From Mind Only to Buddha Only: Shakya Chokden's Interpretation of Tathāgatagarbha in Tantric Philosophy and Practice

Summary

Shakya Chokden's approach emphasizes that all phenomena are rooted in the mind, which he views as illusory. He establishes non-dual jñāna as the only true reality, essential for tantric contemplative practice. This understanding of tathāgatagarbha as a primordial jñāna with complete buddha-qualities forms the basis for visualizing deities and ultimately perceiving them through direct experience. Practitioners can progress through the tantric path to achieve buddhahood by cultivating this self-cognizing jñāna.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract: Shakya Chokden's approach consists of reducing all phenomena to mind and its appearances, and then negating dualistic minds as illusory and nonexistent and establishing the non-dual jñāna transcending them as the only phenomenon existent in reality—the primordial tathāgatagarbha with all buddha-qualities complete. For him, this interpretation of tathāgatagarbha is indispensable for tantric contemplative practice and for explaining how and why that practice works. The initial identification of tathāgatagarbha as the primordially existent jñāna endowed with buddhaqualities serves as the foundation for conceptually envisioning deities of the ultimate body-maṇḍala and eventually, when enough clarity is achieved, directly perceiving them by jñāna itself. Further cultivation of that self-cognizing jñāna displaying Cakrasaṃvara maṇḍala takes the practitioner through the stages of the tantric path to the eventual achievement of buddhahood qualified by the full manifestation and vision of buddha-qualities from within and by jñāna .