Budapest-1976 József Térjék
Co/lection
of Tibetan MSS
and Xylographs of Alexander
Csoma de Kőrös
of Tibetan MSS
and Xylographs
of Alexander
Csoma de Körös
Keleti Tanulmányok Oriental Studies
3
Editor: Éva Apor
József Térjék
Collection
of Tibetan MSS
and Xylographs of Alexander
Csoma de Körös
Budapest-1976
MAGYAR TUDOMÁNYOS AKADÉMIA KÖNYVTÁRA
L e k t o r á l t a : K a r a György
ISBN 963 7301 17 8
W e r e it not for t h e e n t h u s i a s m of two o u t s t a n d i n g s c h o l a r s , the c o l l e c t i o n b e l o n g i n g to t h e s t o c k of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s s i n c e 1 8 8 5 might well h a v e b e e n c o n s i g n e d to oblivion. Both of them w e r e a d m i r e r s of C s o m a : o n e w a s a n E n g l i s h m a n , S. C. M a l a n , a c o n t e m p o r a r y a n d d i s c i p l e of C s o m a , a n d a l s o h i s p e r s o n a l friend, t h e o t h e r a H u n g a - rian T . Duke, a patriot a n d t r a d i t i o n a l i s t from the next g e n e r a t i o n . It w a s t h r o u g h t h e i r f o r t u n a t e meeting a n d joint e f f o r t s that a b o u t fifty y e a r s a f - t e r C s o m a ' s d e a t h t h i s small c o l l e c t i o n of T i b e t a n b o o k s , e l o q u e n t wit- n e s s e s to the life a n d work of t h e f o u n d e r of T i b e t a n s t u d i e s , c a m e into the p o s s e s s i o n of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s .
T h e o d o r e Duka ( 1 8 1 5 - 1 9 0 8 ) w a s f o r c e d into e m i g r a t i o n a f t e r t h e s u p p r e s s i o n cf t h e H u n g a r i a n w a r of i n d e p e n d e n c e . He w e n t to live in London w h e r e h e w a s s o o n b u s y l e a r n i n g to a d a p t liimseif to h i s c h o s e n c o u n t r y . He w a s to b e c o m e o n e of its w o r t h y c i t i z e n s . H i s a d v e n t u r o u s life took him in 1854 to India, t h e l a n d w h e r e h i s c o m p a t r i o t , A l e x a n d e r C s o m a de K o r d s h a d o n c e w o r k e d u n d e r a r d u o u s c o n d i t i o n s . Having
l e a r n t a b o u t C s o m a h e m a d e it h i s aim in life to gain j u s t a c k n o w l e d g e m e n t a n d f a m e for t h i s u n f a i r l y i g n o r e d H u n g a r i a n s c h o l a r . E v e n a f t e r h i s t w e n t y y e a r s ' s t a y in India h e r e m a i n e d t r u e to h i s r e s o l v e u p to h i s d e a t h a n d did all h e c o u l d to m a k e C s o m a ' s work k n o w n to s u c c e e d i n g g e n e r a t i o n s . Without h i s d e v o t i o n C s o m a ' s b i o g r a p h y would p e r h a p s still b e unknown a s what w e know a b o u t him c o m e s from h i s r e s e a r c h a n d p r e s e n t a t i o n (T. D u - k a : Life a n d W o r k s of A l e x a n d e r C s o m a d e K o r b s , L o n d o n , 1885; the w o r k w a s p u b l i s h e d in H u n g a r i a n : D u k a T i v a d a r : K ö r ö s i C s o m a S á n d o r d o l g o z a - tai, B u d a p e s t , 1 8 8 5 ) . H i s d e t e r m i n a t i o n to find out a s m u c h a s h e c o u l d
4
a b o u t Csoma b r o u g h t D u k a into c o n t a c t with S. C. M a l a n , a l r e a d y a v e r y o l d m a n at that time, o n e of C s o m a ' s p e r s o n a l a c q u a i n t a n c e s .
S. C. M a l a n ( 1 8 1 2 - 1 8 9 4 ) w a s a c l e r g y m a n who went to India in 1 8 3 7 , w h e r e h e t a u g h t at B i s h o p C o l l e g e ( C a l c u t t a ) . T h r o u g h h i s f a r - r e a c h i n g i n t e r e s t in a n d k n o w l e d g e of o r i e n t a l i s t i c s t u d i e s he w a s s o o n a p p o i n t e d s e c r e t a r y of t h e A s i a t i c S o c i e t y of B e n g a l , t h e v e r y institute w h e r e Csoma w a s w o r k i n g a s a l i b r a r i a n at t h a t time. Malan b e g a n to l e a r n T i b e t a n from C s o m a , a n d t h e i r r e l a t i o n g r a d u a l l y d e e p e n e d into a g e n u i n e f r i e n d s h i p . On h i s r e t u r n to E n g l a n d in 1 8 3 9 M a l a n a s C s o m a ' s o n l y s t u d e n t w a s g i v e n C s o m a ' s m o s t p r e c i o u s p o s s e s s i o n , h i s c o l l e c t i o n of T i b e t a n b o o k s .
