c gi l Trung Qun Phi (Madhyamika) (Madhyamakam
adhiyte vidanti v Mdhyamikah). Danh xng chnh xc nht ca trng

phi ny l Madhyamaka ch khng phi l Mdhyamika v l Madhyamika

c ngha l tn ca trng phi Trung Qun (Madhyamaka).
Trung Qun (Madhyamaka-sastra) ca Long Th (Ngrjuna) gm hn
400 tng tn ca (Krikas) trong anustubha (mt loi m lut, 4 x 8 m tit)
v c chia thnh 27 chng.
A. Long Th (Ngrjuna)
Ngi l v T trin khai v hon thnh hc phi Trung Qun
(Madhyamaka). Ngi cho i vo th k th II sau Ty Lch trong mt gia
tc B La Mn thuc nc ndhradsa, rt c th l ti Vidarbha (Berar).
Srparvata v Dhnyakataka l nhng trung tm hot ng ch yu ca
Ngi ti Nam n. Bc n, s hnh hot ca Ngi v cng su rng, rt
nhiu ch, m mt trong nhng a im trng yu l Nland, mt Tu Vin
v i Hc rt ni ting. Hai tng vin Amarvat v Ngrjunahonda cng
l hai tng vin c s lin quan mt thit n Ngi.
Cn c theo Rjatarangin (vo th k th mi mt sau Ty Lch) th
ngi hin din cng vi Huska, Juska v Kaniska (H S Gi Vng, S
Gi Vng v Gi Nh Sc Gi Vng).
Cn c bn tiu s ca B Tt Long Th c Ngi Cu Ma La Thp
(Kumrajviva) dch sang Hoa vn khong nm 405 sau Ty Lch th, Long
Th sanh trong mt gia nh B La Mn Nam n , Ngi c bit
nghin cu v gio in Vedas (Ph ) v hc hi nhng iu trng yu
khc ca B La Mn gio trc khi Ngi xut gia u Pht.
Cn c vo quyn sch nh c ta l Suhrlekha (Bng Hu th
Friendly Epistle) ca Ngi th nhng iu c vit l vit ring cho Vua
ndhra (n t La Quc Vng), Stavhana. Nhng, Stavhana
khng phi l tn ring ca mt v quc vng m l tn ca mt vng
tc c tn l ndhra (n t La) c kin lp bi Simuka (Hy Mc Ca)
(Tham kho R. C. Majumdar Ancient, India, P.133). V th, mt s hc gi
cho rng Suhrlekha (Bng Hu Th) l sch c vit cho Kaniska (Ca
N Sc Vng).
C mt truyn thuyt c lin quan n tn ca Ngi:
Ch Naga c ngha l mng x hoc Rng v Arjuna l tn ca
mt loi cy. Cn c vo truyn thuyt ny th Ngi c sanh ra di

mt ci cy tn l Arjuna v Ngi cng tng n thm Long Cung

(Ngas) di y bin, Hi Long Vng (Naga) mang i Tr B Kinh
(Mahprajn pramit Stra) do c Pht y thc tng Ngi.
Nhng, ch Nga cng cn tng trng cho tr tu. Cn c vo
nhng li dy ca c Pht th Nga l danh xng dng ch cho nhng
ai tiu tr s m say dc lc, gin d v kh au (savas) (Trung A
Hm-Majjhima Nikya, I 23). V th, c th bo Nga l nhng bc A La
Hn (Arhants) c truyn tr tu Bt Nh Ba La Mt a (Prajnpramit)
m Long Th tng th gio h.
Khng lm ln gia Long Th ca Pht Gio v Dc s Long Th
Mt Gio (Ttrica Ngrjuna) ngi sng khong th k th VII sau Ty
Lch.
Ngi Ty Tng cho rng B Tt Long Th sng tc tt c gm 122
b sch. Nhng, dng nh ch c th xc nh nhng cun sch c lit
k di y:
1. Trung Lun (Madhyamaka-Stra) cn c tn l Bt Nh
(Prajn: tr tu) hoc Tng (Kriks) v V y Lun (Akutobhaya) do
chnh tc gi ch gii.
2. Hi Chnh Lun (Vigrahavyvartan) vi s ch gii ca tc gi.
3. Lc Thp Chnh L Lun (Yuktisastik)
4. Thp Tht Tng Khng Tnh Lun (sunyat-Sapsati) v ch gii.
5. Duyn Khi Tm (Pratyasamut-pdahrdaya) v ch gii.
6. T Tng (Catuhstava)
7. Tu Tp Th (Bhvankrama)
8. Bng Hu Th (Suhrllekha)
9. Lu Chuyn Ch Hu (Bhvasamkrnti)
10. Bo Hnh Vng Chnh Lun (Ratnval)
11. Bt Nh Ba La Mt a Kinh Lun (Prjnpramita-Sutra Sstra)
12. Thp a Gii Thuyt Lun (Dasabhamivibhs Sstra)
13. Nht K Lun (Eka Sloka - Sstra)
14. Nng ot Kinh (Vaidalya Sutra) v ch gii (Prakarana)
15. Ngn Ng Cu Cnh (Vyavahara - Siddhi)
Nhng b sch trn hin ch cn mt s nguyn bn nhng d sao th
ton b c dch sang ting Ty Tng.

Long Th Truyn K ca Cu Ma La Thp (Kumrajva) th cho rng

nhng cun sch di y cng chnh l nhng tc phm ca Long Th:
1. u B X (Lun Ngh) gm Thp Vn tng
(Upadsa 100,000 Gthas)
2. Trang Nghim Pht o Lun gm 5,000 tng (Buddhamr Glanksa
Sstra 5,000 Gths)
3. V y Lun (Akutobhaya - Sstra) gm 100,000 tng.
Nhng bn c su tp bng Hoa vn c cp di y cng
thuc v nhng tc phm ca Long Th:
1. i Tha Bo Yu Ngha Lun
(Mahaynabhavabheda Sstra) Lu Chuyn Ch Hu Lun
(Bhavasankrntisastra)
2. B T Tng Lun (Buddhisambhra - Sastra)
3. Php Gii Tng (Dharmadhtustava)
B. B (ryadeva hoc rya Deva)
Ngi cho i ti Simhala, Tch Lan, v l hc
tr ca Long Th. Ngi theo B Tt Long Th chu
du y v gp phn rt ln i vi cng
cuc truyn b hc thuyt ca Long Th.
Truyn k ca Ngi c Ngi Cu Ma La Thp (Kumrajra) dch
sang Hoa vng vo khong 405 nm sau Ty Lch.
Tc phm ni ting nht ca Ngi l T Bch Lun (Catuh - Sataka),
b sch gm 400 kriks. Trong sch ny, Ngi bo v hc thuyt ca
Long Th v ng thi cng ph phn nhng trit hc khc nh Nguyn
Thy, S Lun (Smkhya) v Thng Lun (Vaiseska). Ngi cng c th l
tc gi ca Bch T Lun (Aksara Satakam). Cn c vo nhng g m Ngi
thuyt th Chng Trung Lun (Hastavala - Prakarana) v Tm Tnh
Lun (Cittavisuddhi Prakarana) c th l b lun do Ngi sng tc?
Theo truyn thuyt th Ngi b hc tr ca mt php s d gio mu st v
ng ta thua Ngi trong mt cuc tranh lun.
---o0o---

4. KHI NGUYN CA PHT GIO I THA (MAHAYNA)

Khi thy ca Pht Gio i Tha c th truy cu thi s khi ca

i Chng B (Mahsamghika) v thi s khi ca vn hin Kinh in i
Tha (Mahyana stras) (trc i Chng B v Vn Hin i Tha).
Ti cuc hi ngh Vaisli (cn c theo Kimura) c mt s tng l
bt ng kin trm trng vi mt s tng l khc v nhng im quan
trng lin quan ti gio php (Dharma). S tng l c nhng kin khc
bit tuy chim i a s nhng h b mt s tng l khc ln n v gi l
c t khu (Ppabhikhus) v k thuyt phi php (Adhamma-vdins) ng
thi trt xut h. Trong lch s Pht Gio, s t khu ny c gi l i
Chng B (Mahsanghikas) v trong cuc hi tp h chim i a s hoc
cng c th l do h phn nh c kin ca i a s tc chng (Pht
t ti gia). Nhng tng l xua ui nhng t khu ny, t xng l
Thng Ta B (Sthaviras) hoc Trng Lo (Elders) v h t cho h l i
biu chnh thng gio ngha Pht Gio nguyn thy. Nh trnh by, i
Chng B sng to danh t Mahayna i biu cho gio phi m h
hnh tr v tnh phng v gi Thng Ta B (Sthaviras) l Nguyn
Thy.
Chng ta hy th xem gio ngha cn ca i Chng B
(Mahsanghikas) gm c nhng g? S cng hin ca h c th c kt thnh
4 im di y:
1. Cnh Gii ca Pht
Theo nhn xt ca i Chng B th c Pht khng phi ch l mt
nhn vt lch s. c Pht chn chnh l mt thc th siu vit, vt hin
th, vnh hng v v hn. c Pht trong lch s ch l nhn vt c c
Pht chn chnh gi n vi th gian cu thnh mt nhn vt c hnh th
l mt con ngi, c mt i sng sinh hot ging ht nh mt con ngi
thng tc hu thuyt ging Chnh Php cho nhn th. c Pht chn chnh
l mt thc ti ti u vit. Ngi s khng ngng sai phi cc s gi n vi
trn gian truyn b Chnh Php cho ton th nhn loi.
2. Cnh Gii ca A La Hn (Arhat)

Thng Ta B cho rng A La Hn l mt bc hon thin, hon m;

nhng i Chng B cho rng A La Hn l bc cha hon m, h vn cn
b nhng nghi hoc quy nhiu v vn cn nhiu iu cha liu gii c.
Ngi ta khng nn tn th h nh l nhng biu tng l tng. Thay v
vy, ngi ta nn noi gng nhng ngi cng hin trn i mnh, hy
sinh t ng v c gng tranh th khng ngng nhm t n cnh gii ca
ch Pht nhng ngi nh th mi xng ng c xem nh nhng l
thng th thng cn hc hi v noi theo.
3. Cnh Gii ca Kinh Nghim Tri Thc
Theo nhn xt ca i Chng B (Mahsamghikas) th kinh nghim tri
thc khng th cung cp cho chng ta mt nhn thc thu o v thc ti.
Ch c s siu vit qua tt c hin tng, mi s vt ca th tc, ca Khng
Tnh (Snyta) mi c kh nng gip chng ta tri nhn c thc ti. Tt c
nhng din t, pht biu ca ngn ng u cung cp cho ta nhng nhn xt
sai lm v nhng g c lin quan n thc ti, chng qua ch l vt c cu
thnh bi t tng.
4. V Thc Th Tnh ca cc Php (Dharmas)
Theo Thng Ta B (Sthaviras) th t ng (pudgala) ca con ngi
vn khng c ci gi l thc th tnh m chnh l Php (mi hin tng, s
vt), hay s tn ti ca cc thnh t mi l thc th chn tht. i Chng B
cn i xa hn na, h cho rng khng phi ch c t ng ca con ngi mi
khng c thc th tnh (Pudgala-nairtmya) m ngay c cc Php (Dharmas
s tn ti ca cc thnh t) cng khng c thc th tnh (Dharmanairtmya). Tt c mi s vt, mi hin tng vn u khng c thc th
tnh (u l Khng Tnh).
T nhng iu trn, c th bit rng tt c nhng im trng yu nht
ca Trit hc Trung Qun (Madhyamka Philosophy) trn thc t u bt
ngun t i Chng B.
i Chng B trc ht din gii nhng nhn thc ca c Pht v
bn th, nhn thc ny trc tin c a vo kinh in i Tha
(Mahayna Sutras) v sau mi pht trin thnh tn gio v trit hc i
Tha.

---o0o---

CHNG II
T LIU VN BN
(Literary Sources)
Trong Pht gio, vn bn ca kinh (sutra) c coi l nhng gio l
do c Pht thuyt ging trc tip bng kim khu, cn lun (sstra) l
nhng ch gii bnh lun, din t m v nhng gio l do c Pht thuyt
ging trc tip.
Nhng nhng kinh in i Tha m chng ta c bit l mt khi
lng vn bn rt ln. Nhng g c gi l kinh th l nhng gio l
c c Pht trc tip ging dy, nhng kinh in i Tha gm c tng
vi khi lng rt ln, hin nhin c th l khng phi do c Pht
thuyt ging ton b.
Mt s vn bn kinh in i Tha c s xen ln lin quan su xa
n kinh in Pht Gio nguyn thy v mi cho n nay hu nh khng th
phn bit chng c.
Nhng trc tc quan trng nht trong s ny l Prajnparamit stra
(Kinh bt nh ba la mt a). Thng thng, Prajn-prmit (bt nh ba la
mt a) c dch l tr tu vin thnh.. Ch pram-it c ngha t
n b bn kia (o b ngn), v th prajn-pramit nn c dch thnh
ng thc siu vit th c l ng hn. Dch bn ca Ty Tng dch nh
th. Ti tt c cc nc m Pht gio i Tha ang thnh hnh, bt nh ba
la mt chn ngn (prajn-prmit mantra) sau y thng c ngm tng
l:
Gate, gate, praingate, prasaingate bohhi, savh
(Tr hu vt qua! Vt qua! Vt qua! b bn
kia, hon ton vt qua b bn kia, ni i B
v thnh tu mt cch vt tc)
Theo nhn xt ca Tin S Edward Conze th kinh vn cu thnh bt
nh ba la mt a (Prajn-prmit) ni tip nhau khong trn 1,000 nm v
c th c chia thnh 4 giai on sau:

* Giai on th nht (100 nm trc Ty Lch cho ti 100 nm sau Ty

Lch) bao gm s din su rng cn c vo vn bn gc.
* Giai on th hai (t nm 100 ti nm 300 sau Ty Lich) bao gm vic
khai trin gio l ny thnh ba hoc bn kinh in di.
* Giai on th ba (t nm 300 n nm 500 sau Ty Lch) l giai on
mang gio l ny rt li thnh vi kinh in ngn hn.
* Giai on th t (t nm 500 n nm 1200 sau Ty Lch) l giai on
c ng thnh mt ch (Tantric dhranis) v chm ngn.
(1) Cn c theo nhn xt ca i a s hc gi th Bt thin tng (Ast
shasrik) bao gm 8,000 cu kinh c xa nht trong vn bn Bt Nh Ba
La Mt a (Prajnparamita). N c th c khi ngun t i Chng
B, ch ca n l hc thuyt khng tnh (snyat).
(2) Bt thin tng 300 nm tip theo c pht trin thnh Thp
vn tng (Satashasrik gm 100,000 cu), Nh vn ng thin tng
(Pncavimsati-shasrik 25,000 cu) v Nht vn bt thin tng
(Astdsashasrika 18,000 cu). Vn bn sau cng c Lokaraksa
(Vng) chuyn dch vo nm 172 sau Ty Lch.
(3) Ti y, iu cn lun bn l s c ng nhng im trng yu ca
vn bn Bt Nh La Mt a. Bn c ng sm nht gm c Tm kinh
(Hrdaya-stra) v Nng on Kim Cang Kinh (Vajracchedika stra).
Nng on Kim Cang Kinh c dch sanh Hoa vn vo khong th k
th 5 sau Ty Lch. Dch bn ny c in vo ngy 11 thng 5 nm 868
ti Trung Quc. Theo truyn thuyt th y l cun sch in xa nht trn th
gii.
Hin qun trang nghim (Abhisamayalamkra) c coi l nhng
trch yu ca Nh vn ng thin tng (Pancavimsti Shasrik), do Ngi Di
Lc (Maitreyyantha), bc thy ca Ngi Asanga (V Trc) thc hin.
(4) Sau ht, iu cn bn n l Mt ch v chn ngn c c ng
t Bt Nh La Mt a. Mt trong s l Ekksar cho rng tr hu
vin thnh ch bao gm trong mt ch A. V ti hu, Bt Nh Ba La Mt
a c nhn cch ha thnh mt v n thn mi ngi sng bi.

Bt Nh Ba La Mt a va l trit hc nhng ng thi cng va l

tn gio. N khng phi ch l trit hc theo ngha ch trit hc ca
Ty Phng. Ty Phng, trit hc tch ra khi tn gio v tr
thnh s truy tm ca tr thc thun ty. Ti n , mi nn trit hc u l
mt tn gio, v mi tn gio u c trit hc ring n. Cc tn gio Ty
Phng tr thnh nhng tn gio ca gio iu cng thc, cn tn gio
ca n l loi tn gio trit hc.
Ch ca vn bn Bt Nh Ba La Mt a (Prjnpramit) l thuyt
Tnh Khng (Snyat). Tn Pht Gio Nguyn Thy (Hinaynists) tin
rng l ch c c nhn mi v thc th tnh (pudgala-nairtmya). H em
thc ti chia thnh cc php hoc thnh t tn ti, hn na h cho rng
cc php l nhng thc th tht hu. Bt Nh Ba La Mt a phn i
trit l li nhn xt ny v cho rng cc php vn l tnh khng (Sarvadharma-snyat).
Hin tng ty thuc vo nhng iu kin hn nh tn ti. Do s l
thuc ny nn trn thc th chng vn khng c chn tht tnh, v th chng
ch l khng (snya).
Nit Bn (Nirvna) siu vit vt qua tt c mi phm tr t tng, bn
thn n chnh l Khng Tnh (Snyat).
C ci ta b (samsra) v Nit Bn (Nirvna), hn nh v v hn
nh, u ch l vt c cu thnh bi t tng, v th chng khng c thc
ti tnh.
Thc ti ti hu c th c gi l Khng Tnh (Snyat) v n siu
vit trn tt c mi hn nh, kinh nghim v do t tng cu thnh.
Bt Nh (Prjn) hoc tr hu siu vit chnh l s nh ch mi cu tc
ca t tng trm m. V th, Bt Nh ng ngha vi Khng Tnh.
Tm li, s thu trit tri nhn c Khng Tnh khng phi ch do s
nhit tm tha nhn m c c, cng khng phi do s nghin cu tranh
lun v ch ngha m c c; Khng Tnh ch t c trong thin nh.
Chng ta cn minh tng v Khng Tnh nh l v t ng (s vng
mt ca bn ng), minh tng tt c php u khng c thc th tnh, minh
tng Khng Tnh nh l h khng v hn nh. Cui cng, bn thn ca
Khng Tnh cng b tr b v ch xem n nh l mt chic b gip ta vt

qua bin v minh. Tuy nhin, loi minh tng ny s tr thnh v hiu qu,
nu chng ta khng bi dng mt c tnh no .
Mc d on vn trn y ch l mt tm lt rt ngn v kinh vn Bt
Nh Ba La Mt a, nhng cng cho thy rng vn bn ny bao
gm tt c nhng yu t ct li ca Pht Gio i Tha.
V th chng ta bit rng trit hc Trung Qun (Madhyamaka) c
khai trin trn c s ca gio ngha i Chng B, cho nn i Tha Pht
Kinh cng c gi l Bt Nh Ba La Mt a Kinh (Prjnparamit).
---o0o--CHNG II
5. TRC TC V GIO L CA H PHI
TRUNG QUN TRIT HC
Trng phi trit hc Trung Qun ch yu l do Long Th khai trin.
Ngi l mt trong nhng i thin ti li lc nht trong lch s th gii. Ngi
xy nn cho gio phi ny, v sau cc mn kit xut ca Ngi
tip tc khai trin. Lch s pht trin ca nn trit hc ny lin tc t th
k th nh sau Ty Lch cho mi n th k th 11.
S pht trin ca hc phi ny gm ba giai on rt d phn bit. Trit
hc Trung Qun giai on th nht, do Long Th v B xng v
thuyt minh mt cch c h thng. Giai on th hai, h thng trit hc ny
c phn chia thnh hai phi l Qui Mu Lun Chng Phi (Prsangika)
v T Y Lun Chng Phi (Svtantrika). Giai on th ba l giai on
khng nh li Qui Mu Lun Chng Phi.
---o0o--6. LONG TH V B
(Th K Th Nh Sau Ty Lch)
Giai on u
- Long Th vit rt nhiu ch gii cho Bt Nh Ba La Mt a
(Prjnparamita), nhng ch gii ny c gi l Bt Nh Ba La Mt a

