If 'all roads lead to Rome' (or did so in the days of the Roman Empire), all paths do not lead to enlightenment – at least not to the same enlightenment. This, in any case, is the conclusion we must derive from reading gNubs-chen Sangs-rgyas ye-shes’ doxographical work, the bSam-gtan mig-sgron (Tibet, 10th century). In it he presents four distinct ways to reach enlightenment that encompass both sūtra-based and tantra-based doctrinal formulations: the gradual approach of the classical Mahāyāna, the simultaneous approach of Chan, the method of alchemical transformation of Tantra and the path of self-liberation, rDzogs-chen. These four different paths lead to distinct forms of fruition (’bras-bu; Skt. phala). It is the latter that will be the focus of the present article.
目次
Introduction 160 Progressive development: the fruition of the gradual path 163 Instant discovery: the fruition of the simultaneous path 168 The gold of alchemical transformation: the fruition of Mahāyoga 171 Ever-present great completeness: the fruition of rDzogs-chen 174 Concluding remarks 181 Bibliography 182 Abbreviations 182 Tibetan and Sanskrit Language Works 183 Western Language Works 183