T . D u k a f i r s t b e c a m e a c q u a i n t e d with S . C. M a l a n in 1883. It i s f o r t u n a t e for u s t h a t t h e y kept u p a l e n g t h y c o r r e s p o n d e n c e . M a l a n , t h e n v i c a r of B r o a d w i n d s o r mentioned t h e b o o k s in h i s f i r s t letter: "He g a v e me all h i s T i b e t a n b o o k s , which a r e at t h i s moment o n my s h e l v e s . " ( O c t o b e r 15, 1 8 8 3 ) . Duka m a n a g e d to p e r s u a d e him to s e n d t h e b o o k s to C s o m a ' s c o u n t r y , H u n g a r y , a n d s o o n M a l a n ' s l e t t e r s w e r e g i v i n g an a c c o u n t of t h e p r e p a r a t i o n s f o r d o i n g s o : "I am a b o u t d i s p o s i n g of my l i b r a r y . A n d I f e e l s o r r y to s c a t t e r a b o u t C s o m a ' s T i b e t a n b o o k s a n d M S S which h e g a v e me in 1 8 3 9 , which I h a v e u s e d a n d k e p t e v e r s i n c e f o r h i s s a k e . But it s t r i k e s me that t h e U n i v e r s i t y of B u d a P e s t h w o u l d be the p r o p e r home f o r t h o s e t r e a s u r e s . " ( A p r i l 5, 1 8 8 4 ) . "I am a r r a n g i n g a n d t i c k e t t i n g C s o - m a ' s T i b e t a n b o o k s . When r e a d y t h e y s h a l l be to y o u at o n c e . I'm l o o k i n g them o v e r . T h e y s o remind me of him!" ( A p r i l 12, 1 8 8 4 ) . " T h e b o o k s l e a v e t h i s t o - m o r r o w to y o u r a d d r e s s . You w o u l d h a v e r e c e i v e d them a r e t h i s ; but I h a d to u n p a c k a n d r e - p a c k them m o r e s e c u r e l y . T h e y h a d b e t - t e r r e m a i n a s t h e y a r e . Only I w o u l d r e c o m m e n d y o u p l a c i n g t h e p a r c e l a s it i s , in a w o o d e n box. T h e y will t r a v e l m o r e s e c u r e l y . - It h a s c o s t me a little to s a y g o o d b y e to them. But I f e e l t h a t t h e y o u g h t to r e s t in y o u r U n i v e r s i t y w h e r e I t r u s t t h e y will be t a k e n c a r e of, a n d v a l u e d f o r p o o r d e a r C s o m a ' s s a k e . " ( A p r i l 17, 1 8 8 4 ) . "1 w r o t e t h e c h a r a c t e r of e a c h o n t h e first leaf, from C s o m a ' s o w n mouth." ( A p r i l 25, 1 8 8 4 ) . "I t h o u g h t at o n e time of g i v i n g t h e m the I n d i a n Institute C s o m a ' s b o o k s ; but o n s e c - o n d thought I d e c i d e d that more j u s t w a y would b e to s e n d them to H u n - g a r y t h r o u g h y o u . " ( J u n e G, 1 8 8 4 ) .
A f t e r a n n o t a t i n g them h e s e n t the c o l l e c t i o n , c o n s i s t i n g of f o r t y items, to T . D u k a who d i s p l a y e d t h e m a t e r i a l in L o n d o n , at t h e exhibition of t h e R o y a l A s i a t i c S o c i e t y ( T . D u k a , Some R e m a r k s o n the Life a n d L a b o u r s of A l e x a n d e r C s o m a de K ö r ö s , d e l i v e r e d o n t h e o c c a s i o n w h e n h i s T i b e t a n B o o k s a n d M S S w e r e e x h i b i t e d b e f o r e t h e Royal A s i a t i c S o - c i e t y o n t h e 16th J u n e , 1884: J R A S 1884, pp. 4 8 6 - 4 9 4 . - In H u n g a r i a n t r a n s l a t i o n : B u d a p e s t i S z e m l e , 39 ( 1 8 8 4 ) , No. 93, pp. 4 6 3 - 4 7 2 . ) .
T o t h e l e t t e r of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s t h a n k i n g him for h i s g e n e r o u s gift M a l a n r e p l i e s : "I h a v e r e a d it with g r a t i f i c a t i o n at finding t h a t I did the right thing in s e n d i n g C s o r n a ' s b o o k s a n d M S S w h e r e t h e y o u g h t to be, a n d t h a t t h e gift h a s g i v e n p l e a s u r e to y o u a n d to y o u r f r i e n d s . I r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r of t h a n k s from y o u r A c a d e m y in H u n g a r i a n a n d E n g l i s h . I s e e I must b r u s h u p my H u n g a r i a n - a m a g n i f i c e n t t o n g u e . But r e a l l y I h a v e not time f o r e v e r y t h i n g . W h e t h e r in H u n g a r i a n o r in E n g l i s h , h o w e v e r , I am d e l i g h t e d at b e i n g t h e m e a n s of c o n t r i b u t i n g to the d u e a p - p r e c i a t i o n of C s o m a ' s c h a r a c t e r a n d worth. " ( O c t o b e r 27, 1 8 8 4 ) . So t h e C s o m a Collection h a s b e e n in the L i b r a r y of the H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s s i n c e 1884, t r e a s u r e d a s a most v a l u a b l e monument from t h e p a s t . In 1942 a c a t a l o g u e of t h e c o l l e c t i o n w a s p r e p a r e d (I. J. Nagy, T i b e t - a n B o o k s a n d M a n u s c r i p t s of A l e x a n d e r Csoma de K ö r ö s in the L i b r a r y of the H u n g a r i a n A c a d e m y of S c i e n c e s , B u d a p e s t 1 9 4 2 ) , in which M a i a n ' s o r i g i n a l c a t a l o g u e - n u m b e r s w e r e c h a n g e d by L. J. N a g y , who i n c l u d e d two T i b e t a n b o o k s which w e r e not l i s t e d by Malan a n d a r e not to be r e g a r d e d a s part of the C s o m a C o l l e c t i o n ( t h e s e two b o o k s ( N o . 23 a n d No. 24 in L. J. N a g y ' s c a t a l o g u e - may h a v e b e e n b e q u e a t h e d b y T . D u k a ) .