Lun (Prjnparamit-sstra). Lun ny c Ngi Cu Ma La Thp

(Kumrajiva) (Ty nguyn 402 nm n 405 nm) dch thnh Hoa vn. D
sao th s thuyt minh t tng trit hc ch yu ca Long Th nm
trong quyn Bt Nh Cn (Prjn-mla) hoc Cn Bn Trung Qun tng
(Mla-Madhyamaka-Kriks) hoc Trung Lun (Madhayamka Sstra).
B, t knh cn ca Ngi, khai trin t tng trit hc y trong t
Bch Lun (Catuh-Sataha). Chng ti cp phn trn v nhng kinh
sch khc ca Long Th v B.
Giai on th hai
- Long Th s dng k thut ca prasanga, thuyt minh Trit
Hc Trung Qun ca mnh. Ch prasanga l mt thut ng, n c ngha
l qui mu lun chng. Long Th khng ra bt c hc thuyt no
ca ring mnh; v th, Ngi khng cn phi ra bt c lun chng no
chng minh cho hc thuyt ca mnh c. Ngi ch s dng qui mu lun
chng php (prasangavkya) chng minh rng nhng l lun do i th
ra ch dn n s phi l, ngay c i vi nhng nguyn l m chnh h
chp nhn. iu ny ng rng thc ti l th g vt ln trn t tng.
Pht H (Buddhaplita) sanh vo gia th k th 6, l tn nhit thnh
ca Long Th, Ngi cm thy qui mu lun chng (Prasanga) l phng
php chnh xc ca h thng Trit Hc Trung Qun (Madhyamaka) nn
ng dng n trong hc thuyt v tc phm ca mnh. Ngi vit quyn
Trung Qun Ch (Madhyam-akavrtti), mc ch l ch gii cho b
Trung Lun ca Long Th. Sch ny nguyn bn b tht lc, hin ch cn
bn dch bng Tng vn.
Thanh Bin (Bhavya hay Bhvaviveka) l ngi cng thi i vi Pht
H, nhng tr tui hn. Ngi cho rng, ch nu ra s sai lm ca i th vn
cha , m cn phi ra t y lun chng (svatantra) hoc lun chng c
lp hp l khin k phi im ting. Ngi tin rng ch da vo phng
php bin chng th khng th nu ra c chn l tuyt i mt cch chnh
xc.
Ngi vit i Tha Chng Trn Lun (Mahyna-KaratalaRatna Sastra). Trung Qun Tm Lun (Mdhyamikahrdaya) vi ch thch
c tn l: T Trch Dim Lun (Tarkajvl), Trung Lun Yu Ch
(Madhyamrtha-Saingraha) ch gii Trung Lun ca Long Th v Bt

Nh ng Lun (Prajn-pradipa). Nhng tc phm ny hin nay ch c

tn ti trong bn dch Ty Tng.
Tin S L. M. Toshi chuyn Trung Lun Yu Ch sang ch Ngari
v dch sang ting Hindi c ng Php S (Dharmadta), quyn th
29-thng 7-8 nm 1964.
Gio s N. Aiyswmi dch Chng Trn Lun (Karatalaratna)
bng ting Trung Hoa ca Ngi Huyn Trang tr li thnh Phn vn
(Vsvabbhrati Santiniketan, 1949).
Nh trn, chng ta bit rng vo th k th nh gn 400 nm sau khi
Long Th vin tich, trit hc Trung Qun c chia thnh hai phi l:
a) Quy Mu Lun Chng Phi (Prsangka) do Pht H (Buddhaplita)
cm
u
v
b) T Y Lun Chng Phi (Satantrika) do Thanh Bin (Bhvaviveka)
cm u.
Y. Kajiama cho rng nguyn nhn gy chia r Trung Qun phi chnh
l cu hi rng l h thng tri thc tng i c th c tha nhn hay
khng. Mc d ng trn quan im tuyt i th n l h vng?
Theo nhn xt ca Ngi Huyn Trang, th mc d b mt Thanh Bin
khoc chic o ca S Lun (Smkhya), nhng trn thc t th Ngi
ng h gio l ca Long Th.
Giai on th ba
- Trong giai on ny, Trung Qun phi xut hin hai v hc gi kit
xut, l Nguyt Xng (Candrakrti) v Tch Thin (Sntideva).
S lng ch gii v Trung Qun Lun ca Long Th rt nhiu
(khong 20 quyn). Nhng tc phm ny hin ch c bo tn trong
nhng dch bn ca Tng vn. Trong Minh C Lun (Parasannapad)
ca Nguyt Xng l bn duy nht cn tn ti trong Phn vn nguyn thy
(Sainskrta), dng nh n khin cho nhng ch gii khc tr thnh li
thi.

Ngi Nguyt Xng cho i v hot ng xut chng Samanta,

Nam n , vo u th k th 7 sau Ty Lch v vit mt s tc phm
ni ting. Ngi tng theo Lin
Hoa Gic (Kamalabuddhi-mt t ca Pht H) nghin tp v
Trit Hc Trung Qun (Kamalabuddhi), v c th Ngi cng l t ca
Thanh Bin. Nh trn cp, Minh C Lun l lun do Ngi vit
ch gii Trung Qun Lun ca Long Th. Ngoi ra, Nhp Trung Lun
(Madhyamakvatra) v ch thch ca n chnh l tc phm c lp ca
Ngi. Trong Minh C Lun Ngi thng cp n Nhp Trung Lun, iu
ny cho thy r rng Nhp Trung Lun c vit sm hn Minh C
Lun.
Ngoi ra, Ngi cn ch gii Tht thp tng khng tnh lun (Snyat
Saptati). Lc thp tng chnh l lun (Yukti Sastik) ca Long Th v
T bch lun (Catubsataka) ca B. Ngoi ra cn c hai bin khi lun
(pakaranas),

l
Nhp
Trung
o
Bt
Nh
lun
(Madhyamakaprajnvatra) v Ng Un Lun (Pancaskandha). Trong tt
c cc sch ca Ngi, hin ch c Minh C Lun l vn cn bn chnh gc,
ngoi ra tt c u ch cn li nhng dch bn bng Tng vn.
Nguyt Xng bin h cho Qui Mu Lun Chng phi (Prasangika)
mt cch cc lc, hn na Ngi cn nu ra rt nhiu s h v lun l ca
Thanh Bin.
Ngi cng ng h ch trng quan im thng thc ca cm quan
tri gic v ch trch hc thuyt T tng (Svalaksana) v V Phn Bit
(Kalpanpodha).
Ngi cng cn ph bnh v v thc thuyt (Vijnnavda) v cho rng
thc (Vijnna) m khng c i tng l mt iu khng th quan nim
c.
Tch Thin (Sntideva) l mt nhn vt tr ct ln ca Qui Mu Lun
Chng phi. Ngi xut hin v rt ni ting th k th 7 sau Ty Lch,
theo Trntha th Tch Thin l con ca c Khi Vng (Kalanavarman)
nc Saurstra, v l ngi tha k ngi vua chnh thng. Khi Ngi cn l
mt vng t, tn ca Ngi l Tch Khi (Sntivarman). V tip nhn mt
cch su m t tng i Tha nn pht tm la b vng quc v
n cha Nland bng ca Thnh Thin (Taideva), v vy sau ngi ta
gi Ngi l Tch Thin (Stideva).

Kinh in ca Ngi gm c Hc X Yu Tp (Siks-samuccaya) v

Nhp B Hnh Lun (Bodhicaryvatra). Trong cun trc, Ngi
cp n rt nhiu kinh in i Tha v cng trng yu ny, tt c gn
97 loi, nhng sch ny hin nay hon ton b tht truyn. Trong Nhp
B Hnh Lun Ngi nhn mnh v thit tha ku gi hy bi dng
B Tm (Bodhicitta). Ngi l mt thi ho v i nht trong hc phi
Trung Qun.
Hu ht nhng tc phm ca Ngi u biu hin s kt hp p gia
thi ca v trit hc. Ngi l tn ca Qui Mu Lun Chng phi v c
nhng ph bnh mnh m i vi Duy Thc Lun.
C th ni rng Tch H (Sntaraksita) v Lin Hoa Gii (kamalasila)
l i biu cho s dung hp ca hc thuyt Trung Qun v Duy Thc Lun,
v th khng th gi h l nhng ngi thuc Trung Qun phi chn chnh.
Tch H cho i vo th k th 8 sau Ty Lch, tc phm ch yu ca
Ngi l Chn L Khi yu (Tattvasamgraha). Lin Hoa Gii, v t c
ca Ngi vit Chn L Khi Yu Tng Thch (Tattvasamgrahapanjik) ch gii mt cch tinh tng v chn l Khi Yu
(tattvasamgraha)
---o0o--7. BIN CHNG PHP TRUNG QUN
(MADHYAMAKA DIALECTIC)
KHI NGUYN, CU TRC V PHT TRIN
Nh cp, mi yu ngha ca trit hc Trung Qun, hu ht
c nu ra mt cch i lc trong phn i Chng B v vn bn Bt Nh
Ba La Mt a (Prajnparamit). Long Th ch l ngi khai trin chng m
thi. Vy th Long Th cng hin c nhng g ca chnh Ngi? S
cng hin c th ca chnh Ngi l bin chng php (dialetic) m Ngi
khai trin. ng nhin l Ngi chiu ri nhng tia sng mi m ln cc
ch thuyt khc nhau ca Pht Gio i Tha, bao hm trong t tng ca
i Chng B v trong tc phm Bt Nh Ba La Mt a, hn na i vi
nhng l lun ny Ngi thuyt minh su xa hn v ph phn nhiu hn v
nhng ch thuyt ; nhng, s cng hin c o nht ca Ngi vn l bin
chng php.

S im lng b n ca c Pht i vi nhng cu hi c tnh cch siu

hnh cn bn nht thc y Long Th nghin cu tm hiu l do ti sao
c Pht gi im lng. C phi c Pht ch trng bt kh tri (agnostic)
nh mt s ngi Ty Phng nghin cu Pht Gio ngh? Nu khng th
v l do g m Ngi gi thi im lng? Qua mt cuc nghin cu i vi
s im lng ny, Long Th t ra bin chng php.
C mt s cu hi tr danh m c Pht coi l v k (avaykrta),
tc l nhng gii p m Ngi cho rng khng th din t. Trong nhng
ch gii ca Nguyt Xng v Trung Lun (MK, 22, 12) Ngi tng nu ra
nhng vn ny.
Ngi m u bng cu:
Tha caturdasa avykrta-vastni bhagavat nirdistni:
c Th Tn tuyn b rng c 14 s vic khng
th thuyt minh c,
V sau cp 14 s vic trn theo th t:
1) Th gii phi chng l (a) vnh hng, (b) hay khng vnh
hng, (c) hoc c hai u ng, (d) hoc c hai u
khng ng.
2) Phi chng th gii l (a) hu bin, (b) v bin (c)
hoc c hai u ng (d) hoc c hai u khng ng.
3) Phi chng sau khi Nh Lai nhp dit (a) vn tn ti,
(b) hoc khng tn ti, (c) hoc c hai u ng, (d)
hoc c hai u khng ng.
4) Phi chng linh hn v th xc l ng nht hay
khng ng nht.
Trn y gm c 14 vn :
Chng ta c th thy r trong ba nhm cu hi chnh mi mt cu hi
gm c bn tuyn loi, v cu hi sau cng cng c th c bn th tuyn
loi, bn tuyn loi ny cu thnh t kt lun (catuskoti) hoc bn
mnh c s cn bn (tetra-lemma) v cng trng yu ca Long Th Bin
Chng Php. Mi mt vn u c (1) khng nh mnh i phn ca

n (2) lm mnh ca ph nh tng phn. Hai mnh ny l s tuyn

chn c bn. Sau (3) kt hp hai iu khng nh cu thnh tuyn loi
th ba, (4) tuyn ngn ca hai ph nh cu thnh tuyn loi th t.
i vi nhng tra vn cn bn ny, m tr li phi hoc khng phi
th e rng khng th nhn thc chn l mt cch trn vn v, c Pht dy
rng loi t bin ny ch l mt loi kin gii lun thuyt (itthivda), cho
nn Ngi t chi v khng mun thm cu chng.
Cu trc ca nhng cu hi v s im lng ca c Pht c t
ra trc mt Long Th. c Pht t chi tr li dt khot cho nhng cu
hi nh vy. c Pht vn thng dy l Ngi khng tin vo Thng hng
lun (Ssvata-vda), mt loi khng nh tuyt i, m cng khng tin vo
on dit lun (Ucchedavda), mt ph nh tuyt i. Lp trng ca
Ngi chnh l trung o (madhyam pratipada).
Long Th t duy mt cch su sc v thi ny ca c Pht v
cho rng l do m c Pht c gi im lng trc nhng vn ny l bi
thc ti siu vit qua mi t tng. Ngi thnh lp h thng gm 4
tuyn loi (antas hoc kotis), v vch r s khng hi ha ca mi tuyn
loi. Ngi thu trit mt cch thng sut v tm ra c nh lut bi
phn (antinomy) ca l tnh (reason), kh tr mi s vt c chng che
y, v chng minh rng vic kin lp mt h thng siu hnh hc
(metaphysis) kin c trn c s ca ch ngha gio iu (dogmatism) hoc
ch ngha duy l (rationalism) l mt iu bt kh. y chnh l bin chng
php ca Ngi.
Bn tuyn loi ny c c Pht xut t rt sm, nhng nguyn
ca Long Th l ng dng lun l hc mt cch nghim tc gi nhng
hm ca mi tuyn loi, rt ui l tnh n ng ct (cul de sac) v nh
th mi chun b cho tm thc phi quay ngc li (parvrti) hng n
bt nh (prajn: tr hu).
i vi nhng c gi thiu thn trng, Long Th c xem nh
mt nhn vt m nu khng phi l mt trit gia kh tnh mun phn bc tt
c hc thuyt ca cc trit gia khc th cng l mt nh ngy bin s dng
nhng n t xo diu (equivocation) p buc cc i th thiu cnh gic
phi nhng b trong lc bin lun, v sau ci thm trc s lng
tng ca i phng; nu khng th th t ra cng l ngi theo ui ch

ngha h v c tnh ph hoi, ph nh mt cch cc cn tt c quan im v

khng khng nh bt c mt quan im no.
Nu nghin cu mt cch k lng, cn thn hn v bin chng php
ca ngi, th s thy rng nhng lo lng trn hon ton khng ng vi ngi,
v trong mt tm thc hon ton thanh tnh ngi ch c gng chng t rng
khi l tnh vt khi lnh vc ca nhng hin tng c th l gii th tin
vo cnh a ca bn th bt kh tri (noumena), lc , tt nhin s gp phi
s mu thun.
1/ NGHA CA BIN CHNG PHP
Vy th bin chng php c ngha l g? Ni mt cch n gin, bin
chng php l mt loi vn hnh t tng, nh vo s tra kho v nhng
mt phi v tri (pros and cons) ca vn c mt thc r rng v
nhng nh lut bi phn (antinomies) m l tnh b sa ly vo , v m ch
con ng ra khi s b tc bng cch thng tin ln mt giai tng cao hn
l tnh ra khi ng ct.
2/ CU TRC CA BIN CHNG PHP
Chng ta bit khi nguyn ca bin chng php, ca Trung Qun
nm trong bn tuyn loi ca mi vn khng th thuyt minh
(avykrta) m c Pht im lng mt cch b n. Nhng Long Th th r
rng tm cch thnh lp, h thng ha n v s dng t c lp
(catuskoti: tetralemma hay quadrilemma) cng c gi l t cnh ph
nh (four-cornered negation) biu minh.
Vy cu trc ca bin chng php c xp nh sau: S tuyn trch
th nht ca t c lp gm mnh th nht l (i) mnh khng nh. Th
hai l (ii) phn . Th ba l (iii) kt hp khng nh ca hai mnh trc,
v th t l (iv) ph nh ca hai mnh trc.
3/ K THUT BIN CHNG PHP
K thut bin chng php l rt ra nhng ng v quan im ca i
phng t trn cn bn ca nhng nguyn tc m chnh h tha nhn, v
nh m vch ra s mu thun t thn ca quan im ny. Dng cch ny,
i phng s b sa vo cm by ca chnh h. i phng b dn vo v tr
phi l khi nhng kt lun t mu thun ca nhng gi thuyt ca h b vch
trn. Nh th, c th ni rng bin chng php bc b cc quan im bng

cch s dng qui mu lun chng (reductio ad absurdum argument). K

thut ny trong thut ng thng c gi theo Phn ng l prasanga
(phin m sang ch Hn l thnh phn cht nan).
R. H. Robinson nu r trong Phi Trung Qun Thi S Khi n
v Trung Quc (Early Mdhyamika in India and China) ca ng rng
nhng thi c trong Trung Lun (Mdhyamaka) ca Long Th c mt s ln
nhng tam on lun (syllogism) c tnh cch gi thit. Trong nhng thi c
, c nhng th d v hai loi tam on lun gi thit l hy on lut
(modus ponens) v nghch on lut (modus tollens) v cn c mt cch
ngy bin trong tin b ph nhn.
i vi th d ly on lut (modusponens) Robinson trch dn
on 3.2 trong Minh C Lun (Prasannapad) v
i vi th d nghch on lut th ng trch dn on 19.6 trong Minh
C Lun.
ng ni ng khi bo rng trong thi c c rt nhiu lng ao lun
php (dilemmas) m hnh thc thng thy nht l: nu p ri sau l q;
nu chng phi p ri sau l q, y l hnh thc c th ca n thun
kin cu lng ao lun php (simple constructive dilemma) trong lun l
Ty phng.
Ngoi ra, trong thi c cn c th trng thy mt hnh thc lng ao
lun php khc, l: Nu p, ri sau q; nu khng phi p, th sau l
r, y l hnh thc c th ca phc tp kin cu lng ao lun php
(complex constructive dilemma) trong lun l Ty phng.
4/ MC CH CA BIN CHNG PHP
Mc ch ca bin chng php l bc b, chng minh s sai lm ca
nhng quan im ca nhng ngi khc ch khng phi chng minh bt c
quan im no ca chnh chng ta. Ch c k no xng mt quan im
mi tht s cn chng minh n vi i tng m h mun thuyt phc,
ngi khng c quan im xng th chng cn phi lm nh vy.
Trong Hi Trnh Lun (Vigrahauyvartan) ca Long Th (thi c 29) ngi
pht biu mt cch rt r rng, khng mt ai c th tm thy khuyt im
ca Trung Qun phi (Mdhyamika) bi v ngi cha tng ra bt c quan
im no ca chnh mnh.

