Maitrīpāda ( 1007–1085, also known as Maitreyanātha, Advayavajra, and, to Tibetans, Maitrīpa), was a prominent Indian BuddhistMahasiddha associated with the
Mahāmudrā
Mahāmudrā (Sanskrit: महामुद्रा, , contraction of ) literally means "great seal" or "great imprint" and refers to the fact that "all phenomena inevitably are stamped by the fact of wisdom and emptiness inseparable". Mahāmudr ...
transmission of
tantric Buddhism
Vajrayāna ( sa, वज्रयान, "thunderbolt vehicle", "diamond vehicle", or "indestructible vehicle"), along with Mantrayāna, Guhyamantrayāna, Tantrayāna, Secret Mantra, Tantric Buddhism, and Esoteric Buddhism, are names referring t ...
.Roberts, Peter Alan, Mahamudra and Related Instructions: Core Teachings of the Kagyu Schools (Library of Tibetan Classics) 2011, p. 11-12. His teachers were Shavaripa and
Naropa
Nāropā (Prakrit; sa, Nāropāda, Naḍapāda or Abhayakirti) or Abhayakirti was an Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha. He was the disciple of Tilopa and brother, or some sources say partner and pupil, of Niguma. As an Indian Mahasiddha, Naropa's ...
. His students include Atisha, Marpa, Vajrapani, Karopa, Natekara (also known as Sahajavajra), Devākaracandra (also known as Śūnyatāsamādhi), and Rāmapāla. His hermitage was in the Mithila region (also known as Tirhut), somewhere in northern Bihar and neighboring parts of southern Nepal.
Early life
As per Tibetan and Nepalese sources, Maitripada was born into a Brahmin family in Magadha in a village near
Kapilavastu
Kapilavastu may refer to:
*Kapilavastu (ancient city), ancient city, the capital of Shakya
*Taulihawa, Nepal, or Kapilavastu, municipality in Province No. 5, Nepal
*Kapilvastu District
Kapilvastu district ( ne, कपिलवस्तु ज� ...
during the rule of the Pala empire. His year of birth has been commonly placed 1007 C.E. as per the writings of Taranatha who places him around the rule of King Mahipala.
Prior to becoming a Buddhist, he was educated in Pāṇinian grammar and Hindu treatises for 7 years.
After his education, he encountered the Buddhist siddha
Naropa
Nāropā (Prakrit; sa, Nāropāda, Naḍapāda or Abhayakirti) or Abhayakirti was an Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha. He was the disciple of Tilopa and brother, or some sources say partner and pupil, of Niguma. As an Indian Mahasiddha, Naropa's ...
who engaged him in a debate. Maitripada lost the debate and subsequently converted to Buddhism and was ordained as a monk at the monasteries of
Nalanda
Nalanda (, ) was a renowned ''mahavihara'' (Buddhist monastic university) in ancient Magadha (modern-day Bihar), India.Vikramashila in modern-day Bihar.
During his stay at these monasteries he was taught by eminent masters such as Ratnākaraśānti.
Time at Nalanda and Vikramashila
Maitripada had his initial monastic ordination at Nalanda following which he dwelt in Vikramashila where he stayed for four years. While he was noted as an excellent monk, he was also said to be practicing tantra in secret. This was followed by a dispute with his guru, Ratnākaraśānti. Nepalese sources detail that following this dispute, the bodhisattva, Avalokiteśvara appeared in Maitripada's dreams and urged him to renounce the monastic life. Supposedly, he was expelled from the monastery after the abbot, Atiśa, discovered liquor in his dorms.
Travels in South India
Following this, he travelled for four months to South India via boat where he became a disciple of Shavaripa from who he received various tantric instructions. During the latter part of his life, he returned to North India where he composed numerous treaties which are now preserved in the Tibetan Buddhist canon.
Works
Maitrīpāda composed commentaries on the Buddhist ''dohas'' of Saraha. His most important works are a collection of 26 texts on "non-conceptual realization" (''amanasikara''), which are a key Indian source of
mahāmudrā
Mahāmudrā (Sanskrit: महामुद्रा, , contraction of ) literally means "great seal" or "great imprint" and refers to the fact that "all phenomena inevitably are stamped by the fact of wisdom and emptiness inseparable". Mahāmudr ...
in the Tibetan tradition. These works teach a synthesis of Buddhist Mahayana teachings on emptiness and 'non-abiding' (''apratisthana''), and Buddhist tantric practices, and they also teach an "instantaneous" path to awakening.
Maitrīpāda's ''Amanasikara'' cycle of 26 texts is composed of the following:Mathes, Klaus-Dieter, A Fine Blend of Mahamudra and Madhyamaka: Maitripa's Collection of Texts on Non-Conceptual Realization (Amanasikara), (Sitzungsberichte Der Philosophisch-Historischen Klasse), 2016, p. 5.
* ''Kudrstinirghatana''
*''Kudrstinirghatavakyatippinika''
*''Mulapattayah''
*''Sthulapattayah''
*''Tattvaratnavali''
*''Pañcatathagatamudravivarana''
*''Sekanirdesa''
*''Caturmudranvaya''
*''Sekatatparyasamgraha''
*''Vajrasattva-Pañcakara''
*''Mayanirukti''
*''Svapnanirukti''
*''Tattvaprakasa''
*''Apratisthanaprakasa''
*''Yuganaddhaprakasa''
*''Mahasukhaprakasa''
*''Tattvavimsika''
*''Mahayanavimsika''
*Nirvedhapañcaka''
*''Madhyamasatka''
*''Premapañcaka''
*''Tattvadasaka''
*''Amanasikaradhara''
*''Sahajasatka''
*''Dohanidhinamatattvopadesa''
*''Shes pa spro bsdu med par 'jog pa 'i man ngag gsang ba dam pa''
Naropa
Nāropā (Prakrit; sa, Nāropāda, Naḍapāda or Abhayakirti) or Abhayakirti was an Indian Buddhist Mahasiddha. He was the disciple of Tilopa and brother, or some sources say partner and pupil, of Niguma. As an Indian Mahasiddha, Naropa's ...
References
Notes
*"The Life of the Siddha-Philosopher Maitrīgupta" by Mark Tatz'' Journal of the American Oriental Society'' Vol. 107, No. 4, 1987, Oct. - Dec. pgs 695-711