F o r m a l l y the C o l l e c t i o n c a n b e divided into two l a r g e p a r t s . T h e f i r s t p a r t c o v e r s t h e b o o k s C s o m a a c q u i r e d t h r o u g h p u r c h a s e . T h e s e , mostly b l o c k - p r i n t s , a r e well-known w o r k s of Lamaist l i t e r a t u r e , c o p i e s of which c a n o f t e n be f o u n d in m o n a s t e r i e s , a n d e v e n o c c a s i o n a l l y in E u r o p e a n l i b r a r i e s . T h u s t h e i r i m p o r t a n c e l i e s not s o much in t h e i r individual v a l u e but in the f a c t t h a t t h e y r e f l e c t the n a t u r e of C s o m a ' s c h o i c e . T h e o t h e r g r o u p c o n s i s t s of t h e M S S p r e p a r e d at h i s r e q u e s t by c o n t e m p o r a r y Lamas. T h e u n i q u e n e s s of t h e s e b o o k s i s not only d u e to t h e i r origin a n d o u t s i d e form but to t h e i r c o n t e n t s a s well, a s t h e i r a r r a n g e m e n t i s b a s e d on C s o m a ' s q u e s t i o n s a b o u t Lamaist l i t e r a - ture; t h e y b e c a m e k n o w n in t h e l i t e r a t u r e of T i b e t a n s t u d i e s a s t h e " A l e x a n d - e r - b o o k s " .
6
T h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s
T h e s c h o l a r l y w o r l d a c q u i r e d k n o w l e d g e of t h e s o c a l l e d A l e x - a n d e r - b o o k s only in t h e f i r s t d e c a d e s of t h i s c e n t u r y , o n l y l a t e r did t h e y l e a r n of the e x i s t e n c e of t h e o r i g i n a l c o p i e s in B u d a p e s t . In the t w e n t i e s J. G e r g a n , a T i b e t a n m e m b e r of t h e M o r a v i a n M i s s i o n , f o u n d a book in t h e m o n a s t e r y l i b r a r y of R j o n - k h u l in L a d a k h that w a s written, at C s o m a ' s
r e q u e s t by a c e r t a i n r e v e r e d Lama, K u n - d g a ' c h o s - l e g s . He informed t h e o u t s t a n d i n g T i b e t i s t of t h e a g e , A . H. F r a n c k e , of h i s f i n d a n d tie l a t e r p u b l i s h e d the text of t h e book ( A . H. F r a n c k e , N e u e s ü b e r Csoma d e K ö - r ö s : U n g a r i s c h e J a h r b ü c h e r VI ( 1 9 2 6 ) , p p . 3 2 0 - 3 2 2 ; A . H. F r a n c k e , Die F r a g e n d e s A l e x a n d e r . E i n e v o n A l e x a n d e r C s o m a d e K o r o s h e r v o r g o m - f e n e t i b e t i s c h e S c h r i f t : U n g a r i s c h e J a h r b ü c h e r VIII ( 1 9 2 8 ) , pp. 3 7 5 - 3 7 7 ) . O n r e a d i n g F r a n c k e ' s a r t i c l e L. Ligeti a n n o u n c e d in a p u b l i c a t i o n that t h e o r i g i n a l of K u n - d g a ' c h o s - l e g s ' s s y l l a b u s w a s to b e f o u n d in B u d a p e s t , in t h e C s o m a - C o l l e c t i o n , w h i c h c o n t a i n e d a n u m b e r of o t h e r A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s , t h e s y l l a b u s e s of C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o a n d S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s ( " t h e L a m a " ) . (L. Ligeti, O u v r a g e s t i b é t a i n s r é d i g é s a l ' u s a g e de Csoma: T ' o u n g P a o XXX ( 1 9 3 5 ) , p p . 2 6 - 3 6 ) . L. J. N a g y , in tiis c a t a l o g u e mentioned above?, d e s c r i b e d o n e m o r e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k w h i c h l i a s n e i t h e r a title n o r a c o l o - p h o n . He w a s t h u s u n a b l e to i d e n t i f y i t s a u t h o r . I h a v e , h o w e v e r , e s t a b l i s h - e d t h a t it w a s a l s o written by S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s . T h u s the C s o m a - C o l l e c t i o n c o n t a i n s f o u r A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s (No. 3, No. 4, No. 6, No. 8 ) , c o v - e r i n g f i v e s u b j e c t s . O n e w a s written b y K u n - d g a * c . h o s - l e g s (No. 4 ) , t h e o t h e r by Chul-khrims r g y a - m c h o (No. 3 ) , while t h e r e m a i n i n g t h r e e w e r e p r e p a r e d by S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s (No. 6/a, No. 6/b, No. 8 ) .