Yadi kcana pratijn syn me tata eva me

bhaved dosah.Nsti ca mama pratijn tasmn naivsti me dosah.
Nu ti xng mt lun ca chnh ti, th bn
c th tm thy c khuyt im ca n. Nhng v
ti khng c lun xng, nn vn
chng minh s sai lm khng c l do ny sanh.
Bin chng php nhm ph nhng k gio iu v nhng k duy l
ch trng mt quan im c nh v thc ti. Bng cch vch trn s rng
tuch trong l lun ca h v nhng kt qu t mu thun ca nhng gi
thit ca h, Long Th mun bc b nhng xc quyt ca L Tr rng n
nm vng c Thc Ti. Nguyt Xng (Candrakrti) trong on vn di
y, din t mt cch rt minh xc loi lp trng ny:
Nirupapttika paksbhyapagamt
svtmnam eva ayam kevalam
visamvdayan na saknoti paresm
niscayam dhtum iti. Idameva asya
spastataram dsanam yaduta
svapratijntrthasdhansma-rthyam iti.
Bng gi thit khng hp l ca h, i phng ch
t mu thun vi chnh mnh, v khng th thuyt phc
ngi khc. iu g c tnh cch t co buc r rng
hn l s kin i th khng th chng minh nhng
lun c trn cn bn m ngi xng l lun
ca mnh.
(Minh C Lun p. 6)
Long Th thng tay ph hy mi kin trit hc trong thi i ca
ngi, chng phi v ngi ly lm thch ch v hnh ng , m l v ngi c
mt mc tiu thch ng. Mt cch tiu cc, bin chng php c chng
minh rng Thc Ti khng th c o lng bng mt ci thc t tng
tn mn. Nhng, khng phi ch c vy. N c mt s ng tch cc.
Th nht, hin tng hoc thc ti nghim th thuc lnh vc tng
i, trong mt thc th l khng (snya) hoc v t tnh (nissvabhva), ngha l thc th khng c thc ti c lp hoc s v iu
kin.

Th nh, ngi ta c th hiu c Thc Ti bng cch vt ln mt

giai tng cao hn t tng lun l, l giai tng ca Bt Nh (prajna).
Th ba, khng th din t Thc Ti bng th ngn ng c, khng
c theo li suy tng nh phn.
5/ S NG DNG CA BIN CHNG PHP
Long Th nghin cu mt cch nghim tc tt c nhng l thuyt
trit hc ca cc nh t tng cng thi i vi ngi.
Hng sng Bin chng php ca ngi nhm vo nhng khi nim
nh tng quan nhn qu, ng v tnh, cc lnh vc cm gic (yatanas),
cc un (skandhas), t ng (tman), v.v...
Stcherbatsky ch cp n li ph bnh ca Long Th i vi
tng quan nhn qu v nit bn, bi v chng l nhng iu trng yu nht.
V th, chng ta cng ch quan tm nghin cu hai trng im ny. y,
chng ta s tho lun trc v s thm cu ny ca Long Th i vi quan
nim nhn qu, v i vi s nghin cu ca ngi v nit bn th s c
tho lun di mt tiu khc.
Trc tin Long Th ph bnh v lut nhn qu, bi v n l vn
trit hc ti trng yu trong thi i ca ngi.
6/ THM CU V QUAN H NHN QU
Long Th ng dng bn mnh chnh yu ca ngi, ngi cho rng
ch c th c 4 loi quan im v lut nhn qu, l (1) quan im sanh ra;
(2) parata utpattih, tc l do vt khc sn sanh ra; (3) dvbhym utpattih, tc
l do c hai (chnh mnh v vt khc) m sanh ra; (4) ahetuta utpattih, tc l
v nguyn nhn m sanh ra, ngu nhin m sanh ra.
1) Svata Utpattih (do t thn m sanh)
C ngha nguyn nhn v kt qu l ng nht, s vt c sanh ra bi
t thn. Khi Long Th ph bnh v quan im ca s quan h nhn qu t
sanh, th r rng trong tm ngh rng l nhn trung hu qu lun
(Satkyavda) ca S Lun (Smkhya).

S ph bnh ca Trung Qun phi i vi l lun ny c th tm lc

nh sau:
i. Nu trong nhn c qu, th s sanh sn khng c
mc ch. S Lun c th cho rng tuy qu c th
hin hu trong nhn, s biu l (abhivyakti) ca n l
iu mi m. Tuy nhin, iu ny khng c ngha rng
qu l mt thc cht mi, m ch c ngha n l mt
hnh thc hoc trng thi mi ca thc cht. Nhng
s sai bit trn hnh thc hoc trn trng thi ny i
ngc li s ng nht ca tng lp bn di.
ii. Nu bo rng nguyn nhn l mt phn hin thc,
v mt phn tim tng, th chng khc no tha nhn
rng trong cng mt s vt c tnh cht i phn.
iii. Nu nguyn nhn l mt ci g hon ton tim tng, th
t n khng th tr thnh hin thc khi khng c s
tr gip ca ngoi lc. Du khng th t n chy ra t
ht ging ngoi tr c p bi mt my p du. Nu
n cn phi nh n s tr gip ca ngoi lc th th
khng c ci c gi l svata utpattih, hoc do
t thn m sanh ra. iu ny c ngha l phi loi b
hng thuyt satkryavada (nhn trung hu qu lun).
iv. Nu nguyn nhn v kt qu l ng nht, th khng th
phn bit c ci no l ci to sanh ci kia.
V th, quan im cho rng nhn qu ng nht (nhn
trung hu qu lun) c y dy s t mu thun.
2) Parata Utpattih (do vt khc m sanh)
C ngha l nguyn nhn v kt qu l khc nhau. Quan im ny c
gi l nhn trung v qu lun (asatkryavada), l ch trng ca nhng
ngi thuc thuyt Nht Thit Hu B (Sarvstivdins) v Kinh Lng B
(Santrntikas), hoc ca tn Pht Gio Nguyn Thy (Hinayanists) ni
chung. Khi Long Th ph bnh v quan im ca loi nhn qu khc tnh
cht ny, r rng l ngi nhm n nhng b phi .

S ph bnh v nhn trung v qu lun ca ngi gm c nhng trng

im di y:
i. Nu nhn v qu khc nhau th khng mt lin h no
gia nhn v qu c th tn ti. Trong trng hp
th bt c th g cng c th l sn phm ca bt c
th g khc.
ii. Nhng ngi thuc phi Nguyn Thy cho rng nhn
sau khi sanh ra qu th khng cn tn ti. Nhng gia
nhn v qu c mt loi quan h nhn qu ng
nhin (exhypothesi). Nhn v qu cng tn ti
th chng mi c th lin h vi nhau. Nu chng
khng c lin h th quan h nhn qu tr thnh v
ngha.
iii. Nhng ngi thuc phi Nguyn Thy tin rng qu
c sanh ra bi s kt hp ca nhng yu t. By
gi s kt hp ca nhng yu t ny li i hi phi
c mt yu t na, v k s kt hp mi ny li s
i hi mt yu t khc. iu ny s dn n tnh trng
v cng hu thoi (regressus infinitum)
3) Dvbhyma Upattih (do c hai m sanh ra)
L lun ny tin rng qu v nhn va ging nhau li va khc nhau.
y l s kt hp ca Nhn trung hu qu lun v Nhn trung v qu
lun, nn bao gm s mu thun ca c hai. Ngoi ra, loi l lun ny
bao trm thc ti vi hai loi i lp tnh (ng nht v khc nhau) cng
mt lc.
4) Ahetutah Utpattih (v nguyn nhn m sanh ra, ngu nhin m sanh)
L lun ny cho rng s vt sn sanh mt cch ngu nhin, khng c
nguyn nhn. Nhng ngi tin vo T tnh lun (Svabhvavdins) l
nhng ngi theo ch ngha t nhin (naturalists) hay ch ngha hoi nghi
(sceptics) tin vo l lun ny. Loi l lun ny nu khng nu ra c l
do th n chng khc no mt l lun c on hon ton hoang ng. V

nu c mt l do c nu ra th chng khc no n tha nhn mt

nguyn nhn.
Sau khi vch r bn cht mu thun ca cc quan im trn, Long Th
i ti kt lun rng s quan h nhn qu ch l mt loi kin to t tng
c t trn trt t khch th ca s sinh tn. Theo cch ni ca trit gia
Kant th quan h nhn qu ch l mt th phm tr t tng.
---o0o--8. NG GP TCH CC CA LONG TH
Khi c Trung Qun Tng (Madhyamaka Krias) ln u, c v nh
Long Th ch l mt ngi tiu cc khng th tha hip. Nhng, nh Tin
S K. Venkata Ramanan ra mt gii thch tuyt diu: Trong i Tr
Lun (Mahprajnpramit Sstr) Long Th trnh by nhng quan
im tch cc ca ngi v vn Thc Ti mt vn gy nhiu tranh
lun.
1/ C Trung Qun Tng (Madhyamaka Krias) v i Tr Lun
(Mahprajnpramita Sstra) u coi v t tnh (naihsvbhvya), hay hn
nh tnh, tng i tnh nh l s xm nhp cn bn ca Khng Tnh
(Snyata) xt theo bn cht th tc ca s vt, nhng i Tr Lun vch
ra r rng hn Trung Qun Tng v ng ca v thc th tnh ca s vt
th tc. N cho rng khuynh hng ca con ngi mun coi tng i nh
tuyt i bt r t kht vng thm kn ban s trong thm tm con ngi
mun t c s tuyt i (dharmaisan). Do V Minh thm cn, kht
vng ny b p dng sai lm. Loi ngi bm vu vo tng i v coi n
nh l tuyt i cho nn khng th trnh khi b tht vng. Nhng nu h
bm vo s khc bit ca tuyt i v coi chng nh l tuyt i ring r
th h li vng vo li lm bm vu theo mt hnh thc khc.
Long Th c gng vch ra cho ngi ta thy ci chn l su xa rng
iu kin v hn nh v s th tuyt i khng nhng ch l cn c ca iu
kin hn nh hay tng i m tht ra n l bn cht ca chnh tng i,
ch khng phi l mt thc th khc bit vi tng i.
2/ Tuyt i, v hn nh khng nhng l bn cht ti hu ca nhng
thc th m cn l bn cht ti hu ca con ngi.

Chnh v nh th, s khao kht thc ti ca con ngi cng c ngha

thm su hn. Vi t cch l mt c th, con ngi ng nhin c lin h
vi ton th th gii, vi cc hin tng, vi cc un (skandhas) ca y, ti
hon cnh ngu nhin v hn nh, nhng y khng b tch ra khi ci v hn
nh m tht ra v hn nh chnh l bn cht ti hu ca bn th y, v y
khng b tri buc vnh vin vo s phn ha ca mnh. Hon ton mi m
vi s trnh din thong qua ca nhng thc th hn nh, v khng bit n
ngha ni ti ca bn th mnh, y nm ly tng i v coi n nh l tuyt
i v do y khng th trnh khi b vng mc vo s au kh. Mt khi y
tnh ng i vi tnh cch hn nh (snyata) ca s vt hn nh, lc
thc v gi tr ca y s thay i. Y tr thnh mt ngi bin i v lc
s khao kht tuyt i (dharmaisana) ca y, lng khao kht mong mi Thc
Ti ca y s tm thy ngha v n c mn nguyn.
Trung Qun tng nhn mnh s khng y , s khng ton vn, s
thiu thc cht ca cc dharmas (php, thc th) v pudgala (t ng). i Tr
Lun th nhn mnh ngha ca thc v s bt ton vn ny, v cho
rng chnh s thc sc bn v s khng y ny thi cho tia la nh b
ca s khao kht Thc Ti v tuyt i trong con ngi bng chy thnh
ngn la sng ng ca chn l.
3/ Tht ra, mi cn bn khi nim ch yu ca trit hc Long Th u
nm trong Trung Qun Tng (Krik), nhng chng b lm lu m bi tnh
cch tiu cc ca ng li din t.
Tt nhin phi l nh th, khng th no c th khc hn, bi v trong
Trung Qun Tng Long Th thy chung vn s dng k thut thnh phn
cht nan lun chng (prasangavkya), cch l lun theo qui mu lun
chng. S quan tm chnh yu ca ngi l vch trn nhng sai lm xem
tng i tnh (nihsvabhva) nh l tuyt i tnh (sasvabhva). Ngay c
trong Trung Qun tng Long Th xc nh mt cch minh bch rng vt
b hn nh hin th thnh vt v hn nh nh l c s ti hu ca n.
Ci c bn cht i v n, sanh v dit trn phng
din hu hn, th cng chnh l Nit Bn trn phng
din v hn nh.
(XXV, 9)
---o0o---

9. S KHC BIT GIA NGUYN THY

V I THA
C vi kha cnh ca trit hc Pht Gio v tn gio m trong c s
khc bit gia i Tha v Nguyn Thy. Nhng g c trnh by di y
ch yu l nhm vo Trung Qun Phi (Madhyamaka) ca i Tha.
1/ S khc bit trong cch gii thch v Duyn Khi (Pratityasamutpda)
Thuyt Duyn Khi l mt hc thuyt v cng trng yu trong Pht
Gio. N l lut nhn qu ca c v tr v mi mt sinh mng ca c nhn.
N quan trng v hai quan im. Th nht, n a ra mt khi nim rt r
rng v bn cht v thng v hu hn ca mi hin tng. Th hai, n cho
thy sanh, lo, bnh, t v tt c nhng thng kh ca hin tng sinh tn
ty thuc vo nhng iu kin nh th no, v tt c nhng thng kh ny s
chm dt nh th no khi vng mt cc iu kin .
Chng ta thy quan im ca Trung Qun Phi v nhn qu. V
duyn khi l lut nhn qu ph qut, Trung Qun Phi thi hnh mt cuc
kho st c tnh cch ph phn v lut ny.
S gii thch ca Trung Qun Phi v lut ny c nhiu im khc vi
s gii thch ca phi Nguyn Thy. Ch duyn khi (Pratttyasamutpda)
thng c dch sang ting Anh l conditioned co-production (ng sn
sanh c iu kin) hoc interdependent origination (ty thuc ln nhau m
sanh ra).
Theo Nguyn Thy th (Pratityasamutpda) c ngha l
pratipratiitynin vinsinin samutpadah tc l s xut hin nhanh chng
ngn ngi, v thng ca s vt. Theo phi Nguyn Thy th pratyasamutpda l lut nhn qu chi phi s sanh v dit ca thnh t (cc php
- dharmas) khc nhau.
Theo Trung Qun Phi th ly s sanh v dit ca cc thnh t ca s
tn ti (dharmas) gii thch duyn khi (pratiyasamutpda) l iu khng
chnh xc.
Theo Nguyt Xng (Candrakrti) th:
Hetupratyaypekso
chvnmutpdah pratyasamutpdrthah

(Minh C Lun, p. 2)
Ngha l:
Duyn khi l s biu l ca cc thc th tng
quan vi cc nguyn nhn v cc iu kin (duyn).
Pht gio Nguyn Thy gii thch duyn khi nh l mt tin trnh
thi gian ngn ngi ca nhng thc th ch tht m gia chng c mt
chui tng quan nhn qu.
Theo Trung Qun Phi th duyn khi khng c ngha l nguyn l ca
mt tin trnh ngn ngi m l nguyn l v s l thuc vo nhau mt cch
thit yu ca cc s vt. Ni tm tt, duyn khi l nguyn l ca tng i
tnh (relativity). Tng i tnh l mt khm ph v cng quan trng ca
khoa hc hin i. Nhng g m ngy nay khoa hc khm ph th c Pht
v i pht hin t hn 2,500 nm trc. Khi gii thch duyn khi nh l
s l thuc ln nhau mt cch thit yu hoc tnh cch tng i ca mi s
vt, Trung Qun Phi bc b mt tn iu khc ca Pht gio Nguyn
Thy. Pht gio Nguyn Thy phn tch mi hin tng thnh nhng
thnh t (dharmas), v cho rng nhng thnh t ny u c mt thc ti
ring bit ca chng.
Trung Qun Phi th cho rng chnh thuyt duyn khi tuyn b r
tt c cc php u tng i, chng khng c ci gi l thc ti tnh
(svabhva) ring bit ca chnh mnh. Nis-svabhvatva (v t tnh, tng
i tnh) ng ngha vi khng tnh (snyat), ngha l khng c s tn ti
ch thc v c lp. Duyn khi hoc s ph thuc ln nhau c ngha l
tng i tnh, v tng i tnh th bao hm ngha phi thc ti tnh
(snyata) ca nhng thnh t ring bit.
Nguyt xng ni rng:
Tadatra nirodhdyasta visesana
visistah pratityasamutpdah sstrbhidheyrthah
(Minh C Lun, p. 2)
Ch hoc khi nim ch yu ca lun n ny
l tnh c th ca tm im ph nh."

S quan trng hng u ca duyn khi l vch ra rng s tn ti ca

tt c mi hin tng v ca tt c thc th trn th gian ny u hu hn,
chng khng c s tn ti ch thc v c lp.
Nh Long Th trnh by, Nahi svabhvobhvnm pratyaydisu
vidyate (Trung Qun Tng, M. K., 1.5) Khng c s hin hu c lp ca
nhng thc th trong cc iu kin hn nh (cc duyn). V nh Tin S E.
Conze gii thch:
Tt c ni dung c th u ty thuc vo tc
ng h trng ca v s iu kin hn nh
(duyn).
(Buddhist Thought in India, p. 240)
Long Th tng lt v duyn khi nh sau:
Aprattya samutpanno dharmah kascinna
vidyate. Yasmt tasmt asno hi dharmah
kascinna vidyate
(Trung Qun Tng, 24, 19)
Bi v khng c yu t no ca s sinh tn
(dharma) c th hin m khng c cc iu kin,
cho nn khng c php (dharma) no chng l khng
(snya) ngha l khng c s tn ti c lp ch
tht.
Duyn khi tr thnh tng ng vi khng tnh, duyn khi chnh l
khng tnh (snyat) hoc tng i tnh. Long Th ni:
Yah pratityasamutpdah snyatm tm
pracaksmahe
(Trung Qun, 24, 18)
Nhng g c gi l duyn khi chng ta gi l
khng tnh.
Khng (snya) hoc khng tnh (snyat) l khi nim trng yu nht
ca Trit Hc Trung Qun. V vy, chng ta s xt n trong mt tiu
ring nhm nghin cu, tm hiu thm v n.

