Atiśa

Atisha Dipamkara Srijnana ( Tib: atisha dI Pam ka ra Shri dznyA na, also: jo bo rje; Birth name: Chandragarbha; * 980 in Vikramapura, Dhaka ( Division ), † 1054 ) was an Indian pandit and famous abbot of the monastic university of Vikramashila the time of the Pala dynasty in India.

Life

Atisha studied almost all schools, philosophies and teaching systems of its time. Numerous Buddhist and Hindu Tantra, the art of music, logic, and other arts. In addition to intense practice and study of Buddhist teachings, he also studied the teachings of Vishnu, Shiva and other faiths. At the age of 28 he became the abbot Shila Rakshita ordained in the Mahasanghika line and fully ordained monk ( Bhikshu ). It's called Atisha had over 150 teachers. He was both an outstanding scholar, as well as a realized yogi.

At the age of 32 years (about 1012) Atisha traveled Suvaranadvipa on the island of Sumatra, which was one of the most important centers of Buddhist Studies of the then Indonesia with Java. There he studied about 12 years under the direction of Dharmakirti (also: Serlingpa of Sumatra; Tib: chos kyi gser gling pa grags pa). Before he returned to India at the age of about 44 years Atisha visited for a short time now Sri Lanka. He then spent about another 15 years in India, where he received for his activity and promotion of Buddhism nicknamed Dhammapala ( protector of the doctrine ). At this time he also became the Acharya Maha (Great Acharya; abbot ) of Vikramashila.

Mid 11th century (ca. 1040/1042 ) was invited Atisha by the eldest son of the former king of Guge in Tibet, after the phase of the new translations of Buddhist texts from Sanskrit into Tibetan, and the phase of the so-called second dissemination (Tib.: phyi represents ) of Buddhism in Tibet ( began after Langdarma ).

( :;: Bodhiprabha, the son of King Tib also byang chub 'od ), Rinchen Zangpo Punch ( Tib. rin chen bzang po, also: During the first three years of his stay in Tibet encounters with Changchub Öd were Ratnabhadra, the first translator of texts Sarma was ) and Dromtönpa who helped him to organize the propagation of Buddhist teachings in Tibet, particularly important. Due to political tensions in Nepal Atisha was unable to return to India and agreed to travel with Dromtönpa to Central Tibet, where they met hundreds of monks in Lhasa and the surrounding area. In the following 10 years Atisha and Dromtönpa took many more extended trips through Tibet, where they met with monks and teachings from other members. 1054 died Atisha in Tibet.

Teaching

When Atisha's teachings, which are mainly oriented to the sutras and especially based on the second cycle of teachings of the Buddha Shakyamuni, refuge and bodhichitta played a central role. His insistence on the refuge as the foundation of all Buddhist practice, earned him the nickname of a refuge Lama.

Of particular importance within Tibetan Buddhism is Atisha's Lamrim lamp on the path of awakening ( Bodhipathapradipam ).

The first undisclosed lojong teachings ( Tib. blo sbyong; Mind Training) were first publicly taught generations after Atisha's death in Tibet and integrated into all Tibetan Buddhist schools. An important signature of Atisha to lojong is the jewel crown of bodhisattva.

Furthermore, Atisha is also considered a great Vajrayana master and master important in the transmission of the Kalachakra - Tantra to Tibet. Vajrayana practice, however, he kept very secret. Atisha discovered to his own surprise, so-called hidden treasures, the centuries were previously hidden by Padmasambhava and his closest disciples to preserve Buddhism for the period after Langdarma.

Works

  • Atisha, the Dalai Lama: The lamp on the way. Stages of Buddhist meditation. Diamond -Verlag, Munich 2006, ISBN 3-9810682-1-1 ( original text of Atisha and comment from the 14th Dalai Lama)
  • Atisha, Lobsang Dargyay ( translator's ): Jewel rim of the Bodhisattva. Tibet Institute Rikon 1978, ISBN 3-7206-0000-9
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