A s c a n b e u n q u e s t i o n a b l y e s t a b l i s h e d from t h e col option of t h e N o . 3 A l e x a n d e r - b o o k a n d C s o m a ' s l e t t e r of May 5th 1 8 2 5 , all the A l e x - a n d e r - b o o k s w e r e p r e p a r e d d u r i n g C s o m a ' s stu> in t h e m o n a s t e r y of Z u n g - la (from June 1 8 2 3 to O c t o b e r 1824 ). Of t h e a u t h o r s S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s w a s C s o m a ' s " t e a c h e r " , while K u n - d g a ' é ho s—legs a n d C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o w e r e f a m o u s I.amas- of X a n s k a r , t h e f o r m e r a l s o b e i n g a r e l a - t i v e of "the Lama".
T h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s show a unity in s h a p e , b e i n g an of t h e
s a m e s i z e , written o n s i m i l a r ( E n g l i s h o r I n d i a n ) p a p e r , a n d all a p p e a r - i n g in b o o k l e t form, u n l i k e t h e u s u a l pothi form of T i b e t a n b o o k s . T h e y m u s t h a v e b e e n C s o m a ' s n o t e - b o o k s g i v e n to t h e L a m a s b y him o n p u r - p o s e . T h i s s u p p o s i t i o n s e e m s to b e s u p p o r t e d by t h e f a c t that a n o t h e r C s o m a n o t e b o o k , a l s o to b e f o u n d in t h e Library of t h e H u n g a r i a n A c a d e - my of S c i e n c e s , in w h i c h h e d i s c u s s e s S a n s k r i t - H u n g a r i a n e t y m o l o g i e s e t c . , i s of t h e s a m e form a n d binding.
A s f o r t h e i r c o n t e n t s t h e f i v e b o o k s c a n n o t b e t r e a t e d u n d e r t h e s a m e h e a d i n g . E a c h of S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s ' b o o k s i s a n e x t r a c t a n d c o m p e n d i u m of f u n d a m e n t a l w o r k s : R g y u d - b z i ' s s t u d y of m e d i c i n e (No. 6 / a ) , S u r e s a m a t i b h a d r a ' s s t u d y of a s t r o l o g y (No. 6 / b ) a n d S n a n - n a g ' s work o n l i t e r a r y t h e o r y (No. 8 ) . T h e two o t h e r A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s a r e of h i g h e r q u a l - ity, both b e i n g the p r o d u c t of g e n u i n e t h i n k i n g . T h e y a r e d i f f e r e n t from t h e
" L a m a ' s " b o o k s in that t h e y a r e a n s w e r s g i v e n to C s o m a ' s q u e s t i o n s by t h e two t h e o l o g i s t s . K u n - d g a ' C h o s - l e g s g a v e a c o n c i s e s u m m a r y of L a m a - i s t - B u d d h i s t s c h o l a s t i c s ( c o s m o l o g y , B u d d h a ' s life a n d t e a c h i n g , the s p r e a d of t h e B u d d h i s t o r d e r a n d B u d d h i s t l i t e r a t u r e , t h e lam-rim a n d t h e p r a t i - m o k s a j, while C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o ' s s y l l a b u s d e a l s with t h e s o c a l l e d s e c u l a r s c i e n c e s c u l t i v a t e d in T i b e t , e s p e c i a l l y with l o g i c . It i s quite e v i - d e n t that t h e s e f a m o u s L a m a s ' s y l l a b u s e s w e r e p r e p a r e d t h r o u g h t h e m e d i - a t i o n of S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s , a n d it i s a l s o c e r t a i n t h a t h e himself w a s unwilling to write o n t h o s e s u b j e c t s , e i t h e r b e c a u s e h e h a d n o c o n f i d e n c e in h i s c o m p e t e n c e o r h e w a s too b u s y to d e a l with all t h e s u b j e c t s b y h i m s e l f . A s c a n be c l e a r l y e s t a b l i s h e d from C s o m a ' s l e t t e r s , "the Lama"
w a s e n g a g e d in o t h e r s c h e m e s too; f o r e x a m p l e tie w a s p r e p a r i n g v a r i o u s w o r d - l i s t s f o r C s o m a , w h i c h fact m a k e s it p o s s i b l e that t h e R c i s - k y i s n o n - ' g r o n e r - ' k h o r n o m - g s a l m a n u s c r i p t ( N o . 3 2 ) , a l t h o u g h it h a s n e i t h e r i n t r o - d u c t i o n n o r c o l o p h o n w a s a l s o written by him; it i s of t h e pothi type, c h a r - a c t e r i s t i c of T i b e t a n b o o k s .
What p a r t do t h e s e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s play in T i b e t a n literature?
T h e e p i s t l e ( a n s w e r s to q u e s t i o n s , ' d r i - l o n ) i s a widely u s e d form in T i - b e t a n l i t e r a t u r e f o r r e l i g i o u s d i s p u t e s , written with t h e aim of t e a c h i n g a n d d i s p e l l i n g d o u b t s . B o o k s of t h i s kind a r e found in the C s o m a - C o l l o c t i o n too ( N o . 25, No. 26, No. 2 7 ) . T h o s e e p i s t l e s w e r e t h e n i n s e r t e d in t h e c o l l e c t e d w o r k s of a u t h o r s , w h i c h s h o w s that they w e r e t a k e n s e r i o u s l y .