Tuy nhin, trong Trung Qun Tng (Karika), mc ch ch yu ca

Long Th l ngi mun dn ng cho vic trnh by trit l tch cc ca
ngi, ngha l vai tr ca tr tu siu vit (prajn) trong vic lnh hi nhng
trnh khc nhau ca s hiu bit.
Trong i Tr Lun (Sska) ngi gii thch mt cch chi tit v
tr tu siu vit (prajn). V li, trong Trung Qun Tng khng c s cp
trc tip v dharmaisan (s khao kht b n trong lng ngi i vi thc
ti), nhng trong i Tr Lun th dharmaisan c lp i lp li
rt thng xuyn. Trong Trung Qun Tng, t c s m t no v qu trnh
hng n mc ch; nhng trong i Tr Lun th im ny c m t
mt cch sinh ng.
Trong Trung Qun Tng, ch c s m ch gin tip rng ci v hn
nh l thc th ni ti ca ci hu hn; nhng trong i Tr Lun th
im ny c ch trng nhiu. c bit l chng lun v Chn Nh
(Tathat), ni ti ca thc th trong mi c th c vch r. Chng ni
v thc ti t (bhtakoti: khng c vt tn ti mt cch tuyt i) gii
thch v k xo v chp (upya). V th, i Tr Lun v Trung Qun
Tng b tc cho nhau.
2/ S khc bit trong khi nim v Nit Bn (Nirvna)
i Tha v Nguyn Thy c nhng quan im ging nhau v Nit
Bn nh sau:
1) Nit Bn l cnh gii khng th din t bng ngn ng. N khng c
ngun gc, khng thay i, khng h hoi v bt t (amrta).
2) Nit Bn phi c nhn thc trong ni tm. S nhn thc ny ch c th
thc hin khi on tuyt hon ton mi khao kht v dc vng.
3) Trong Nit Bn, bn ng c nhn chm dt, khng cn tn ti. Mun vo
Nit Bn ch c cch duy nht l phi on tuyt bn ng c nhn.
4) Nit Bn l mt cnh gii tch mch (sama hoc upsama) siu vit qua
mi l gii.
5) Nit Bn cung cp s an bnh vnh cu.

Ch Nirvna (Nit Bn) c ngha l on dit v t a dn n

tm thc thanh tnh.
Trong kinh in Pht gio, c bn cch m t Nit Bn, l (1)
cch ph nh, (2) cch khng nh, (3) cch nghch l, v (4) cch tng
trng.
1. Cch ph nh: M t theo li ph nh l phng thc thng thy nht.
Nit Bn l (a) bt t (amrta), (b) bt bin, (c) bt dit (acyuta), (d) v bin
(ananta), (e) bt tc, (f) bt sanh, (g) cha sanh, (h) bt th, khng b hy
hoi (apalokina), (i) v to (abhtam), (j) v bnh, (k) bt lo, (l) bt a
lun hi, (m) v thng (anuttaram), (n) dit kh (duhkha nirodha), (o) gii
thot ti hu (apavagga).
2. Cch khng nh: Nit Bn l (a) thanh tnh (sama hoc upasama), sau
y xin trch dn k vn ca Kinh i Bt Nit Bn
(Mahparinirvvastra) lm sng t khi nim:
Antity vata samskr utpda vyaya dharminah / utpadya hi nirudhyante
tesm vyapasamas sukham.
Tt c mi th hu hn u l v thng. Bn cht
ca n l sanh v dit. N sanh ra ri li b hy dit.
S on dit ca n em li thanh tnh v an lc.
(a) Nit Bn l sama hoc upasama c ngha l mt cnh gii tch tnh,
khng c dc vng v thng kh.
(b) Nit Bn l Cc lc Nibbnam paramain sukham Nit Bn l cnh
gii cc lc ti thng
(c) Nit Bn l sambodhi (tam b ) hoc prajn (bt nh, tr hu siu vit).
(d) Nit Bn l jnna (chnh tr) hoc vinnnam thc thun ty trong
sng, hon ton tinh khit, minh mn.
(e) Nit Bn l ksamam (an lc).
3. Cch nghch l (Paradoxical): Phng thc m t ny thng thy nhiu
nht trong Bt Nh Ba La Mt a (Prajnpramit) hoc trong kinh in i
Tha. Nit Bn tr trong cnh gii v s tr. Con ng duy nht t n
mc ch ny l liu gii mt cch rt ro rng chung cc th khng c bt

c mc ch no t n. Nit Bn l thc ti m thc ti li l khng

tnh (snya).
4. Cch tng trng: S m t theo cch tng trng khc vi cch m t
nghch l, n trnh n li din t tru tng v s dng nhng hnh nh c
th thay th. T quan im ny, Nit Bn l: (a) ch tr n mt m, (b)
hn o trong vng nc lt, (c) b bn xa xi, (d) thnh ph thnh thin,
(e) ni lnh nn, (f) ni che y, (g) ni dung dng an ton.
Mt cu hi c nu ra y l c phi Nit Bn ch l trng thi bin
i ca tr tu hay n ch l mt chiu (dimesion) khc ca thc ti. Ch
Nit Bn c dng cho tt c trng thi tm l bin i ln mt trng
thi siu hnh hc.
Trong kinh in Pht Gio c y dy nhng din t cho thy rng
Nit Bn l mt trng thi bin i ca nhn cch v thc. S bin i ny
c m t bng nhng t ng ph nh, nh on dit i dc (tanh) v
chp m (savas), nhng cng c khi dng t ng khng nh, nh sn sanh
tr hu siu vit (prajn hoc sambodhi) v an bnh (snti).
Mc d c bit nhn mnh vo trng thi tm l bin i, nhng cng
c nhng pht biu ni rng Nit Bn c mt loi trng thi siu hnh,
l mt chiu khc ca thc ti.
Ch cn hai trch dn cng ni r im ny.
Kinh in ni rng c Pht ni v Nit bn nh sau:
l mt th tn ti bt sanh, bt ha, bt thnh,
bt ha hp; v nu khng c ci bt sanh, bt ha,
bt thnh, bt ha hp ny, th hin nhin l khng
th trn trnh ci th gii sanh, ha, thnh, ha hp
ny.
(Udna, T Thuyt Kinh, VIII, 3)
iu ny cho thy Nit Bn khng phi l s tn dit, m l tin vo
mt chiu khc ca thc ti. c mt s ngi c gng l gii n nh l
trng thi bin i ca nhn cch. Lun l ca t ng khng cho php cch
gii thch nh th.

Tuy nhin, c mt pht biu khc trong T Thuyt Kinh (Udna) m

ngi ta khng th dng k xo ca ngn ng gii thch nh l mt s
bin i nhn cch. on kinh nh sau:
Atthi bhikkhave tad yatanain, yattha
neva pathavi na po na tejo va vyo na
ksnancyatanam,
vinnnncyatanain na
kncannyatanam na
nevasannnsannnnnyatanam
nyain loko na paraloko ubho
candimasriy, tad aham bhikkhave
neva gatim vadami na gatim, na
thitim na cutim na upapa ttim
appatittham appatittham
appavattam anrammanam eva tam, s
evanto dukkhass ti
(T Thuyt Kinh, 80)
C mt cnh gii khng phi l t khng phi l
nc khng phi l la khng phi l kh; ni
khng phi l cnh gii khng gian v bin, cng
khng phi cnh gii tm thc v bin, cng khng
phi l h v, cng khng phi do quan nim cu
thnh, cng khng phi do phi quan nim cu thnh.
Cnh gii khng phi i ny, khng phi i
sau, khng phi c hai, cng khng phi mt trng
hay mt tri. Ta bo khng phi t m ti, cng
khng i ti . N khng lu bn min vin m
cng khng suy vi, hy hoi; n khng c khi thy
m cng khng c s thnh lp; n l v qu m
cng v nhn; y ch tht l chung kt ca kh
au.
on vn di trch dn trn y khng cn li mt cht nghi ng no
rng n cp ti Nit Bn nh l mt chiu khc ca thc ti. Tht ra, Nit
Bn l cnh gii khng th din t bng ngn ng.
Trong Tng ng B (Samyutta Nikya) (1069-76) ghi li mt on
i thoi c lin quan n Nit Bn gia Upsiva v c Pht. Trong cu

chuyn m thoi , hai li dy sau y ca c Pht tht l rt ng c

ch :
Acc yath vtavegena khitto
Attham paleti, na upeti sankham /
evam muni nmakay vimutto
attham paleti, na upeti sankhm.
Nh ngn la khi b gi thi tt th i vo ni yn
ngh v bit tch; cng th, bc thnh hin thot
khi danh v thn xc th i vo ni yn ngh v bit
tch.
Atthan gatassa na pamnam atthi;
yena namvajju, tam tassa n atthi;
sabbesu dhammesu samhatesu
samhat vdapath pi sabbeti
K yn ngh th khng cn g o lng; k
gi th g c th t tn. Khi tt c cc php
(dharmas) b ph b, th tt c mi con ng
ca ngn t cng b ph b.
(Theo bn dch ting Anh ca Conze)
C Nguyn Thy v i Tha u c nhng m t p hu nh
ging nhau v cnh gii Nit Bn.
Ch c th s dng bn ng cht ca chnh mnh lm bn p th
chng ta mi c th thng ln Nit Bn. Nh Suzuki ni:
Nit Bn theo Pht Gio khng phi ch c ngha l s tn dit hon
ton ca thc, cng khng phi l s dp tt tm thi hay vnh vin s suy
tng, nh mt s ngi ngh m l s tn dit nim v bn ng v tt
c nhng kht vng pht xut t quan nim sai lm ny.
(Outlines
of
Mahyna
Buddhism:
Khi Lun V Pht Gio i Tha (p. 50-51)
V by gi chng ta quay sang tho lun v s khc nhau gia i
Tha v Nguyn Thy trong vic gii thch v Nit Bn.

(1) Nguyn Thy cho rng Nit Bn l thng hng (nitya), cc lc (sukha).
Trung Qun Phi th cho rng khng th c s xc quyt no v Nit Bn.
(2) Nguyn Thy cho rng Nit Bn l th c th th c. Trung Qun Phi
th cho rng Nit Bn l th khng th th c.
Long Th m t Nit Bn qua nhng t ng sau:
Aprahnam asamprtam
anucchinam assvatam /
Aniruddham anutpannam etan
nirvnaim cyate.
(Trung Qun Tng XXV, 3)
Nit Bn l cnh gii khng th x b cng khng
th th c; n khng phi l mt th b tn dit,
cng khng phi l mt th vnh cu, n khng b
hy dit cng khng c sn sinh ra.
Nguyt Xng th cho rng:
Sarvaprapancopasamasivalaksanam,
(Minh C Lun, p. 2)

nirvnam

Nit Bn bao hm s nh ch tt c mi li ni v n, bao hm s tch

mch ca s sinh tn v mt hin tng, v bao hm s t ti iu thin ti
cao.
(3) Phn Thuyt Gi (Vaibhsika: Tn mt b phi Pht Gio) cho rng Nit
Bn l mt thc th hu tnh (bhva). Long Th bo rng phi Nguyn
Thy tin rng Nit Bn l v iu kin. Bo n l v iu kin
(sasamskrata), nhng li cho n l thc th hu tnh th l iu t mu
thun, bi v ngi ta khng th tm thy mt thc th hu tnh m li hon
ton khng ty thuc vo nhng iu kin hn nh (duyn).
Nu n khng hu tnh (bhva), th n cng khng th l v tnh
(abhva) (hon ton on dit), bi ch v tnh (abhva) l mt ch tng
i. Ch c th c v tnh (abhva) khi no trc c hu tnh

(bhva). V li, hon ton on dit (abhva) l mt s kin xy ra trong

thi gian. Nu da theo khi nim ny, th Nit Bn l v thng tm b.
Nguyt Xng khi ch gii Trung Qun Tng (Mathyamka Karika),
dn dng t trong Thnh Bo Hnh Vng Chnh Lun (rya
Ratnvali) mt cu c s lng quan:
Nacbhvopi nitvnam kuta evsya bhvan /
Bhvbhvaparmarsa ksayo nirvnam ucyate //
(Minh C Lun, p. 229)
l Nit Bn th khng phi l v tnh (abhva).
Lm sao bn li c khi nim nh th? Tht s Nit
Bn l s on dit hon ton cc loi so snh nh
hu tnh (byava) hoc v tnh (abhava). N vt
qua tng i tnh ca tn ti v phi tn ti.

Nguyt Xng c kt ton b vn nu trn nh sau:

Tatasca sarvakalpan ksayarpam eva nirvnam
(Minh C Lun, p. 229)
Nit Bn hoc Thc Ti l ci g gii thot khi tt
c nhng g do t tng cu thnh.
(4) Phi Nguyn Thy cho rng Nit Bn l s i nghch ca Samsara (ci
ta-b: th gian, th gii ca nhng hin tng). Long Th th cho rng
khng c s khc bit gia Nit Bn v Samsara.
Na samsrasya nirvnat kincid asti vissanam/
Na nirvnasya samseat kincid asti vissanam//
(Trung Qun Tng, XXV, 19)
Khng c ci g thuc th gii hin tng khc bit
vi Nit Bn, khng c ci g thuc Nit Bn li
khc bit vi th gii hin tng.
Nirvnasya ca y kotih kotih samsranasya ca/
Na tayor antaram kincit susksmam api vidyate//

(Trung Qun Tng, XXV, 20)

Ci g l gii hn ca Nit Bn th cng l gii hn
ca th gii hin tng, khng c my may sai bit
no gia hai ni.
Ya javamjavibhva updya pratiya v/
So pratitya anupdya nirvnam upadisyate//
(Trung Qun Tng, XXV, 9)
Ci g khi s tr, y ch hoc khi l tng i (updya: duyn khi),
hoc khi l thuc (pratitya v), m lu chuyn ti lui trong bn cht hu hn
ca n, th ci c coi l Nit Bn khi n khng c s tr, hoc khi n
khng tng i hoc khng l thuc ngha l trong bn cht v hn nh
ca n.
Tm li, c hai c im ni bt phn bit s bt ng trong quan
nim v Nit Bn gia Trung Qun phi v Nguyn Thy phi:
(1) Phi Nguyn Thy coi mt s php (dharmas, thnh t) b u v hn
nh l c tht, v ng thi cng tin rng mt s php khng b u (v
nhim) v khng b hn nh l c tht. Theo nhn xt ca Nguyn Thy th
Nit Bn c ngha l mt s thay i thc s ca nhng s sinh tn c bit,
hu hn (samkrta dharmas: hu vi php) v u (klsas) thnh nhng php
v hn nh (asamskrta) v khng u.
Nhng, Trung Qun Phi th cho rng, Nit Bn khng c ngha l mt
bin i theo th t khch quan, m tht ra s bin i ch l ch quan.
Chng ta khng cn phi thay i th gii, m ch cn thay i chnh mnh.
Nu nhng u (klsas) v hu vi php (samskrta dharmas) l c tht,
th trn th gian ny khng c bt c sc mnh no c th thay i chng
c.
V th, s thay i ch l trong quan im ca chng ta; n l mt loi
bin i trn phng din tm l, ch khng phi l s thay i trn phng
din tn hu. Suzuki tm tt lp trng ca Trung Qun Phi v Nit Bn
nh sau:
Trn mt l thuyt, Nit Bn l s xua tan nhng m my m ang
bay trn nh sng ca tu gic siu vit (gic ng). Trn phng din o

c, th n l s c ch tnh chp ng v s thc tnh ca tm t i (karun).

Trn phng din tn gio, n l s u hng tuyt i (absolute surrender)
ca t ng i vi mun ca php thn (dharmakya).
(i Tha Pht Gio Khi Lun, p. 369)
C th ni rng trn mt tn hu, n chnh l Tuyt i.
Nit Bn khng phi l th g c th t b hoc th c, khng phi l
th c th on dit cng khng phi l th thng hng; n bt dit v cng
bt sanh.
(Trung Qun Tng, XXV 3)
Trong Tuyt i hoc Thc Ti khng th c bt c bin ha no. N
nht nh hng thng. Tt nhin s bin ha ch pht sanh trong chng ta.
(2) Tuyt i v kinh nghim, bn th v hin tng. Nit Bn v th gian
(samsra) chng phi l hai nhm thc ti ring r i nghch nhau. Tuyt
i hoc Nit Bn, nu c nhn qua t duy (vikapla), th chnh l th gian
(samsra); m th gian, nu c nhn t l hnh hng thng (sub specie
aeternitatis), th chnh l Tuyt i hay Nit Bn.
Nhn y c th ni rng s d c bao nhiu s ri tr lin quan n
Nit Bn l v cng mt ch Nit Bn ny c dng ch s thay i
v tm l, do hu qu ca s on dit s tham cu i dc v lng t ng;
ng thi n cng c dng ch Thc Ti hoc Tuyt i trn phng
din tn hu. iu cn ch l Long Th, trong sut 25 chng ca Trung
Qun Tng (Madhymaka Karka), s dng ch Nit Bn ch thc
Ti Tuyt i, v s ph bnh ca ngi nhm vo phi Nguyn Thy l t
lp trng ny.
3/ S khc bit trong l tng
L tng ca Nguyn Thy l cnh gii A La Hn (Anh ng:
Arhantship hay Arhatship), cn l tng ca i Tha l Hnh B Tt
(Bodhisattva). Ni mt cch n gin th l tng ca phi Nguyn Thy l
gic ng c nhn, cn l tng ca phi i Tha l gic ng cho tt c
mun loi.
Ch yna thng c phin dch nh l con ng, li i hoc c
xe (tha). T khu Tng H (Sangharaksita), trong Pht Gio Khi

Lun (Survey of Buddhism) dch yna thnh career (s nghip) c

l y l ch hay nht trong ting Anh tng ng vi ch yna.
Trong thi k s khai ca Pht Gio c ba loi yna tc Srvakayna (Thinh Vn Tha). Pratyekabuddha-yna (c Gic Tha) v
Boddhisattva-yna (B Tt Tha).
Ch Srvaka (Ch Pali: Svaka) c ngha l k nghe ging (thinh
vn), dng gi nhng t nghe c Pht thuyt php hoc nhng
t ca c Pht ang cu t ti cnh gii A La Hn. A La Hn c ngha l
bc thnh gi t ti gic ng. Ch A La Hn (Arhat) c nguyn ch l
xng ng. Trong mt s kinh in Pht Gio, ch ny cn c gii
thch l ngi git (han) qun ch (ari) tc l ngi dit tr
nhng u (klsas).
Ch Pratyekabuddha (Ch Pli: Paccekabuddha) dng ch mt c
nhn n c, khng c bt c s gip no ca ngoi ti nhng c th t
ti cnh gii A La Hn. ngha ca ch pratyeka l ring t, c bit,
n nht, n c. Bc c Gic khng chia x vi k khc s hiu bit
m h phi gia cng tm kim v nhng phng tin dng t ti
Nit Bn. Bc c Gic tin rng nhng ngi khc, khi h thc t khc
nghit ca nhng kh au trn trn th thc y, cng s i vo con ng
thnh thin nhng bc c Gic khng bn tm ti vic dy bo hoc gic
ng h.
Hai loi hnh gi trn y i din cho l tng ca ch ngha c nhn.
H coi s gic ng l mt thnh tu v phng din c nhn ch khng phi
v phng din x hi hoc th gii.
Bc Boddhisattva (B Tt) (Ch Pli: Boddhisatta) tm cu s gic
ng ti thng khng phi ch cho chnh mnh m cho tt c chng sanh.
Mc ch ca B Tt Tha (Boddhisattvayna) l t ti Pht Tnh ti
thng (Supreme Buddhahood). V th, B Tt Tha cn c gi l
Buddhayna (Chnh ng Gic Tha) hoc Tathgatayna (Nh La
Tha).
Ch bodhi c ngha l tr tu hon ho hoc dch st hn, hu gic
siu vit, gic ng ti thng. Ch sattva c ngha l bn cht.
Tht ra, ch bodhi khng th phin dch, v n l s phn nh ca
thc, ca php thn ni ti (dharmakaya) trong con ngi. B Tt l mt con

ngi c sn bn cht chnh gic ti thng, l bc ang i trn con

ng t ti tr hu siu vit. B Tt l mt con ngi c kh nng thnh
Pht. S nghip ca bc B Tt ko di qua nhiu i nhiu kip, mi mt
i u thc hnh lc (6 loi hon ho) v 10 giai on (dasabhmi)
cu c qu v chnh gic ti hu, ng thi ly s phn u v i v tm
kin nhn phi thng v khng ngng t hy sinh mu cu s tt p cho
tt c chng sinh.
Trong lng B Tt c B Tm (bodhi-citta) v nguyn lc
(pranidhnabala). B Tm c hai din hng, l tr hu siu vit
(prajn) v i t bi (karun). Nguyn lc l s quyt tm kin nh
cu thot tt c chng sanh. Nhng iu y chnh l 3 phng din ca php
thn (dharmakaya), phn nh trong thc tn gio ca B Tt. Tr hu siu
vit l t ng cao nht ca phng din tri nhn, t bil t ng cao nht
v tnh cm, v nguyn lc l t ng cao nht v phng din ch ca
thc. Nh vy l B Tt pht huy tt c nhng phng din ca thc.
B Tm (Boddhicitta) l c im quan trng nht ca B Tt.
Trong cun i Tha Pht Gio Khi Lun Suzuki ly Thuyt Ging
v Siu Vit Tnh ca B Tm ca Long Th lm c s m t v B
Tm mt cch chi tit. C th tm lc nh sau:
1) B Tm siu vit tt c mi hn nh Ng Un (skandhas), 12 x
(yatanas), 18 gii (dhtus). N khng phi l c bit, m l ph qut.
2) T Bi chnh l bn cht ca B Tm, v th, tt c B Tt coi B
Tm l l do tn ti (raison dtre) ca h.
3) B Tm c ng trong tri tim ca bnh ng tnh (samat) to nn
nhng phng tin gii thot cho c nhn (upya).
B Tt phi tri qua 10 giai on pht huy (dasa bhmis), tc l:
1) Pramudit (giai on hoan h, hoan h a) t l tng hp hi ca Nit
Bn c nhn n l tng cao p hn gip cho tt c chng sanh gii
thot mi v minh au kh.
2) Uimada (giai on ly cu, ly cu a) theo ngha ph nh th ch ny c
ngha l khng b u, v theo ngha khng nh th l tm thanh tnh.

