An Annotated Translation of The "Tattvasamgraha" (Part 1) with an Explanation of The Role of The "Tattvasamgraha" Lineage in The Teachings of KukaiI (India, Nepal, Tibet, China, Japan, Buddhism)
This is the first annotated, English translation of Part 1 of the Buddhist tantric text known in Sanskrit as the Sarva-tathagatatattva-samgraha-nama-mahayana-sutra (The Mahayana sutra known as the Compendium of Truth of all the Tathagatas). The English translation is based on the 1983 romanized edition of the complete Sanskrit text in five parts by Kanjin Horiuchi. Horiuchi based his edition on the two complete Sanskrit manuscripts of this sutra discovered in Nepal in 1932 and 1956 by G. Tucci and David L. Snellgrove respectively.This sutra is studied in the context of its role in the teachings of Kukai (774-835 A.D.), founder of the Japanese Shingon sect of tantric Buddhism. Kukai says that the esoteric Buddhist doctrines he trans- mitted from China are contained in both the Tattvasamgraha-sutra and the Mahavairocana-sutra. The Tattvasamgraha is also the major Yoga tantra in Tibet and Tibetan and Indian exegeses are used.Part I discusses the commentaries used, the structure, date, place of origin of the text and gives a synopsis of the text. In Japan the major commentaries are by Ennin and Donjaku. Part 2 explains the role of the sutra in Kukai's teachings. Two points are made. First, it is well known that this sutra is the source for the Vajradhatu mandala first introduced from China to Japan by Kukai. Second, the Tattvasamgraha provided the framework for the Vajradhatu Recita- tion Manual introduced by Kukai. This was a ritual meditation- manual soon incorporated into the series of prayoga practices standardized by the Shingon school. This manual is the major example of Tattvasamgraha lineage practices in the Shingon school. It explains a praxis leading to enlightenment, the content of which is symbolically depicted in the Vajradhatu mandala. Part 3 contains the annotated translation of Part I of the Tattvasamgraha.