8
What i s m o r e , t h e y p r o d u c e d t h e i r own l i t e r a t u r e a s i s s h o w n by a n o t h e r b o o k (No. 1 9 ) in t h e C s o m a - C o l l e c t i o n : o n e of C o n - k h a - p a ' s l e t t e r s , c o n - s i s t i n g of o n l y a few p a g e s , w a s c o m m e n t e d o n by t h e s e c o n d p a n - c h e n Lama in a s i x t y p a g e l o n g s t u d y . C o n s e q u e n t l y t h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s do not s h o w a n y d e v i a t i o n from t h e u s u a l f o r m s of T i b e t a n l i t e r a t u r e .
What do t h e a u t h o r s t h e m s e l v e s think of t h e i r work? T h e p l e d g e ( d a m - b t a1) following t h e i n v o c a t i o n in e a c h s y l l a b u s i s full of a p o l i g i e s . K u n - d g a ' ó h o s - l e g s r e g a r d s h i s w o r k a " c o n f u s e d little study"; he w r i t e s t h a t h i s booklet r e q u i r e s from t h e r e a d e r only slight i n t e l l e c t u a l e f f o r t s a n d
"will not b r i n g l u c k f o r wisdom" (No. 4 ) . S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s r e f u s e s to allow h i s work to b e c r i t i c a l l y e x a m i n e d b e c a u s e h e d o e s not want to c o m p e t e with t h e w i s e (No. 6 / a ) , "not e x p e c t i n g to b e a d m i r e d , a c k n o w - l e d g e d o r s t u d i e d t h o r o u g l y by t h e w i s e " (No. 8 ) .
T h e a u t h o r s ' s e l f - d i s p a r a g e m e n t i s e v e n m o r e e v i d e n t from t h e t i t l e s of t h e b o o k s a n d t h e c o l o p h o n s . T h e b o o k s h a v e no r e a l t i t l e s a n d t h e c o l o p h o n s e m p h a s i z e t h e s h o r t c o m i n g s of t h e t r e a t m e n t of the s u b j e c t - m a t t e r . T h e s e f e a t u r e s of t h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s a r e all t h e more s t r i k i n g w h e n we think of t h e l o n g , e m b e l l i s h e d b o o k - t i t l e s c u s t o m a r y in T i b e t a n l i t e r a t u r e ( e . g . No. 5 ) o r highly e m b e l l i s h e d a n d g r a n d i l o q u e n t c o l o p h o n s . H o w e v e r , t h e L a m a s ' b e h a v i o u r i s f a r from b e i n g o d d to t h o s e who a r e f a - miliar with T i b e t a n s t u d i e s . F i r s t t h e s y l l a b u s e s h a d to b e written u p in a n u n u s u a l l y s h o r t time a n d not o n i n s p i r a t i o n but o n c o m m i s s i o n . It m a y a l s o h a v e g i v e n them s o m e d i s c o m f o r t that t h e y w e r e to comply with t h e r e q u e s t s a n d c o n f i n e t h e m s e l v e s to limited l e n g t h s a n d s u b j e c t s , s o m e t h i n g t h e y w e r e totally u n a c c u s t o m e d to. It i s only n a t u r a l t h a t t h e L a m a s c o m - p a r e d t h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s to t h e s t a n d a r d s of T i b e t a n book-writing. T h e u n d o u b t e d l y highly e d u c a t e d L a m a s w e r e u n d e r s t a n d a b l y d i s c o n t e n t e d w h e n t h e y w e r e a s k e d to w r i t e a s h o r t s u m m a r y of t h e w i d e l y known m e d i c a l w o r k of R g y u d - b á i o r to e x p l a i n t h e m e a n i n g of t h e w o r d " B u d d h a " . S o t h e c r e d i t m u s t c l e a r l y g o to C s o m a f o r h i s t e n a c i t y in m a k i n g t h e L a m a s
w r i t e t h e s y l l a b u s e s . C s o m a h a d t h e s e l e t t e r s written at t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g s of h i s s t u d i e s a n d r e s e a r c h into Lamaism, a n e n t i r e l y u n k n o w n field of k n o w l e d g e for him ( a n d i n d e e d f o r t h e E u r o p e a n mind in g e n e r a l at t h a t time ) .
But o n e of t h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s , C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o ' s w o r k ,
s t a n d s out from t h e r e s t in that it h a s a n e l o q u e n t title a n d a l e n g t h y , e m - b e l l i s h e d c o l o p h o n . T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n s p e a k s of t h e q u e s t i o n s p o s e d with g r e a t r e s p e c t , admitting that t h e y w e r e not too e a s y to a n s w e r . It i s a lit- i s s u r p r i s i n g to find t h i s c o n t r a s t of form a n d style if w e r e m e m b e r that C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o w a s t h e b e s t q u a l i f i e d of all t h e a u t h o r s of t h e A - l e x a n d e r - b o o k s . T h e e x p l a n a t i o n c o u l d b e f o u n d in C h u l - k r i m s r g y a - m c h o ' s i n t r o d u c t i o n . T h e q u e s t i o n s r e f e r r i n g to t h e e s s e n t i a l n o t i o n s of Buddhism may h a v e c o n f u s e d a n d e m b a r r a s s e d t h e L a m a s who h a d p r o b a b l y b e e n n e v e r a s k e d to think a b o u t them b e f o r e in t h e i r strictly r e g u l a t e d m o n a s t i c life. T h e y w e r e a c c u s t o m e d to s o p h i s t i c a t e d t h e o l o g i c a l d i s p u t e s , a n d a c o n c i s e summary of e s s e n t i a l q u e s t i o n s may h a v e p r o v o k e d s c o r n a n d r i - d i c u l e in Lamalst c i r c l e s . C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o , h o w e v e r , a l t h o u g h a r a b - ' b y a m s - p a , did not think it w a s b e n e a t h h i s dignity to a n s w e r C s o m a ' s q u e s t i o n s , while K u n - d g a ' i h o s - l e g s i s full of r e s e n t m e n t a n d e x c u s e s a l - t h o u g h h i s little s y l l a b u s b e c a m e r e m a r k a b l y p o p u l a r e v e n with the T i b e t - a n s , with s e v e r a l c o p i e s m a d e a n d s p r e a d among them.