3) Prabhkari (giai on pht quang, pht quang a) hiu thu trit tnh
cch v thng ca tt c s vt.
4) Arcismati (giai on dim hu, dim hu a)- trong giai on ny, B Tt
thc hnh s an nhin t ti v t b nhng th nhim v v minh
(varanas)
5) Sudurjay (giai on nan thng, nan thng a) trong giai on ny, B
Tt pht huy tinh thn bnh ng ng nht (samat) v gic ng nh thin
nh.
6) Abhimukhi (giai on hin tin, hin tin a) trong giai on ny, B
Tt trc din vi Thc Ti, v thc c s ng nht ca tt c cc hin
tng.
7) Drangam (giai on vin hnh, vin hnh a) trong giai on ny, B
Tt lnh hi c kin thc c th gip h gii thot, chng c Nit
Bn nhng vn cn cha tin vo v cn bn rn dn thn vo vic gip cho
tt c chng sanh u c gii thot.
8) Acal (giai on bt ng, bt ng a) trong giai on ny, B Tt tri
qua v sanh php nhn (anutpattika dharma - ksnti), tc l chp nhn
s bt sanh ca tt c cc hin tng; ngi tri nhn s tin ha v thoi ha
ca v tr.
9) Sdhumti (giai on thin hu, thin hu a) trong giai on ny, B
Tt chng ng c tri thc bao qut m tr hu thng thng ca nhn loi
kh c th hiu c. B Tt c th bit c nhng dc vng v t tng
ca ngi khc, v c th gio dc h ty theo kh nng ca mi ngi.
10) Dharmamegh (giai on php vn, php vn a) trong giai on ny,
bc B Tt chng ng c s minh tng mt cch vin mn, bit c s
huyn b ca s sinh tn, v c tn sng l mt bc hon m. n y, B
Tt thnh Pht.
L tng ca Nguyn Thy l qu v A La Hn, l s gic ng c nhn.
L tng ca i Tha l s nghip B Tt (Bodhisattvayana). Theo Pht
Gio i Tha th mc ch ca Thinh Vn Tha v Duyn Gic Tha l ch
cu t ti gic ng c nhn, l mt l tng hn hp. Nhng B Tt th
ly s gic ng ca th gian lm mc ch. nh mnh ca mi c nhn l

tr thnh Pht. L tng B Tt ca i Tha th cao ln hn (mah), v l

tng ca Nguyn Thy th thp hn (hna).
S khc bit gia hai loi l tng tinh thn ny cn c din t bng
mt cch khc na. L tng ca Nguyn Thy l Nit Bn. L tng ca
i Tha l tr thnh Pht. i vi i Tha th Nit Bn khng phi l
mt l tng ti cao; l tng ti cao l t ti Pht tnh, tc l tu gic siu
vit (prajn) v i t bi (karuna).
4/ S khc bit v phng tin t ti Nit Bn
Nguyn Thy cho rng nh lnh ng b c gi la v ng tnh
(pudgalanairtmya) (v ng hoc v thc th tnh ca con ngi) m ta c
th t ti Nit Bn.
i Tha th cho rng, mun t n cnh gii Nit Bn chn chnh
khng nhng ch cn phi lnh ng b c gi la v ng tnh (pudgalanairtmya) m cn phi lnh ng php v ng tnh (dharma-nairtmya:
tc l cc php v cc thnh t ca s sinh tn u khng c tnh thc th,
khng c thc th c lp ca chnh n) th ta mi c th t ti Nit Bn.
Theo phi i Tha th mun t ti Nit Bn cn phi lnh hi c b
c gi la v ng tnh ln php v ng tnh.
5/ Khc bit v s tr kh nhng chng ngi vt (varanas)
C s lin quan mt thit i vi vn trn y l vn kh tr phc
chng.
Nguyn Thy cho rng s d ngi ta cha th chng c Nit Bn l
v Thc Ti b che du bi ci mn (varanas: chng) ca nhng am m
nh s chp trc, c cm, o tng (klesvarana). Klsvarana l chng
ngi trn con ng t ti Nit Bn. V th, mun chng c Nit Bn th
cn phi tr kh klesvarana. Tuy nhin, s tc ng ca cc kless (o
tng) ty thuc vo s tin tng v mt bn ng ng nht (satkyadrsti).
V vy, ch c s lnh ng b c gi la v ng tnh (pudgalanairtmya,
tc l v thc ti tnh hoc v thc th tnh ca mt bn ng c bit), mi
c th tr kh o tng hoc nhng chng ngi. V ch khi no o tng
v chng ngi b tr kh ht th mi c th t c cnh gii

Nit Bn. Cho nn, tr kh o tng, v chng ngi v b c gi la

v ng tnh lin quan mt thit vi nhau. Nguyn Thy cho rng ch cn tr
kh o tng l t c cnh gii Nit Bn.
Nhng i Tha th cho rng Thc Ti khng nhng ch b che ph bi
o tng (klesvaranam) m cn b ngn che bi tr chng (jneyvarana),
tc l ci mn che ph ln kin thc ch thc. V th, tr tr chng cng l
iu cn thit, m mun tr kh tr chng th cn phi lnh ng php v
ng tnh (dharmanairtmya) hoc ch php khng tnh (dharmasnyata),
tc l s v ng v khng tnh ca tt c thnh t ca s sinh tn.
Chnh v tiu tr o tng (klesvaranam) v lnh ng b c gi la v
ng tnh (pudgada-nairatmya) c s lin quan mt thit vi nhau, nn vic
tiu tr tr chng (jneyvarana) v lnh ng php v ng tnh
(dharmanairtmya) cng c lin quan mt thit ln nhau. i Tha cho rng,
ch da vo vic tiu tr o tng th khng c th t c t do
hon ton, m vic tiu tr tr chng cng l mt iu rt cn thit.
6/ S khc bit trong khi nim v php (dharma)
Phi Nguyn Thy tin tng vo mt s thc hu rt ro (ultimate
reals) gi l dharma. Ch dharma hiu theo ngha ny rt kh phin
dch. C lc n c dch thnh s vt (things trong Anh ng). Nhng
nn ch rng dharma khng phi l s vt hiu theo ngha nhng d
kin ca tri thc thng thng. C th coi nhng t ng thnh t ca tn
ti, thc hu rt ro l nhng ch phin dch st ngha hn. Phi Nguyn
Thy cho rng th gii c cu thnh t s lu chuyn khng ngng ca
mt s php rt ro no cc php ny n thun, nht thi v khch
quan. Trong a s l hu vi php (samkrta), v mt s l v vi php
(asamskrta).
i Tha th cho rng nhng php ny khng phi l nhng thc th
rt ro, m ch l nhng cu tc ca tm tr. i Tha vch ra rng ngay c
nhng ci gi l hu vi php rt ro v v vi php rt ro l ty thuc
vo nhng iu kin v ch l tng i. V l tng i, cho nn chng l
sunya (khng c thc th).
7/ S khc bit trong quan nim v Pht lun (Buddhology)

Sc thn (rpa-kya) ca c Pht chng qua ch l nhc th c th

trng thy c. Nguyn Thy v i Tha u khng coi y l c Pht
thc s.
Pht gio thi k s khi tng ra nim ha thn
(nirmnakya), l mt thn xc h cu m c Pht c th dng php
thn thng yoga c th hin ra ti bt c ni u m ngi mun. i vi
im ny, Nguyn Thy v Trung Qun Phi khng c qua im khc
bit.
S khc bit l do khi nim v php thn (dharma-kya) ca c
Pht. Khi nim cao nht ca phi Nguyn Thy lin quan ti phm cht
(dharmas: cc php) ca c Pht. Khi mt tn qui y vi c Pht, tc l
ni n s qui y vi Pht-tnh ny, ch khng phi qui y vi c Pht C
m (Gautama Buddha) l ngi tch dit v khng cn na.
Trung Qun Phi khai trin khi nim v php thn (dharma-kaya)
vi mt phng php khc. Ngoi ra, Du Gi hnh phi (Yogcrins) cn
ra khi nim v bo thn (sambhoga-kya). Chng ta s thm cu v tho
lun thm v nhng khi nim v thn (kyas) ny, di mt tiu bit
lp khc.
8/ Nguyn Thy l tri thc, nhng vi i Tha cn c tn ngng
Nguyn Thy hon ton thuc v tri thc. S quan tm chnh ca tn
phi Nguyn Thy l i theo Bt Chnh o do c Pht nu ra. Phi
Nguyn Thy nhn mnh vo phng din nhn tnh ca c Pht.
Trong Pht gio i Tha, c Pht c xem l v Thn ti thng, l
Thc Th ti cao, v mun gip nhn loi nn ng hin thnh thn ngi
ging trn. Trong Pht Gio, khi nim v Thng khng phi l ng
to ha, m ch l T Bi Thnh Thin (Divine Love) mn hnh th
con ngi trn th gii thot cho nhn loi au kh. Ngi c sng
bi vi tn ngng ca Pht gio i Tha th hin qua ngh thut iu
khc v hi ha. Nhng tng Pht trang nghim p c iu khc,
nhng bc tranh do tr tng tng tuyt vi v c Pht v nhng
phng din khc nhau ca cuc i ngi.
i Tha cho rng con ng gian nan ca tr hu siu vit (prajn) ch
dnh cho mt thiu s tin b hn, nhng i vi nhng ngi trung bnh th
ch cn t tn ngng vo c Pht cng c th gip h chng c Nit

Bn. c Pht c ngi i tn th qua B Tt Qun Th m

(Avalokitesvara), qua Pht A Di (Amitbha) v qua Pht Di Lc
(Maitreya).
9/ Nguyn Thy thuc loi ch ngha a nguyn, i Tha thuc loi ch
ngha bt nh
Trit hc ca Pht Gio Nguyn Thy thuc loi ch ngha a nguyn
trit , cn trit hc ca Pht Gio i Tha th hon ton l ch ngha bt
nh (advaya).
10/ Nguyn Thy thin v l tr, i Tha thin v thn b
Cch t n chn l m phi Nguyn Thy p dng thuc v ch
ngha duy l m mu sc thn b, cn con ng ca Pht Gio i Tha
th ly loi ch ngha siu l tr v thn b thm su.
---o0o--10. NHNG C IM CHNH CA
TRIT HC TRUNG QUN
1/ Khng (Snya) v Khng Tnh (Snyata)
c im ni bt nht ca trit hc Trung Qun l s s dng nhiu ln
hai ch khng v khng tnh. V y l khi nim chnh yu ca h
thng trit hc ny, cho nn, h thng trit hc ny thng c gi l
Sunyavda c ngha l h thng trit hc xc nh rng khng (snya)
l c tnh ca Thc Ti.
Snya l ch khin ngi ta cm thy v cng bi ri trong trit
hc Pht Gio. Nhng ngi khng phi l Pht t gii thch n nh l
thuyt h v (nihilism). Nhng, khng phi l ngha ca ch ny.
Trn phng din ng nguyn th ch gc ca n l sv, c ngha l
n ln, bnh trng. C iu ng ly lm l l ch Brahnam (B La
Mn) c gc l brh hoc brinh, cng c ngha l n ln, bnh trng.
Cn c vo li dy ca c Pht v Khng l (Snya tattva), v da vo
suy lun th ch khng (snya) ny dng nh c s dng theo
ngha ca tn hu hc (ontology). S bao hm v ngha ng nguyn ca
ch ny dng nh khng c din t mt cch y v trn vn.

C mt s hc gi cho rng ch snya khng mang mt ngha trn

phng din tn hu hc, m n ch mt loi m th trn mt cu th hc
(soteriological) m thi. Nhng r rng ch snya cng c dng theo
ngha tn hu hc, km theo ng ca gi tr lun v bi cnh ca cu th
hc.
Theo ngha ca tn hu hc th snya l mt loi khng m ng
thi cng cha y. Bi v n khng phi l mt th t bit no , cho
nn n c kh nng tr thnh mi th. N c xem nh l ng nht vi
Nit Bn, vi Tuyt i, vi Thc Ti Ti Thng (Paramrtha-Sat), vi
Thc Ti (Tattva). Nhng, snya-tattva (khng l) l g? Long Th pht
biu:
Aparapratyayam sntam prapncair aprapncair
aprapancitam/
Nirvikalpam annrham etattattvasya laksanam//
(Trung Qun Tng, XVII, 9)
Khng c s i i (v i), tch tnh, h lun l iu rt kh biu t,
v phn bit, bt d (khng khc) chnh l chn thc tng.
1) Khng l v i (aparapratyayam). N chnh l mt loi kinh nghim
khng th truyn th t ngi ny sang ngi khc. N phi do chnh mnh
nhn thc.
2) Khng l tch tnh (sntam). N tch mch, khng b tm tr chi phi.
3) Khng l khng th h lun (Prapancair, aprapancitam) ngha l khng
th din t bng tm tr qua ngn ng. N l phi hn nh.
4) Khng l l v phn bit (nirvikalpam), n siu vit ln trn t tng lan
man, tp lon.
5) Khng l l bt di (Annartham). N l phi nh nguyn.
Snyat (Khng Tnh) l danh t tru tng bt ngun t ch
snya (khng). N c ngha l s tc ot, v cn c hm l vin
mn.

Tt hn ht, hai ch snyat v snya nn c hiu theo tng

quan vi ch svabhva (t tnh). Ngha en ca ch svabhva l t
k. Nguyt Xng (Candrakrti) cho rng trong trit hc Pht Gio, ch ny
c dng bng hai cch:
1) Bn cht hay c tnh ca mt s vt, th d nh nng l svabhava (t
tnh) hay c tnh ca la.
Iha yo dharmo yam padrtham na vyabhicarati,
satasya svabhva iti
vyadisyate, aparpatibaddhatvt.
( trong th gii ny, mt thuc tnh lun lun i
theo mt vt, tuyt i bt kh phn ly, nhng
khng lin quan hng cu vi bt c s vt no
khc, y chnh l svabhva, tc l c tnh ca
vt y).
(Minh C Lun, p. 105)
2) Ch svabhva (t tnh) l phn ngha ca parbhva (tha tnh). Nguyt
Xng gi l:
Svo bhvah svabhva iti yasya pedrthasya
yadtin - yam rpain tat tasya svabhva iti
(Minh C Lun, p. 115)
(Svabhva l t tnh, chnh l bn cht ca mt s vt). Long Th bo
rng:
Akrtrimah svabhvo hi nirapeksah paratra ca
(Trung Qun Tng, 15, 2)
Ci thc s l t tnh th khng do bt c mt vt
no khc em li, n l v tc (akritrimah), n khng
lin h vi bt c ci g khc hn l chnh n,
n khng ty thuc v v iu kin
(nirapeksah paratra ca).
Trung Qun Phi (Madhyamika) bc b ngha th nht trn y ca
ch svabhva (t tnh), v ch chp nhn ngha th hai. Nguyt Xng
khng nh mt cch minh bch:

Krtimasya paraspeksasya ca svabhvatvam

nestam
(Chng ta khng chp nhn rng t tnh do vt
no khc hn em li, hoc ty thuc hoc lin h
vo vt no khc).
Ngha th nht s d khng c tip nhn l v ci gi l t tnh ca
mt vt hoc bn cht c tnh, vn l krtrima (gi s to tc c tm
tr mt cch gi tm) v speksa (s hu y quan c ch ty thuc v
lin h). D sc nng l c tnh nng ca la, n vn phi ty thuc vo
bao nhiu iu kin (duyn) nh dim qut, thu knh hi t, nhin liu,
hoc s c xt ca nhng ming g, v.v... V vy, svabhva (t tnh) khng
phi l ngha cao nht ca g. Mt cch tm tt, t tnh l thc ti Tuyt
i, cn tt c mi th khc, mi hin tng u ch l tha tnh
(parabhva) (l tng i).
Ch snya cn phi c hiu t hai quan im:
(1) T quan im ca hin tng hoc thc ti kinh nghim (empirical
reality), n c ngha l svabhva-snya, tc l t tnh khng, hoc
khng c thc ti tnh ca thc th t k c lp.
(2) T quam im ca Tuyt i, n c ngha l prapanca-snya cng
tc l h lun khng, khng c s din t bng ngn ng khng c h
lun, khng do t tng cu thnh, v v a nguyn tnh.
Trc ht, chng ta hy xt ngha th nht ca ch khng ny.
Chng ta bn lun ch svabhava (t tnh) mt cch di dng c th
hiu r ch snya (khng) khi c dng trong tng quan vi thc ti
hin tng hoc cc php(dharmas: cc thnh t ca s sinh tn). Trong
vn mch ny, ch snya u c ngha l Svabhva Syna (t tnh
khng), cng tc l khng c thc ti tnh ca tht th c lp. Trn th gian
ny khng c mt s vt no l tht ti tuyt i m khng b hn nh mt
cch v iu kin. Bt c s vt no cng u lin quan vi vt khc, u
ty thuc, nng ta vo vt khc v b vt khc hn nh.
Trung Qun Lun tho lun di dng v s lin quan n lut nhn
qu hoc duyn khi (pratitya - samutpda), ch v mun chng t rng trn
th gian ny khng c s vt no nh vo chnh mnh m tn ti, khng c
s vt no c mt thc th c lp ca chnh n. Mi th u b hn nh bi

s vt no (pratityasamutpanna [u do duyn sanh]). Th gii ny chng

phi l Thc Ti, n ch l mt lnh vc ca tng i.
V vy Long Th ni:
Yah pratiyasamutpdah snyatm tm
pracaksmahe
(Khng c sanh khi thc s; ch c s biu hin
ca mt s vt ty thuc vo nhng nguyn nhn
v nhng iu kin. Chng ta gi s tng quan
c iu kin ny (cng ng duyn sanh) l
sunyata khng tnh)
Gia cc s vt khng c quan h nhn qu ch tht, m ch c s ty
thuc ln nhau gia mi s vt (h tng y tn); ni cch khc, s vt khng
h c t ng c lp (svabhaha: t tnh). V th, quan h nhn qu khng
phi l mt chui thc th lin tc, m ch l mt chui hin tng lin tc.
Mi s vt trn th gii ny ty thuc vo ton th nhng iu kin
(duyn) ca n m tn ti. S vt ch l nhng biu tng. V th, duyn
khi ng ng vi khng tnh hoc tng i tnh (h tng y tn tnh).
Th gii khng phi l mt tp th ca nhng s vt; n ch l mt tin trnh,
v s vt ch l nhng s kin xy ra trong . Mt s vt t n khng l
ci g. chnh l ngha ca khng tnh hoc s trng rng ca tt c
cc php (dharmas) (ch Php tnh khng).
Tip n , chng ta th xem ngha ca khng tnh (snyat) l g, trn
quan im ca Tuyt i. ng trn quan im ny xt th khng tnh
l prapanvair aprapancitam hon ton khng c cu tc t tng
(annrthm), khng c a nguyn tnh. Ni mt cch khc khng tnh
(snyat) c s dng ni tattva (chn tht, nguyn l) th hm rng:
(a) ngn ng ca nhn loi khng th din t c.
(b) n l, khng l, va l va khng l, chng phi l cng khng
phi l khng l phm tr t tng hoc thut ng u khng th p dng
trong cc v trn. N siu vit ln trn t tng.
(c) n v a nguyn tnh, n l mt tng th, khng th phn chia thnh
nhng b phn.

