Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra

by Gelongma Karma Migme Chödrön | 2001 | 941,039 words

This page describes “possessing a body endowed with the marks” as written by Nagarjuna in his Maha-prajnaparamita-sastra (lit. “the treatise on the great virtue of wisdom”) in the 2nd century. This book, written in five volumes, represents an encyclopedia on Buddhism as well as a commentary on the Pancavimsatisahasrika Prajnaparamita.

Part 3 - Possessing a body endowed with the marks

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- Sub-Contents: (+ / -)

I. The physical marks are not ‘planted’ just at the end of the career

II. The Bodhisattva is able to create for himself a body endowed with the marks

III. Bodhisattva body and Buddha body

IV. The perfections are causes and conditions of the thirty-two marks

V. Body with marks and body without marks

The prediction of Asita (horoscope of the Bodhisattva)

VI. Justification of the number of marks

VII. Why is the Buddha adorned with non-existent marks?

Sūtra (cf. Pañcaviṃśati, p. 23, l. 3–5; Śatasāhasrikā, p. 70, l. 18–71, l. 4). – The bodhisattva-mahāsattva who wishes to have a body like that of the Buddha in all his existences and who wishes to be assured of the thirty-two major and eighty minor marks of the Great Man, must exert himself in the perfection of wisdom (Bodhisattvena mahāsattvena sarvajātiṣu buddhasadṛśaṃ kāyaṃ niṣpādayitukāmena dvātriṃśanmahāpuruṣalakṣaṇāny aśītyanuvyañjanāni ca pratilabdhukāmena prajñāpāramitāyāṃ śikṣitavyam).

Śāstra. –

Last Updated: 28 September, 2019