T h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s w e r e of g r e a t heip to C s o m a . T r u e , h e t r a n s l a t e d only o n e of them ( S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s ' w o r k o n m e d i c i n e ) into E n g l i s h , but h o m a d e u s e of t h e o t h e r b o o k s too, e s p e c i a l l y in a c - q u i r i n g c e r t a i n b o o k s r e c o m m e n d e d in t h e L a m a s ' s y l l a b u s e s .
T h e R e s t of t h e Collection
Csoma i s known to h a v e c o l l e c t e d a l a r g e n u m b e r of x y l o g r a p h s a n d m a n u s c r i p t s d u r i n g h i s s e v e n y e a r s t a y in m o n a s t e r i e s ; it c a n , t h e r e - f o r e , b e s a f e l y p r e s u m e d that t h e b o o k s to b e found in t h e Collection a r e but a f r a c t i o n of w h a t h e o r i g i n a l l y c o l l e c t e d . T h e q u e s t i o n i s w h e t h e r t h e C o l l e c t i o n i s t h e o u t c o m e of s y s t e m a t i c a n d d e l i b e r a t e s e l e c t i o n o r t h e a c - c i d e n t a l s u r v i v a l of b o o k s . T h e a n s w e r p r o b a b l y i s t h a t t h i s Collection f o r m e d C s o m a ' s p r i v a t e l i b r a r y in the s e n s e that it i n c l u d e d b o o k s o n s u b - j e c t s in which h e h a d a s i n t e r e s t . T h e r e i s some e v i d e n c e to s u p p o r t t h i s . T h e b o o k s all c o n t a i n n o t e s m a d e by Csoma, a s i g n of t h e i r b e - ing t h o r o u g h l y r e a d a n d s t u d i e d by him. B e s i d e s , h e m a r k e d the initials of
t h e c h a p t e r s a n d s u b d i v i s i o n s in c o l o u r e d ink. What is, h o w e v e r , more e s - s e n t i a l i s that h e m a d e m a r g i n a l a n n o t a t i o n s with p e n c i l . T h e s e a n n o t a t i o n s a r e in g e n e r a l c o m m e n t a r i e s , mostly t h e S a n s k r i t e q u i v a l e n t in t r a n s c r i p t i o n of a T i b e t a n term, o r s o m e r e m a r k s in E n g l i s h . C o m p a r i s o n s m a d e with C s o m a ' s h a n d w r i t i n g t e s t i f y to t h e s e b e i n g h i s own.
T h e r e i s a n u n d o u b t e d r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s a n d t h e r e s t of t h e C o l l e c t i o n . It i s s h o w n by t h e f a c t t h a t most of t h e w o r k s r e c o m m e n d e d b y t h e L a m a s in t h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s c a n be f o u n d in t h e Collection. S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s , for i n s t a n c e , c a l l s C s o m a ' s a t - t e n t i o n in h i s s y l l a b u s o n linguistic a n d l i t e r a r y t h e o r y (No. 8 ) to w o r k s of t h e s a m e kind w h i c h a r e i n d e e d i n c l u d e d in the Collection (No. 33, 34, 35, 3 6 a n d No. 10, 3 7 ) . Similarly, S u r e á a m a t i b h u d r a ' s w o r k s , a b s t r a c t e d by
" t h e Lama", a r e i n c l u d e d in the C o l l e c t i o n (No. 7, 29, 30, 3 1 ) , a s well a s t h e m o s t important p r o d u c t s of the lam-rim d o c t r i n e r e v i e w e d at g r e a t l e n g t h by K u n - d g a ' é h o s - l e g s (No. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 1 9 ) , e t c . On t h e b a s i s of t h i s it s e e m s e v i d e n t that t h e s e b o o k s c o v e r C s o m a ' s s u b j e c t s a n d main field of i n t e r e s t .