Tm li, ngha ca khng tnh c th l gii bng 6 phng thc. Trong

ng lc xut hin 3 phng thc trong 18 thi c chng 24 ca
Trung Qun Tng (Krik):
Yah ptattityasamutpdah snyatm tm pracaksmahe/
S prajntirupday pratipat saiva madhyam//
Ci gi l khng tnh, chnh l duyn khi, c to tc bi gi danh, trung
o.
(1) i vi tc (vyavahra) hoc thc ti kinh nghim th khng tnh c
ngha l v t tnh (naihsvbhvya), ngha l khng c t ng, khng bn
cht, v iu kin. Ni cch khc, khng tnh l ch bao hm duyn khi
hoc s hon ton tng i, h trng ln nhau ca s vt.
(2) Cng c th s dng mt t ng khc biu t Khng Tnh, l
updyaprajnapti, c ngha l gi danh s tc, s c mt ca mt ci tn
khng c ngha l thc ti tnh ca s vt c gi tn. Nguyt Xng ni:
Cakrdinyupdya rathngni rathah prajnpyate, ngha l ci xe c t
tn nh vy khi xt ti cc b phn cu thnh ca n nh bnh xe, v.v...;
iu khng c ngha rng chnh ci xe c th l vt g khc ngoi nhng
thnh phn ca n. y l mt v d khc v tng i tnh hoc s h
tng ln nhau ca s vt.
Trn phng din h tng y tn th khng tnh cng bao hm tnh
cht tng i v phi tuyt i ca nhng quan im c th.
(3) Khng tnh vch r s in r ca vic tip nhn bt c s khi u
tuyt i no hoc s kt thc hon ton no; v vy khng tnh bao hm
trung o (madhyama pratipat), i x vi s vt theo bn cht ca chng,
trnh nhng khng nh hoc ph nh cc oan nh l v khng l.
Ngoi ba im trn, trong trit hc Trung Qun khng tnh cn c
nhng ngha khc.
(4) i vi thc ti ti thng (Thng ngha ) (paramrtha), khng tnh
cn bao hm bn cht phi khi nim ca tuyt i.
(5) i vi ngi tu tp, khng tnh c ngha l thi ca v s c
(anupalambha), khng bm vu vo s tng i nh l tuyt i, cng
khng bm vu vo s tuyt i nh l s c th no .

(6) i Tr Lun (Mahprajna parmit Sastra) xut mt hm

khc v nguyn l khng tnh, chnh l php cu (dharmaisan), s
khao kht khng th cng ch i vi vic i tm Thc Ti, siu vit ln
trn i sng trn tc bin i ny.
ngha gi tr ca khng tnh
Ch khng tnh ny khng phi ch c hm tn hu hc, m n cn
c hm trn phng din gi tr lun (axiology). Do tt c s vt kinh
nghim (empirical things) u khng c thc th, v th chng u v gi
tr. S d chng ta t nhiu gi tr vo nhng s vt trn tc l v chng ta
ngu mui. Mt khi chng ta lnh hi c khng tnh mt cch chnh xc
th s khng cn m cu nhng th:
Nh tuyt ri trn sa mc, tan rt nhanh sau v
chng lu li du vt no.
Khi on tuyt m cu, chng ta th nghim c s an bnh diu lc.
Hm ngha ca cu th hc khng tnh
Khng tnh khng phi ch l mt khi nim trn mt tr thc. S
chng nghim, lnh ng khng tnh l mt phng tin (phng php)
gii thot.
Nu nm vng mt cch trn vn, th n c th dn n s ph nh
tnh a tp ca cc php, c th gii thot khi s thong hin ca
nhng th cm d trong cuc i. Thin qun v khng tnh c th dn n
tu gic bt nh (prajn: tr tu siu vit), l th em li gii thot cho ngi
hnh o ra khi s ti tm tinh thn.
Long Th din t c s tinh ty trong li dy ca ngi v khng
tnh bng cu th di y:
Karmaklesa-Ksaynmoksah karmakles vikalpatah//
Te prapnct prapancastu snyataym nirudhyate//
(Trung Qun Tng, XVIII, 5)
Tiu tr hnh vi v i dc ch k th c gii
thot. Tt c hnh vi v i dc ch k u bt
ngun t nhng cu tr tng tng, chng coi
nhng s vt v gi tr nh l ngng s vt y

gi tr. S cu tc ca tng tng (vikalpas)

pht sanh t tc ng ca tm tr s chm dt khi
nhn thc c khng tnh, s trng rng ca
s vt.
Khng tnh nh l biu tng ca nhng th
khng th din t
Khng (snya) c s dng trong trit hc Trung Qun nh l
mt hin tng trng ca nhng th khng th din t. Khi gi Thc Ti l
khng (snya), trit hc Trung Qun ch c ni rng n l avcya,
anabhilpya, tc l bt kh ngn truyn, khng th din t c. Ngay
trong cu th nht ca Trung Qun Tng (Mdhyamika Karida), Long Th
khin cho lp im ca khng lun (snyavda) ni bt mt cch sng
ngi. Lp im ny c cu thnh bi bt bt (tm iu khng).
Anirodham anutpdam anucchedam assvatam/
Anekrtham annrtham angamam anirgamam//
Tc l,
1) bt dit (anirodham)
2) bt sanh (anutpdam)
3) bt on (anucchedam)
4) bt thng (assvatam)
5) bt nht nguyn (bt nht) (anekrtham)
6) bt a nguyn (bt nh) (annrtham)
7) bt lai (angamam)
8) bt kh (anirgamam)
Ni tm li, Thc Ti l th siu vit ln khi nhng l lun nh phn
ca tr thc. N l iu khng th din t c. Trong trit hc Trung Qun,
ch khng (snya) (hoc khng tnh, snyat) thng cng c dng
biu th avcya, avykrta (bt kh ngn truyn).
Khng tnh khng phi l mt l thuyt (l lun)
Chng ta thy rng Trung Qun Phi s dng bin chng php
ph bnh tt c cc l thuyt (drstis), trong khi khng c l thuyt no ca
chnh n. Nh vn dng bin chng php, m n t c kt lun rng

ch php (dharmas) u l khng hoc u v t tnh, ngha l chng khng

c thc ti tnh c lp v tht th.
C th ngi ta cho rng chnh khng tnh l mt l thuyt. Nhng,
l mt hiu lm i vi lp trng ca Trung Qun Phi. Khng tnh
(snya) khng phi l mt l thuyt. N va l thc v s bt lc ca L
Tr trong vic th nghim Chn L va l s thc y thng tin ln mt
trnh cao hn L Tr c th th nghim ra Chn L. Ch khi no k t
duy t b ch ng ca h trn t tng lan man vng ng, th lc h
mi c th c s thng tin ln mt trnh cao hn.
Trong thi c di y Long Th trnh by mt cch tt p ngha
ca khng tnh:
Atra brmah snyatym na tra vetsi prayojanam/
Snyatm snyatrtham ca tata evam vihanyase//
(Trung Qun Tng, XXIV, 7)
Ngi ta khng bit ngha v tn ch ca khng
tnh. khi lm mt ngha ca n, khng tnh
khng th c s dng nh l mt l thuyt.
Nguyt Xng ni rng khng tnh c dng chm dt s t duy
bt tn ca tm tr bng ngn ng (prapncastu snyataym nirudhyata).
Chng ta hc v khng tnh chng phi v chnh n, m l s dng n dn
dt tm tr ti Thc Ti, bng cch ngn chn khuynh hng nim ha s
vt ca tm tr. N chnh l s din t v ni khao kht cao thng ch
khng phi v l thuyt.
Khng tnh khng phi l thuyt h v
Mt s ngi cho rng khng tnh l thuyt ph nh trit , v n ph
bnh v kch tt c l lun, nhng chnh n th li khng xut bt c
kin tch cc no. Khng tnh chng dn dt chng ta ti u c. Ngi ta
xp n vo loi thuyt h v.
Tht ra, bin chng php ca Trung Qun Phi dn n khng tnh
khng phi ch l ph nh lun. N khng nhng ch ph nh tt c nhng
xc quyt v Thc Ti m cn ph nh tt c mi ph quyt i vi Thc
Ti. N cho rng Thc Ti khng phi l hu (sat), m cng khng l

v (asat). N ch xc nh rng Tuyt i l ci g m t tng khng th

tip xc c; n khng ni rng Tuyt i l th phi tn ti. N ch ch
trng rng Tuyt i c th nghim bng tr hu siu vit. N nhit lit
cao s th nghim Chn L tuyt i. Long Th tng ni rng:
Paramrtham angamya nirvnam ndhingamyate,
Ngha l:
Cha lnh ng Chn L tuyt i th ngi ta khng
th t ti Nit Bn.
Trung Qun Phi ch ph nh tt c nhng quan im v Thc Ti ch
khng ph nh chnh bn thn Thc Ti. Cho nn khng th gi n l
thuyt h v. Nh Tin s Mrti bo:
Khi ni v hc thuyt v Thc Ti khng c ngha l hc thuyt v
v Thc Ti. Khng tnh ch ph nh v t tng, nhng bn thn ca
n li chnh l mt loi tri thc phi lin kt v Tuyt i. Thm ch, n cn
c th c coi l ph qut v tch cc hn c s khng nh.
(CPB, p. 160)
Nguyt Xng cc lc phn bc li nhn xt cho rng Trung Qun
Phi l mt ch ngha h v (nstika). Ngi cho rng Trung Qun Phi ch
vch ra tnh cch tng i ca s vt, v hc thuyt ca ngi vt ln trn
c khng nh ln ph nh.
(Minh C Lun, p. 156-157)
Trung Qun Lun s dng trn vn mt chng (chng 24)
thuyt minh v lp trng y, tc l, khng tnh (snyat) khng phi l
thuyt h v, m ch l tng i tnh (h tng y tn tnh) v hn nh
tnh; khng tnh khng phi l s ph nhn th gii bin ha sanh thnh
ny, m l s gii thch v hm ni ti ca n, ngha l ci khng b hn
nh. Trong cu th 14, chng 24 ca Trung Qun Tng, Long Th trnh
by im ny mt cch tuyt ho:
Sarvam ca yujyate tasya snyat yasya yujyate//
Sarvam na yujyate tasya snyam yasya na yujyate//
i vi ngi lnh ng khng tnh th mi vt u
ng ti v tr ch ng ca n trong ci ton th

ha hp; i vi nhng ngi cha lnh ng khng

tnh th mi vt u ri rc sai ch (bt tng ng).
Long Th ch ch trng rng s vt tng i cn phi c coi l s
vt tng i, ch khng th coi l s vt tuyt i, lc mi c phn on
thch ng v gi tr v thm nh thch ng v ngha ca nhn sinh. Ci
c gi l ph nh lun ch l mt phng php tr liu.
Bn thn khng tnh khng phi l mt mc ch
Long Th tng cnh gic rng khng nn m tn v khng tnh. Bn
thn n khng phi l mt mc ch. N ch l mt phng php dn tm
thc thng tin n tr tu bt nh (prajn: s thu trit siu vit) v khng
nn nng cao n ln thnh mt mc ch. Trong thi c di y, Long Th
din t mt cch tuyt ho v nhn xt ny:
Snyat sarvadrstinm prokt nihsaranam jinaih/
Yesm tu snyat drstistn asdhyn babhsire//
(Trung Qun Tng, XIII, 8)
c Pht a ra khng tnh ph tr tt c nhn
kin (nht thit kin) hoc lun thuyt, nhng ai
bin khng tnh thnh mt lun thuyt khc th h
ch thc l v hy vng v khng th gip .
Khi Nguyt Xng bnh lun v cu k trn, ngi cp n mt on
m c Pht ni v khng tnh vi ngi Ca Dip (Ksyapa). c Pht bo
Ngi Ca Dip rng:
, Ca Dip! Th ch trng ng kin (pudgala drsti) vi tm c v i
nh Tu Di Sn (ni Sumeru) cn hn l vng chp quan im v tnh ca
k ch trng h v (abhvbhinivesikasya). Ta gi ngi vng chp, coi
khng tnh nh mt l thuyt, l k ht thuc cu cha. V nh dng thuc
men cho ngi bnh hon, d kh tr tt c tt bnh nhng li hy hoi
v lm thng tn n rut v bao t ca ngi bnh, nh th c th gi l
cha khi bnh chng? Cng vy, d cho khng tnh c th dng nh c th
dng nh l liu thuc cha tr nhng chp kin gio iu, nhng nu mt
ngi bm vu vo n vnh vin nh chnh mt chp kin th k coi nh
hng.

Ngoi ra, ni khc, c Pht tng bo rng nn coi khng tnh

nh mt ci thang dng tro ln nh bt nh (prajn: tr tu siu vit).
Khi n nh ri, th cn phi b ci thang y. Trong thi k ny B Tt
Long Th r rng cnh gic l khng nn s dng Khng Tnh mt cch
sai lm:
Vinsayati durdrst snyat mandamedhasam/
Sarpo yath durgrhito vidy v dusprasdhit//
(Trung Qun Tng, XXIV, 11)
Nh k ngu n bt rn pha ui con rn s b
n git, hoc nh l nh o thut lm sai tr o
thut s b n hi. Cng vy, k s dng khng
tnh sai lm khng hiu nhng hm ca n s
b n lm hi.
Tin S R. H. Robinson tng kt ton b vn ny mt cch tuyt
m:
Danh t khng tnh ny khng phi l ngoi h thng ngn truyn,
m chnh l ch ch yu trong h thng ngn truyn. K no nh thc th
ha khng tnh qu tht k lm ln h thng biu tng vi h thng
ca s kin.
(Early Mdyamika in India and China, p. 49)
1/ Thin Qun Khng Tnh (Snyat):
Nh cp trc, Khng Tnh khng ch l mt khi nim tr
thc m n cng cn chnh l mt nguyn cu (aspiration) v v hon
thnh nguyn cu ny m chng ta cn phi minh tng (thng qun) n 20
loi Khng Tnh. V n qu nhiu do vy y s khng lit k tng im
mt.
2/ Bt Nh Ba La Mt a
(Prajnpramita: tr tu vt qua b bn kia)
im trng yu th hai ca Pht Gio i Tha l th nghim Bt Nh
Ba La Mt a (Prajnpramit)

Thin qun v khng tnh ch l mt loi chun b nhm hun luyn

tinh thn v vi Bt Nh Ba La Mt a (Prajnpramit) m thi. Bt Nh
(prajn) l l tnh siu vit (superrational). N l mt loi tr tu siu vit.
Bt Nh nhn thc c thc ti nh l chn nh (prajn yathbhtam
artham prajnti).
Tin S K. V. Ramanan cho rng ch Bt nh trong i Tr Lun
(Mahprajn Paramit Sastra) c hai ngha, (1) bt nh vnh hng bt bin,
v (2) bt nh tc ng cng vi 5 loi Ba La Mt a (pramits: n b bn
kia). Loi th nh ny l Bt Nh Ba La Mt a c tc dng, trong khi loi
th nht l bt nh thc th hoc n c. Loi bt nh tc dng chm dt trn
vn v minh, v sau , bt nh hng thng xut hin ch o. Trong
bt nh hng thng, ngi ta khng th thy ngay c n s phn bit v v
minh v minh. N l mt loi tr hu hng thng rc r. N l nh sng
hng thng trong tm ca con ngi. Nhng s vt c bit th c sanh v
dit, nhng nh sng bt nh ny th quang minh mi mi.
Tc dng tnh ca bt nh l hnh ng ca nhn thc, bao gm s
phn tch, ph bnh v l gii. Nhng th ny chng qua ch l phng thc
ca sc mnh hng thng ca bt nh. (M thc ca tc dng lc ca Bt
Nh hng thng).
Ch khi no t c Bt Nh chng ta mi c th tri nhn c Chn
L; nhng, Bt Nh khng th t c bi cc hc s a ngn b g b
trong khun mu c mm ca t tng, chic m ca mt php s. Bt Nh
ch c th t c bng s khc k gian kh v c gng tu dng t ng.
Bt Nh Ba La Mt a (prajnparamit) thng c phin dch sang Anh
ng thnh perfection of wisdom (s hon ho ca tr tu), nhng tht ra
ngha ca n l transcendent wisdom (prajnpramit: tr hu siu vit).
C 6 loi c tnh tin thn cn phi t c. Danh t Bt Nh Ba La
Mt a l mt t ng bao qut dng cho tt c nhng c tnh ny. Nhng
phm hnh ny l:
1) B th (dna)
2) Tr gii (sila: khng lm iu g c)
3) Khoan dung, nhn nhc (ksanti)
4) Tinh tn (virya)
5) Thin nh (dhyna)
6) Bt nh (prajn: tr hu siu vit)

Bn loi trc thuc v c tnh o c. S khai trin ca chng ta l

chun b cho s thc hnh thin nh, m thin nh l hng tr tu n
bt nh. Sau khi thc hnh thin nh mt cch y , con ngi gii tr
c nhng m mui v t c chnh kin (vipasyan), v kn (chrysalis)
ca t ng b ph v, bc trn, v tc khc trng thy th nh sng khng
h c trn bin v lc a.
Mc ch ca Bt Nh Ba La Mt a l chn nh (tathat), php gii
(dharmadhtu), thc ti t (bhtakoti).
Bt Nh Ba La Mt a l tri thc ti cao. N l mt nguyn l ton vn
bao gm c hai phng din tri nhn v tnh cm, v th n bao hm c chn
l v i t bi. N khng nhng ch tiu hy s khao kht khoi lc cm
quan, m cn tiu hy mi dc vng i vi quyn lc v tin ti.
3/ L Tng Ca B Tt (Bodhisattva)
Trong on bn v s khc bit gia Nguyn Thy (Hinayama) v i
Tha (Mhyana) c ni rng l tng ca Pht Gio i Tha l t ti
qu v B Tt.
Chng ta hy phn tch ch B Tt / Bodhisattva. Cn c vo i Tr
Lun (Mahprajnapramita-sastra), ch Bodhi (B : Tr Gic) c
ngha l phng php, l con ng thnh o ca ch Pht, cn ngha ca
sattva (tt) l bn cht ca thin php. Tm ca B Tt coi vic cu gip
tt c mi ngi vt qua ging sng ca sanh v dit lm tm nim. V th,
tm (citta) hoc c nhn mi chnh l B Tt.
Ba c tnh trng yu ca B Tt l i quyt tm gii thot tt c
chng sanh; t tng khng th lay chuyn; v n lc khng bao gi li
bc.
Khi mt ngi c gng tu tp v t c v sanh php nhn (chn l
nhn tr v sanh php) (anutpattika dharma - ksnti), th ngi nhp vo
qu v ch thc (nama) ca bc B Tt, v, khi vo c qu v ch thc
ny (B Tt chnh nh v) ri th tr thnh bc bt thoi chuyn (avaivarta).
Mt khi h ng c v sanh php nhn th tn tr c mi s kh
au, v khi h t c Pht qu, th h dit tr c ht nhng nim cn
st li.