H e r e f o l l o w s a brief s u m m a r y of the s u b j e c t s r e p r e s e n t e d in t h e C o l l e c t i o n . F i r s t of all come t h e s o c a l l e d s e c u l a r s c i e n c e s with s p e c i a l e m p h a s i s on T i b e t a n l i n g u i s t i c s : t h e two most important w o r k s o n T i b e t a n l i n g u i s t i c s ( S u m - i u - p a a n d R t a g s - ' j u g - p a ) a n d t h e i r r a r e c o m m e n t a r i e s ; a d i c t i o n a r y of T i b e t a n l a n g u a g e reform ( t h e f a m o u s Li-Si g u r - k h a n ) ; t h e most c o m p r e h e n s i v e s u m m a r y of t h e t h e o r y of l i t e r a t u r e ( t h e K á v y a d a r s a c o m - m e n t a r y by the 5th D a l a i Lama). T h e n e x t field i s L a m a i s t a s t r o n o m y a n d c h r o n o l o g y (mostly t h e w o r k s of S u r e s a m a t i b h a d r a of t h e a b o v e m e n t i o n e d D r u g - p a o r d e r ) . T h e n c o m e h i s t o r i c a l w o r k s (not a l w a y s c o n s i d e r e d o n e of t h e s e c u l a r s c i e n c e s ) , of which t h e two most o u t s t a n d i n g a r e T a r a n ä t h a ' s a n d P a d m a d k a r - p o ' s w o r k s . Of B u d d h i s t a n d Lamaist s c h o l a s t i c s C s o m a w a s primarily i n t e r e s t e d in lam-rim, t h a t i s the d o c t r i n e c r e a t e d by C o n - k h a - p a , r e p r e s e n t e d by h i s own w o r k s a n d t h e i r c o m m e n t a r i e s . E s o t e r i c t e n d e n c i e s seem not to h a v e a t t r a c t e d C s o m a ' s a t t e n t i o n , e x c e p t for t h e t h e o r y of b a r - d o ( a n t ű r á b h a v a , " i n t e r m e d i a t e - e x i s t e n c e " ) . T h u s the five m a i n f i e l d s of C s o m a ' s i n t e r e s t a r e : T i b e t a n l i n g u i s t i c s and t h e o r y of lit- e r a t u r e , history, L a m a i s t a s t r o n o m y a n d c h r o n o l o g y a n d t h e t h e o r y of lam-rim.
Looking t h r o u g h t h e list of b o o k s in t h e Collection, h o w e v e r , w e c a n n o t find b o o k s o n t h e s u b j e c t s d e a l t with in h i s p u b l i c a t i o n s . It d o e s not i n c l u d e , f o r i n s t a n c e , t h e d i c t i o n a r y of B u d d h i s t terminology, t h o u g h i t s a c q u i s i t i o n i s m e n t i o n e d in h i s l e t t e r of May 1825; a n d similarly t h e r e i s no t r a c e of the a p h o r i s m - c o l l e c t i o n , t h e S u b h ä s i t a r a t n a n i d h i , e t c . On t h e o t h e r h a n d h i s p u b l i c a t i o n s do not mention the b o o k s in t h e Collection o r o n l y mention them briefly. C o n s e q u e n t l y t h e Collection c o n t a i n s b o o k s C s o - ma w a s c u r r e n t l y a t w o r k on. But h e g a v e a w a y h i s b o o k s in 1839 b e f o r e h e h a d c o m p l e t e d h i s s t u d i e s a n d p u b l i s h e d them. He e v e n g a v e a w a y t h e A l e x a n d e r - b o o k s , t h o u g h h e must h a v e b e e n p e r s o n a l l y a t t a c h e d to hem. T h e f a c t that h e did not t a k e a n y T i b e t a n b o o k s with him o n h i s j o u r - n e y to D a r j e e l i n g m a y l e a d u s to think that C s o m a , by p r e s e n t i n g h i s T i - b e t a n l i b r a r y to M a l a n , w a s no l o n g e r i n t e r e s t e d in c o n t i n u i n g h i s T i b e t a n s t u d i e s . H i s d e s i r e to find the n a t i v e l a n d of t h e H u n g a r i a n s may h a v e b e e n a r o u s e d a n d h e s e t out o n h i s a r d u o u s j o u r n e y .
S a l a m o n C. M a i a n ( 1 8 1 2 - 1 8 9 4 )
S e c u l a r s c i e n c e s
L i n g u i s t i c s
S g r a d a n s n a n - n a g s d e b - s b y o r s o g s - k y i don ( A l e x a n d e r - b o o k , A: S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s ) No. 8
B y ä - k a - r a - n a S u m - i u - p a ( C a n o n i c a l w o r k , A: A n u ) No. 33 B y ä - k a - r a - n a R t a g s - k y i ' j u g - p a ( C a n o n i c a l work, A : Ainu) No. 33
L u n - s t o n - p a S u m - i u - p a d a n R t a g s - k y i ' j u g - p a ' i r n a m - g r e l , l e g s - p a r b é a d - pa; " S n a n - b y e d n o r - b u " ( A : R n a m - g l i n - p a , D k o n - m c h o g i h o s - g r a g s ) No. 36
B o d - k y i b r d a ' i b s t a n - b c o s , l e g s - p a r b s a d - p a ; " R i n - p o - i h e ' i z a - m a - t o g b k o d - p a " ( A : á a - l u - p a , í h o s - s k y o n b z a n - p o ) No. 34