Ngi c gng tu tp t ti qu v B Tt nh hnh ti thng

cng dng (anuttara puj) mt ng li tu tp tng cng gm 7 giai
on, v thc hnh 6 loi Bt Nh Ba La Mt a (prajn pmitas) (tc 6 c
tnh tinh thn nh ni giai on 2 trn y). S pht trin ti cao ca B
Tt l at c B tm (Bodhicitta), B tm ny gm hai kha cnh,
l (1) Khng Tnh (snyat) hoc Bt Nh (prajn), v (2) t bi (karun),
ch karum thng c gii thch l t tm hoc thng xt, nhng Suzuki
dch sang Anh ng l universal love, tnh thng yu ph bin v b
bn, v ng nhin l gii thch nh th c ngha tt hn. Pht tnh c
cu thnh bi bt nh (prajn: tu gic siu vit) v t bi (karun).
4/ Pht Lun (Budhology)
Theo phi Nguyn Thy (hynayana), c Pht ch n gin l mt con
ngi t mnh n lc gic ng v tr thnh mt bc thnh gi. Theo phi
i Tha th c Pht l ha thn ca chnh s Thnh Thin trong v tr
ngi ging trn, nh l mt s mnh n sng, truyn dy gio ngha ti
cao v vn mnh ca nhn loi. Phi i Tha (Mahyamikas) khai trin
khi nim Pht tam thn, tc l (1) Ha thn (Nirmnakya), (2) Php
thn (Dharma-kya) v (3) Bo thn (Sambhoya-kya). Khi nim bo thn
(body of bliss) l do Du Gi hnh phi (Yugcrins) khai trin sau ny.
Trung Qun phi (Madhyamikas) th ch ni v php thn v ha thn.
Ch php (dharma) trong Pht Gio c nhiu ngha. Ngha rng
nht th n l nng lc tinh thn nhn cch bn trong v ng sau tt c mi
s vt. Trong o Pht v trit hc Pht Gio ch ny gm c 4 loi ngha
trng yu:
1) Dharma c ngha l thc ti chung cc (ultimate reality). N va siu vit
va bn trong th gii, v cng l lut chi phi th gii.
2) Dharma theo ngha kinh in, gio ngha tn php, chng hn nh
Buddhist dharma (dharma hiu theo Pht Gio).
3) Dharma c ngha l s ngay thng, c hnh, lng thnh khn.
4) Dharma c ngha l thnh t ca s sinh tn (elements of existence).
Khi dng theo ngha ny th thng c dng cho s nhiu.
Php trong ch Php thn (Dharma-kaya) l s dng trong ngha
ca loi th nht, tc l thc ti chung cc. Ch kya (thn) y khng

dng theo ngha en l thn th, m l theo ngha asraya, tng lp di

hay nn mng, cng c ngha l nht thng.
Ch Dharmakaya (Php thn) c ngha l nguyn l v v tr thng
nht. N khng ch l mt khi nim trit hc tru tng, m cn l mt
i tng ca thc tn gio.
A. Php thn (Dharmakya)
Php (dharma) l bn cht ca vt tn hu, l Thc Ti chung cc, l
Tuyt i. Php thn (Dharmakya) l tnh cht cn bn ca c Pht. c
Pht dng php thn th nghim s ng nht ca ngi vi Php hoc
Tuyt i, v th nghim s thng nht (samat) ca ngi vi tt c chng
sanh. Php thn l mt loi tn hu hiu bit, t bi, sn lng, l u ngun
v tn ca tnh thng yu v lng t bi.
Khi c Pht sp tch dit, t ca ngi l Bt Ca L (Vakkali) by t
mt cch nhit thnh s mong mun c trng thyc Pht tn mt. Ngi
bo Bt Ca L rng: Nu ngi thy Php th chnh l thy ta, ngi
thy ta cng chnh l thy Php. Qua li dy ny ngi ta cho rng c
Pht chn chnh l Php ch khng phi nhn vt C m (Gautama)
c bit nh l c Pht trn phng din lich s, v, do khi nim
Php thn (Dharma-kya) c khai trin. Phi i Chng B
(Mahsanghikas) cho rng Pht Thch Ca Mu Ni (Skyamuni) ca php
thn, truyn t thng ip ca Php cho nhn loi v minh.
Php thn mi chnh l phng din cn bn siu vit ca c Pht.
Php tnh (Dharmat) l nguyn l chung cc v phi nhn cch. Php thn
l nhn cch chung cc v ph bin. ng Phn Thin (Brahman) v ng
T Ti Thin (Isvara) trong kinh in Vednta, Php gii (Dharma-dhtu) v
Php thn ca Trung Qun Phi c mt s im ging nhau. Php gii
(Dharma-dhtu) hoc chn nh (tathat) ging nh Phn Thin (Brahman)
ca Vednta, v Php thn c nhng im ging nh T Ti Thin (Isvara)
ca Vednta, nhng cng c nhiu im khc nhau. Trong kinh in
Vednta, T Ti Thin lin kt vi thn Maya sng to, bo tr thu hi v
tr. Php thn th khng c chc nng . Chc nng ca Php thn xut
pht t tr tu thm su v tnh thng bao la ging th nh l mt v Pht
nhm truyn dy chnh php v chuyn ha, gip nhn loi lm ng lc
li c thng tin.

 l bc ch thnh thin (Divine), nhng khng phi l Thng

(God). Trong bt c h thng t tng no ngi ta cng gn chc nng
sng to v tr cho Thng . Nhng, Pht Gio th khng tin vo loi
thng nh th. Suzuki by t khi nim v Thng ca Pht gio
nh sau:
ng phn on Pht Gio nh l mt thuyt v thn gii thch v v
tr theo ng li bt kh tri lun v duy vt. Ngc li, Pht gio tha nhn
mt cch minh bch s hin hu ca mt loi thc ti siu vit vt ngoi
nhng hn ch ca hin tng tnh, nhng, loi thc ti ny nm bn trong
mi s vt v t biu hin bng ho quang rc r ca n, m trong chng
ta sng, di ng v tn hu.
(Outlines of Mahyna Buddhism, p. 219)
Php thn ng nht vi Tuyt i, nhng ng thi n cng lin kt
vi hin tng gii. V th, ch c Php thn mi c th ging trn cu
vt nhn loi.
Bt c khi no Php thn s dng hnh tng con ngi ging trn,
th Ngi u to tc mt xc thn o nh c gi l Ha thn (Nirmnakya). Ha thn l ci th xc m Php thn nhp vo khi Ngi quyt nh
ging th cu vt nhn loi. Xuyn qua ha thn ny, php thn c hnh
tng ngi nhng li l mt c Pht lm ngi cu vt nhn loi. Cn
nhc thn thc s ca c Pht th c gi l Sc thn (Rpa-kya). Da
vo quan im ny, Pht gio khng phi l mt th tn gio trn lich s
ging nh C c Gio. Ni cch khc, c Pht khng phi l v sng lp
ra mt tn gio. Ngi ch l ngi truyn t Php vnh hng. Trc ngi
c v s cc v Pht v trong tng lai cng s c v s cc v Pht.
Khi mt Pht gio qui y c Pht, l qui y vi v Pht Php thn
(Dharma-kaya Buddha) vnh hng y.
B. Ha Thn (Nirmna-kya)
Trn y ni rng Ha thn (Nirmna-kya) l hnh tng m c
Pht s dng khi mun dng thn hnh ca mt con ngi i vo th
gii ny. Php thn cng cn c gi l T tnh thn (Svbhvika-kya)
hoc thc th thn, bn nhin thn ca c Pht. Cn ha thn
(nirmnkaya) th l v mc ch c th ca chng loi no m tm s
dng hnh tng. Sc thn (Rpa-kya) hoc nhc thn ca c Pht th bt

c ai cng u c th trng thy mt cch r rng. Nhng, ha thn th ch

c ngi c o hnh cao mi c th trng thy c.
---o0o--11. S QUAN TRNG CA KHI NIM V TRUNG O
(MADHYAM PRATIPAD)
c Pht thng dy rng chn l khng nm trong s cc oan m l
trong trung o (madhyam pratidad). Pht gio phi Nguyn Thy
(hinayanists) thng p dng khi nim trung o trn phng din o c,
chng hn nh ni v vn n ung, chng mc khng n ung qu nhiu
hay qu t, ng ng qu nhiu v ng ng qu t, v.v...
Trung Qun Phi cn ly c ngha siu hnh (metaphysical sense)
gii thch trung o. Long Th bo:
Ktyanvavde cstti nstti cobhayam/
Pratisiddham bhagavat bhvbhvavibhvin//
(Trung Qun Tng, XV, 7)
Trong kinh Gio Th Ca Chin Din: (Ktyyanvavda-stra), c
Th Tn l bc thu trit c hu tnh (bhva) ln v tnh (abhva), v,
ngi bc b c lng cc l v khng l.
Khi ch gii v on ny, ngi Nguyt Xng (Candrakrti) trch dn
mt on vn trong kinh Gio Th Ca Chin Din m tt c cc tn
Pht Gio chp nhn l rt gi tr. Trong on vn ny c Pht ni vi
tn gi Ca Dip (Ksyapa):
Ca Dip, l l mt cc oan, khng l cng l mt cc oan. Ci
c coi l trung o (Madhyama), th khng th s thy, khng th so snh,
khng ni chn, khng hin hin, khng th gii thch. , Ca Dip, chnh
l trung o. N l s cm nhn Thc Ti (bhta pratyaveks: Chn tht
qun).
(Minh C Lun, p. 118)
B Tt Long Th c lp trng ca ngi trn cu ni y uy quyn
ny ca c Pht. Khng nn hiu ch madhyama (trung) theo ngha en
ca n, nh l gia hoc trung bnh gia hai ci. Nh c ni r

trong nhng tnh t khng th s thy, khng th so snh, khng th gii

thch, v.v... Trung o (madhyam pratipad) c ngha l Thc Ti siu vit
i vi nhng cch l lun nh phn ca l tr v Thc Ti khng th b hn
nh hoc ng khung trong nhng la chn l, khng l. Trn c s
ny, Long Th gi trit hc ca ngi l Madhyamaka, tc thuc v siu
vit (v cc hc gi Trung Hoa phin dch l Trung Qun).
Nhng s cc oan tr thnh nhng con ng khng c li thot ca
ch thuyt vnh hng v ch thuyt hy dit. C nhng ngi ch bm vu
vo v, v c nhng ngi ch bm vu vo hu. c Pht v i s
dng thuyt Trung o vch ra chn l rng mi s vt trn th gii ny
khng phi l hu tuyt i, m cng khng phi l v tuyt i, m
tht ra mi s vt u c sanh c dit, to nn s chuyn ha lin tc khng
ngng, rng Thc Ti l siu vit i vi t tng v khng th dng
phng php nh phn ca t tng nm bt n.
---o0o--12. TUYT I V HIN TNG
Trit Hc Trung Qun (Madhyamaka) s dng rt nhiu ch m
t v Tuyt i hoc Thc Ti: Tathta (chn nh, nh th), snyat (khng
tnh), nirvna (nit bn), adraya (bt nh), anutpanna (bt sanh), nirvikalpa
(ci v phn bit), dharmadhtu hoc dharmat (bn cht ca vt tn hu,
bn th ca php), anabhilpya (bt kh din t), tattva (ch tht nh n
ang l), nisprapnca (khng din t bng li v khng c s a nguyn
hoc v h lun), yathbhta (ci thc s ang l, nh tht), satya (chn l),
bhtatathat hoc bhtat (thc ti ch tht, chn l tht ), tathgatagarbha (Nh Lai Tng), aparapratyaya (thc ti m ta phi t th nghim
trong ni tm), v.v... Mi mt ch c s dng t mt lp trng c nh
ring bit.
Xuyn qua ton b Trung Qun Lun, Long Th gia cng chng
minh rng Tuyt i l siu vit i vi t tng v ngn t. C khi nim
v hu tnh (bhva) ln v tnh (abhva) u khng th p dng i vi
n. Long Th a ra l do di y gii thch ti sao khng th p
dng nhng khi nim ny:
Bhvastved na nirvnam jarmaranalaksanam/
Prasajyetsti bhvo hi na jramaranam vin//
(Trung Qun Tng, XXV 4)

Nit Bn hoc thc ti tuyt i khng th l hu

(bhva) (hay vt tn ti), bi v trong trng hp ny
n s b kim ch ni sanh, hoi, dit, khng c
tn ti ca kinh nghim no c th trnh khi b hoi
dit. Nu n khng th l hu (bhva), th n cng
khng th l v (abhva) (hay vt phi tn ti) bi v
v ch l mt khi nim tng i, ty thuc vo
khi nim hu m thi.
Nh Long Th bo:
Bhvasya cedaprasiddhirabhvo naiva siddhyati/
Bhvasya hyanyathbhvam abhvam bruvate janh//
(Trung Qun Tng, XV, 5)
Nu chnh hu (bhva) c chng minh l khng th p dng cho
Thc Ti, th v (abhva) li cng khng th chu ni s soi xt chi li, bi v
v (abhva) ch l s tan bin ca hu (bhva) m thi.
Khi khi nim hu (bhva: empirical exitence: tn ti th nghim) v
khi nim v (abhva) (s ph nh ca bhva) khng th p dng i vi
Tuyt i, th khng th ngh ti chuyn p dng nhng khi nim no
khc, bi v mi khi nim ny ty thuc vo hai khi nim ny. Tm li,
Tuyt i l siu vit i vi t tng, v, v siu vit i vi t tng nn
n khng th biu t.
Nirvrttamabhidhtavyam nivrtte cittagocare/
Anutpannnirudddh hi nirvnamiva dharmat//
(Trung Qun Tng, XVIII, 7)
Nhng g khng phi l i tng ca t tng,
th chc chn khng th l i tng ca ngn t.
Khi Tuyt i l bn cht ca tt c vt tn hu th
n khng sanh v cng khng dit.
Nguyt Xng (Candrakrti) bo rng:
Daramrtho hi aynm tsnmbhvah
(Minh C Lun, p. 19)

i vi cc bc thnh gi th tuyt i ch l s im
lng, v n l ci g bt kh din t, bt kh thuyt.
Nhng hin tng khng c thc ti c lp, tht th ca chnh chng.
Tng i tnh hoc s ty thuc l nhng c tnh ch yu ca hin tng,
v, mt vt l tng i th khng phi l tht (real), hiu theo ngha cao
nht ca ch ny. Tuyt i l Thc Ti ca nhng hin tng.
Tuyt i v th gii khng l hai nhm thc ti khc nhau t v tr
i khng nhau. Khi hin tng c coi l tng i, chu s chi phi ca
nhng nhn duyn v nhng iu kin cu thnh th gii ny th chng l
hin tng; v khi hin tng c coi l phi hn nh bi tt c nhn duyn
th hin tng l Tuyt i. Tuyt i lun lun c bn cht ng nht. Nit
Bn hoc Thc Ti Tuyt i khng phi l th g c to sanh hoc thnh
tu. Nit Bn ch c ngha l s bin mt hoc nh ch ca t tng in
o, vng ng.
Nu Tuyt i l siu vit i vi tt c t tng v ngn thuyt, th
lm sao c th m t n, v lm sao c th c nhng gio thuyt v n? Cu
tr li l: hin tng khng ton hon ngn cch chng ta vi Thc Ti.
Hin tng l biu tng, v biu tng ch ng dn n n Thc Ti
ca chng. Ci mn che ph tit l mt ng v vt m n che ph.
Nguyt Xng trch dn mt cu ni ca c Pht:
Anaksarasya dharmasya srutih k desan ca k/
Sryate desyate cpi samropdanaksarah//
Lm sao c th hiu hoc gio hun v th g v
ngn t (khng th din t)? N ch c th hiu v
gio hun bng samropa (biu tng) m thi.
Hin tng l samropa ca Thc Ti. Hin tng ging nh phong b
cha ng bn trong mt li mi ca Thc Ti. Tnh cch che y
(samropa) ca hin tng che ph c bn th; khi ly i bc mn che y
th Thc Ti hin ra. Trit hc khng tnh (snyata) ch nhm mc ch gip
chng ta lt b tm mn che y ny.
---o0o---

13. BIU HIN CA THC TI (SAMVRTI: TC )

V THC TI TUYT I
(PARAMRTHA SATYA: THNG NGHA )

Phi chng hin tng hon ton khng c tht? B Tt Long Th cho
rng hin tng cng c mt th thc ti tnh. Chng chnh l biu hin
ca thc ti (samvrti satya: Th tc ). Biu hin ch ng dn n s vt
m n biu trng. Biu hin ca thc ti (samvrti) l biu tng, l bc mn.
Biu hin ca thc ti l si dy t nh bay bng trong chn khng, n che
khut thc ti tuyt i (paramrtha: Thng ngha ). Long Th bo:
Dve satye samupsritya buddhn dharmadesan /
Lokasamvrtisatyam ca datyam ca paramrthatah //
(Trung Qun Tng, XXIX, 8)
c Pht dng hai chn l l biu hin ca thc ti
(samvrti-satya, chn l thc nghim) v thc ti
tuyt i (paramrtha-satya) ging dy gio php
(Ddharma).
S phn bit ny v cng trng yu, v th, Long Th cho rng nhng
ai khng bit s phn bit ny th khng th no c th l gii c gio
ngha ca c Pht.
Ye nayor na vijnanti vibhgam satyaor dvayoh/
Te tattvam na vijnanti gambhram buddhassane//
(Trung Qun Tng, XXIV, 9)
Nhng ai khng bit s phn bit v hai chn l
ny th khng th l gii c ngha su xa do
c Pht thuyt ging.
i vi biu hin ca thc ti (samvrti: th tc ), Nguyt Xng
thuyt ging nh sau:
Samantdvaranam samvrtih Ajnam hi
Samantat-sarvapadrthatattvvacchdant
Samvrtirityucyate//

(Minh C Lun, p. 215)

Nhng g che ph tt c l biu hin ca thc ti
(samvrti: th ). Samvrti l v minh (ajnna) che
y bn th ca tt c s vt.
Hin tng vn c c tnh nh l biu hin ca thc ti (th ), bi v
chng ph mt bc mn ln thc ti. Nhng ng thi chng c nhim v
ch ng dn n Thc Ti nh l c s ca hin tng. Samvrti-satya
(biu hin ca thc ti) cng l vyvahrikia-satya, thc ti ca thc dng
hoc thc ti kinh nghim. Paramrtha-satya l thc ti tuyt i (Thng
ngha ). Nhng, hai chn l ny samvrti v paramrtha-satya khng
ng hai lnh vc khc nhau m chng c p dng. Tuyt i c hiu
qua nhng phm tr t tng th l hin tng, v, nhng hin tng khi b
tc b nhng phm tr ny th chng l tuyt i.
Nguyt Xng cp n ba ngha ca biu hin ca thc ti
(samvrti: Th ):
(1) Samantat sarvapadrthatattvvacchdant samvrvrith
(Minh C Lun, p. 125)
Samvrti (Th ) l th g che ph ln bn tnh ch thc ca s vt.
Nguyt Xng gi l v minh (ajnna). Samvrti bt ngun t ajnna (v
minh) v tng ng vi n. Chnh v minh ph mt bc mn trm ln thc
ti.
(2) Parasparasambhavanam v samvrtianyonyasamsrayena
(Minh C Lun, p. 125)
Samvrti l ty thuc h tng ca s vt hoc tng i tnh ca s
vt. Trong ngha ny n tng ng vi hin tng.
(3) Samvrtih samketo lokavyavahrah.
Sa ca abhidhnbhi-dheyajnnajneydilaksanah.
Nhng tp qun c a s ngi tip nhn l Th (samvrti).

Tt c nhng ngha trn y c lin quan h trng vi nhau. ngha

th nht l ngha ch yu, nhng mi ngha ny u c mt s quan
trng khi nhn t quan im ca thc ti kinh nghim.
Khi samvrti c hiu theo ngha thc ti thc dng th l phng
tin (upya) t ti Thc Ti, tc l mc ch (upeya). Long Th cp
mt cch minh bch n s quan trng ca vyavahra (thc ti kinh nghim)
at ti paramrtha (thc ti tuyt i). Ngi bo:
Vyavahramanssritya paramrtho na desyate/
Parmarthamangamya nirvnam ndhigamyate//
(Trung Qun Tng, XXIV, 10)
Nu khng da vo thc ti thc dng (th ) th
khng th gio hun v chn l tuyt i (Thng
ngha ). V, nu khng bit chn l tuyt i th
khng th t ti nit bn.
i vi on ny, Nguyt Xng ch gii rng:
Tasmd nivndhigamopyatvad avasyameva
yathvasthita samvrtih dveva abhyupey
bhjanam iva salilrthim//
(Minh C Lun, p. 216)
V th, khi samvrti (Th ) c coi l cng c
t n Nit Bn, ta phi nm ly n, nh
ngi mun c nc th cn phi s dng bnh
cha.
Samvrti (biu hin thc ti) l upya (phng tin), Pramartha (chn
l tuyt i) l upeya (mc ch).
Samvrti c hai loi: (1) Loka-samvrti (biu hin ca thc ti trn
phng din nhn gian) v (2) Aloka-samvrti (biu hin ca thc ti phi
nhn gian). (1) Loka-samvrti ni ti nhng vt thng thng m mi
ngi u coi l tht, th d nh mt chic bnh, mt ming vi, v.v... (2)
Aloka-samvrti ni n nhng th m ngi ta c kinh nghim khi trong
nhng iu kin bt bnh thng. Nhng th h o, nhng nhn thc lch
lc gy ra nhng gic quan bnh hon hoc khuyt tt, nhng i tng

trong chim bao, v.v... l thuc v aloka-samvrti (phi thc nghim), v chng
khng c thc.
D sao th chng ta cng cn phi nghin cu, tm hiu v hai danh t
Pht Gio Nguyn Thy v Pht Gio i Tha th xem chng c
khi nguyn v lu truyn nh th no. Theo nhn xt ca R. Kimura th i
Chng B (Mahsanghikas) l h phi bo tn gio ngha Pht Gio
thng tc, c nhiu tin b v t do hn Thng Ta B (Sthaviras).
Trong cuc hi tp ti T X Ly (Vaisli), cc v t khu thuc i Chng
B (Mahsanghikas) hoc Vijjian (Bt K Tc) b qu trch v trt xut
v cc thy t khu thuc Thng Ta B (Sthaviras) cho rng gio ngha
chnh thng v kin gii ca h b vi phm bi nhng quan im d bit,
v, cng khai ch trch cc thy t khu thuc i Chng B l c t
khu (Ppa Bhikkhus) v k thuyt phi php (Adhamma vadins).
i Chng B (Mahsanghikas) v mun biu th rng gio ngha ca
h l gio ngha u thng, vt hn gio ngha ca Thng Ta B
(Sthaviras), cho nn h t ra danh t i Tha (chic xe ln) lm
tn gi cho h phi ca h v h gi i th l Nguyn Thy (chic xe
nh). V vy, danh t Nguyn Thy v i Tha dn dn tr thnh thng
dng v, d nhin ch c Pht Gio i Tha mi s dng n.
---o0o--14. CHN NH L NH LAI
(TATHAT-TATHGATA)
Chng ta thy rng dharma-dhatu hay dharmat (php tnh), hoc
tathata (chn nh) l nhng ch m trit l ca Trung Qun Phi dng
biu th cho tuyt i. Nguyt Xng bo rng:
Y s dharmnam dharmata nama
saiva tatsvarpam
(Minh C Lun, p.116)
Ci gi l bn th ca tt c nhng thnh t ca
s tn hu chnh l bn cht ca Thc Ti.

N, tathata (chn nh: Thc Ti chn chnh). Theo Bradley th chng ta

ch c th ni n nh th m khng th ni n l l ci g. Cn c theo
Nguyt Xng th:
Tathbhvo vikritvam sadiv sthyita
(Minh C Lun, p. 116)
Nh tnh ca Thc Ti bao gm trong bt bin
tnh ca n, trong s gi vng bn cht ca n
mt cch vnh vin.
Chn nh (tathata) l chn l, nhng n l phi nhn cch (impersonal).
hin hin, n cn c mt mi gii. Nh Lai (Tathagata) chnh l mt mi
gii ca n. Nh Lai l trc ng v Thc Ti. Ngi l thc Ti c nhn
cch ha. ng thi ngi cn c c hai loi tnh cht ca Tuyt i v hin
tng. Ngi ng nht vi Chn Nh (Tathata), nhng c th hin trong
hnh dng ca mt con ngi. l l do ti sao Chn Nh cng cn c
gi l Nh Lai Tng (Tathgatagarbha).
Ch Nh Lai (Tathgata) c th din gii l tath + gata, hoc tath +
gata, c ngha nh kh (i nh th) hoc nh lai (n nh th), cng c
ngha nhng v Pht trc y n v i. Nhng, cch gii thch ny
khng r rng khi gii thch khi nim v Nh Lai. Khi ti c i Chin
Thi (Mahbhrata) trong c mt cu th c th tr kh hon ton s
thiu r chung quanh ch ny.
Sakuntnmivkse matsynamiva codake /
Padam yath nadrsyate tath jnnavidm gatih //
(Santiparva 181, 12)
Nh du chn chim bay trn bu tri v c li
di nc khng th no trng thy c:
Th hoc nh th l bc ng ca nhng
bc chng ng Chn L.
Chnh ch tath-gati (ch l mt li vit khc ca ch tath-gata) dng
ch cc bc c o nh trn m du chn ca h khng th truy tm (bt
kh tm)

Trong Trung A Hm (Majjhimanikya), (Vol. I, p, 140, P.T.S, ed)

ch bt kh tm c dng ch cho Nh Lai:
Tathgatam ananuvejjoti vadmi
Ta bo rng Nh Lai l ananuvejja, ngha l du
vt ca ngi khng th truy tm, ngi vt ln trn
tt c nhng nh nguyn ca t tng.
Trong Kinh Php c (Dharmmapada) cng vy, c Pht c gi l
apada (v tch) nh trong cu Tam
Buddhamanantagocaram apadam kena padena nessatha (thi c 179). V
trong thi c 254 ca Kinh Php C (Dharmapada) s dng ch
Tathagata (Nh Lai) trong tng quan vi kse padam natthi (khng th
truy tm du tch khng trung). Dng nh ngha ca Nh Lai ch l
nh th kh ( i nh th), tc l khng c du tch, du tch y khng
th s dng phm tr t tng t duy v truy tm.
i Chin Thi (Mahabharata) c mt s hc gi coi l c
sng tc trc thi i Pht gio. Du cho b sch ny xut hin sm hay
mun hn Pht Gio, ch tathagata dng nh c dng ch nhng
ngi gic ng chn l m khng th truy tm c du tch ca h.
Bt lun khi nguyn ca ch Tathagta nh th no, chc nng ca n
rt r rng. Ngi ging th truyn th nh sng ca Chn L cho th
nhn v sau ra i m khng li du vt no. Ngi l hin thn ca
Chn Nh (Tathata). Khi c Pht c gi l Nh Lai (Tathagata) nhn
cch c bit ca ngi c gc qua mt bn, ngi c xem nh l mt
loi kiu mu in hnh thnh thong li xut hin trn i. Ngi l s th
hin trn trn th ca Php (Dharma).
Bc Nh Lai siu vit ln trn tt c a nguyn tnh v phm tr ca t
tng (sarvaprapnca-citta) th c th coi l khng phi vnh hng m cng
khng phi phi vnh hng. Ngi l bc khng th truy tm du tch. Vnh
hng v phi vnh hng ch c th dng lnh vc nh nguyn tnh m khng
th dng trong trng hp phi nh nguyn. Bi l bc Chn Nh u ging
nhau trong s hin hin, v th, tt c chng sinh u c tim nng tr thnh
Nh Lai. Chnh Nh Lai tnh hin hu trong chng ta khin cho chng ta
kht cu Nit Bn v, ti hu n s gii thot chng ta.

Khng tnh (snyata) v t bi (karun) l c tnh cn bn ca Nh Lai.

ngha ch khng tnh y c ngha l bt nh (prajn: tr tu siu
vit). Vn c sn khng tnh hoc bt nh (prajn), cho nn Chn Nh
(Tathata) hoc Khng Tnh (Snyat); vn sn c t bi (karuna) cho nn
ngi l ng cu ca tt c chng sanh hu tnh.
Khi ni s tn hu chn chnh ca Nh Lai cng l s tn hu chn
chnh ca tt c l iu bt kh t ngh. Trong bn cht chung cc ca ngi
th Nh Lai l cc k thm su, khng th o lng.
Cc php (dharmas), nhng thnh t ca s tn ti, l bt kh xc
nh, v chng chu nhng iu kin v v chng l tng i. Bc Nh Lai
l bt kh xc nh hiu theo mt ngha khc. Nh Lai l bt kh xc nh
l v bn cht chung cc ca ngi, ngi khng phi c sanh ra t nhn
duyn. Tnh cch bt kh xc nh ca bn cht chung cc thc s c ngha
l s bt kh p dng ca nhng phng php khi nim. Long Th trong
Trung Qun Tng pht biu mt cch tuyt diu rng:
Prapancayanti ye Buddhamprapncttm avyayam /
Te prapancahatah sarve na pasyanti tathgatam //
(XXII, 15)
c Pht siu vit i vi t tng v ngn ng,
v v sanh v t; nhng ai s dng khi nim
phm tr m t c Pht u l nn nhn ca
prapanca (loi tri tu b ngn ng chi phi, h lun),
nh vy l khng th thy c Nh Lai trong bn
th ch thc ca ngi.
Nguyt Xng dn dng mt thi k (cu 43) trong Nng on Kim
Cang Kinh (Vajracchedik):
Dharmato Buddh drastavy dharmakay hi nyakh /
Dharmat cpyavijney na s saky vijnitum //
(Minh C Lun, p. 195)
Ch Pht c nhn thy trong thc tng ca php
tnh, v cc bc thy ch tn ny (ca nhn loi) c
php tnh trong tm ca h. Nhng, bn cht ca

php tnh siu vit i vi t tng v khng th lnh

hi c bng tc dng khi nim.
Chn nh (tathata) hoc Thc Ti phi nhn duyn khng phi l mt
thc th tch ri khi Thc Ti b nhn duyn hn nh. Thc Ti phi nhn
duyn l c s ca Thc Ti nhn duyn. Ngh rng nhng s vt hn nh
l vt chung cc v t tn trong bn cht ring bit ca chng l phm vo
s sai lm ca vnh hng lun (ssvata-vda); v, ngh rng vt phi hn nh
hoc phi nhn duyn hon ton khc vi vt hn nh th li phm vo s sai
lm ca ph nh lun.
i vi Chn Nh, i Tr Lun (Mahprajnaparamita Sastra)
chia thnh ba loi. Loi th nht l v tnh c th ca mi s vt, loi th
hai l v phi chung cc tnh ca nhng bn cht c th ca s vt, v hn
nh tnh hay tng i tnh ca s vt; v loi th ba l thc ti chung cc
ca mi s vt. Nhng, tht ra, hai im trc c gi l chn nh
(tathata) mt cch min cng. Ch c bn cht chung cc, v hn nh (phi
nhn duyn) ca tt c s vt mi c coi l chn nh theo ngha ti cao
ca ch ny (tathata).
Chn nh (tathata) hoc bn th chn thc (thc tnh) ca s vt
nhng cp khc nhau, ngha l th tc hoc biu hin v siu th tc hoc
Thc Ti cng c gi l dharmat (php tnh) hai cp khc nhau.
---o0o--15. PHP GII (DHARMADHTU)
V THC TI (BHTAKOTI)
Chn Nh (Tathata) hoc Thc Ti cng c gi l Nit Bn
(Nirvan) hoc php tnh (dharmata) hoc php gii (dharmadhtu), ch
gii (dhtu) ny y c ngha l bn cht thm su nht, hay bn cht
chung cc.
Chn nh (tathata) hoc php gii (dharmadhtu) u l siu vit v ni
tn. N l siu vit nh Thc Ti chung cc, nhng n hin hu trong mi
ngi nh l c s v bn cht thm su nht ca h.
Thc ti t (bhutakoti) l s thm nhp khn kho ca tr tu vo
php gii (dharmadhtu). Ch bhta c ngha l thc ti khng b nhn
duyn hn nh, tc l php gii (dharmadhtu). Cn ch koti c ngha l

s khn kho t n gii hn hay ch tn cng (cc t); n nhn mnh

s th hin (realization), tc l mt loi thnh ton. Thc ti t (bhakoti)
cng c gi l v sanh t (anutpdakoti), c ngha l chn tn cng (cc
t) ngoi ci sanh t.
Tt c s vt nu ng trn phng din tinh thn phn tch, thm
d, nghin cu ngun gc th thy chng th nhp, i vo v sanh php
(anutpdadharma) hoc php gii (dharmadhtu). S i vo ca mi s vt
vo Thc Ti v nhn duyn c gi l v sanh t (anutpdakoti). V
sanh (anutpda) tc l Nit Bn (Nirvan), l ni siu vit sanh t. Trong
php gii (dharmadhtu), chng sanh u ha thnh php tnh (dharma
nature).
Bt Nh Ba La Mt a (prajnparamit) (tr tu n b bn kia) ng
ng vi php gii (dharmadhtu), bt nh (advaya).
Theo trit hc Trung Qun (Madhyamaka) th Thc Ti l bt nh. Nu
l gii mt cch thch ng th bn cht hu hn ca cc thc th biu l vt
v hn nh khng nhng nh l c s ca chng m cn nh l thc ti
chung cc ca chnh nhng thc th hu hn. Tht ra, vt b nhn duyn hn
nh v vt phi nhn duyn hn nh khng phn bit thnh hai th. S phn
bit ny ch l tng i ch khng phi l tuyt i. y chnh l l do ti
sao B Tt Long Th bo:
Ci c xem l ci trn th hay th gian
(samsara) t mt quan im, th cng chnh l ci
Nit Bn khi c nhn t mt quan im khc.
(XXV, 20)
Chng ta thy nhng nt chnh yu ca trit hc Trung Qun. N
va l trit hc va l thuyt thn b. Bng cch s dng bin chng php v
chiu ri s ph bnh (prasangpdana) vo tt c nhng phm tr t tng,
n thng tay vch trn nhng khoa trng h tr ca l tr nhn thc
Chn L. By gi ngi tm o quay sang vi thin nh theo nhng hnh
thc khc nhau ca khng tnh (snyata), v thc hnh bt nh ba la mt a
(prajnaparamitas). Nh thc hnh tinh thn c hnh v du gi (yoga), ngi
tm o dn ng tip nhn Chn L. Ti giai on sau cng ca Bt
Nh (Prajn), nhng bnh xe ca tng tng b chn ng, tm tr vng
ng lng ng tch mch li, v, trong s tch mch Thc Ti (bhta-

tathla) ci hn ln i mt ca ngi tm o; k n nhn s tn dng

ca bt nh v tr thnh hip s phiu du ca Chn L (hip s truyn o).
Khng c s chc chn no ln hn s chc chn ca mt nh thn b;
cng th, khng c s bt lc no ln hn s bt lc nng ln ngi hip
s khi chng mun by t Chn L m chng c nhn trn ci nh ni
chong vng ca kinh nghim. y l mt kinh nghim thuc v mt
chiu khc mt chiu v khng gian, v thi gian, nirvikalpa (siu vit ln
trn lnh vc ca t tng v ngn ng). Cho nn, n khng th din t
bng bt c ngn ng no ca nhn loi. Cu hi c nu ra giai tng
lun l ca L Tr; v siu l tr ca bt nh (prajn), giai tng bt nh ny
ch c th t ti bng mt cuc sng trong k lut v o c v tinh thn.
Trit hc Trung Qun khng phi l mt ch thuyt bt kh tri lun. N l
mt mi gi cng khai i vi bt c ai mun trc din vi Thc Ti.
Chng ta thy ngay t u rng l tng ca i Tha l B Tt
(Bodhisattva). By gi, chng ta s dng mt on ca Tng H
(Sangharakshita) lm tng kt v yu ngha ca trit hc Trung Qun
(Madhyamaka):
Pht gio c th v nh mt ci cy. S gic ng siu vit ca c
Pht l r ca n. Pht Gio c bn l ci thn cy, cc hc thuyt i
Tha l nhnh ca n, cn cc phi v chi phi ca i Tha l hoa ca
n. By gi, d hoa c p n th no th chc nng ca n l kt thnh
qu. Trit hc tr thnh iu g cao hn l s suy lun v b phi tm
ng c ca n v s thnh tu ca n trong mt li sng; t tng cn
phi dn ti hnh ng. Hc thuyt ny sinh ra Phng Php. L tng B
Tt l tri cy hon m chn mi trn cy i th ca Pht Gio. Cng nh
tri cy bao bc ht ging, v vy, bn trong L Tng B Tt l s kt hp
ca tt c nhng thnh t khc nhau, v, i khi dng nh chia r, ca
Pht Gio i Tha.
(A Survey of Buddhism, p. 432)
---o0o--HT