B o d - k y i b r d a ' i b y e - b r a g , g s a l - b a r b y e d - p a ' i b s t a n - b c o s , c h i g - l e ' u r b y a s - p a ;
" M k h a s - p a ' i n a g - g i s g r o n - m a " ( A : D p a ' - k h a n l o - c a - b a , D b y a n s - i a n s n e m s - p a ' i s d e ) No. 3 5
B o d - k y i s k a c l - l a s g s a r rnin-gi b r d a ' i k h y a d - p a r s t o n - p a , l e g s - p a r b s a d - p a ' i
"Li-ái'i g u r - k h a n " ( A : S k y o g s - s t o n ) No. 9 i o s - k y i m o m - g r a n s ( A : D p a l - b r c e g s ) No. 13
R g y a - s k a d k l o g - t h a b s - k y i g á u n - d o n , d p e r - b r j o d - d a n b c a s - p a ; " K l a g s - p a s c h o g - p a " ( A : K u n - d g a ' b d e - l e g s ) No. 38
T h e o r y of l i t e r a t u r e
S g r a d a n s n a n - n a g s d e b - s b y o r s o g s - k y i don ( A l e x a n d e r - b o o k , A: S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s )
14
S n o n - n a g me-lon d k a ' - g r e l ; " D b y a r i s - á a n d g y e s - p a ' i g l u - d b y a r i s " ( A : r g y a l - b a i n a - p a , N a g - d b a n b l o - b z a n r g y a - m c h o ) No. 37-
M n o n - b r j o d ; "Mu-tig-gi ' p h r e n - ba" ( A : D p a l - ' j i n - s d e ) No. 10
L o g i c
D r i s - l a n ; " G r u b - m t h a ' i r g y a - m c h o r ' j u g - p a ' i g r u - r j i n " ( A l e x a n d e r - b o o k , A ; C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o ) No. 3
M e d i c i n e
G s o - d p y a d y a n - l a g b r g y a d - p a R g y u d - b z i ' i bsdom&-chig b k o d - p a ( A l e x a n d e r - b o o k , A : S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s ) No, 6/a
A s t r o n o m y , c h r o n o l o g y
R c i s - k y i b s t a n - b c o s ( A l e x a n d e r - b o o k , A : S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s ) No. 6 / b R c i s - k y i s n o n - ' g r o n e r - ' k h o r n a m - g s a l "Rig-lam s g o - ' b y e d " ( A : S a n s - r g y a s
p h u n - c h o g s ? ? ) No. 3 2
B s t a n - r c i s ; " D o d - s b y i n g t e r - b u m " ( A : S u r e s a m a t i b h a d r a ) No. 30
G d a n ( - b á i ) D u s ( - ' k h o r ) thun-mon-gi r c i s - g á i (A: S u r e á a m a t i b h a d r a ) No, 31 G d a n ( - b z i ) D u s ( - ' k h o r ) t h u n - m o r i s - k y i b r c i s - g á i ' i r n a m - b á a d ; " B l o - g s a l
d g a ' - b a b s k y e d - p a ' i p a d - c h a l " ( A : S u r e s a m a t i b h a d r a ) No. 7
D u s - k y i ' k h o r - l o ' i ' c h a d - t h a b s - k y i z i n - b r i s l e g s - b s a d ; " G s a l - b a ' i m e - l o n "
( A : S u r e s a m a t i b h a d r a ) No. 29
H i s t o r y of R e l i g i o n
C h o s - ' b y u n ; " B s t a n - p a ' i p a d m a rgyas—pa'i n i n - b y e d " ( A : P a d m a d k a r - p o ) N o . 20
B c o m - l d a n - ' d a s t h u b - p a ' i d b a n - p o ' i m j a d - p a mdo-cam b r j o d - p a m t h o n - b a s d o n - l d a n r a b - t u d g a ' - b a - d a n b c a s - p a s ; " D a d - p a ' i n i n - b y e d p h y o g s b r g y a r ' c h a r - b a " ( A : T ä r a n ä t h a ) No. 5
B y a n - c h u b lam-gyi r i m - p a ' i bla-ma b r g y u d - p a ' i m a m - p a r t h a r - p a ; " P a d m a d k a r - p o ' i ' p h r e n - b a " ( A : B l o - b z a n y e - s e s ) No. 17
G r u b - p a ' i g n a s c h e n - p o á a m b h a l a ' i m a r a - b s a d ' P h a g s - y u l - g y i r t o g s - b r j o d - d a n b c a s ; " N o - m c h a r b y e - b a ' i ' b y u n - g n a s " ( A : B l o - b z a n d p a l - l d a n y e - ä e s ) No. 28
E x o t e r i c B u d d h i s m
E x o t e r i c u p a d e é a
R g y a - g a r r u m - y u l - p a S k e n - d h a s d r i s - l a n ( A l e x a n d e r - b o o k , A : K u n - d g a '
£ h o s - l e g s ) No. 4
B y a n - í h u b lam-gyi s g r o n - m a ( C a n o n i c a l work, A: A t x s a ) No. 18 M n a n - m e d C o n - k h a - p a ő h e n - p o s m j a d - p a ' i B y a h - £ h u b lam-rim í h e n - r a o
( A : C o n - k h a - p a ) No. 14
B y a n - i h u b lam-gyi rim-pa c h u n - b a ( A : C o n - k h a - p a ) No. 1 5
B y a n - c h u b lam-gyi rim-pa'i d m a r - k h r i d ; " T h a m s - i a d m k h y e n - p a r b g r o d - p a ' i myur-lam" ( A : B l o - b z a n y e - s e s ) No. 16
B y a n - c h u b lam-gyi rim-pa'i bla-ma b r g y u d - p a ' i m a m - p a r t h a r - p a ; " P a d m a d k a r - p o ' i ' p h r e n - b a " ( A : B l o - b z a n y e - á e s ) No. 17
Lam-gyi g c o - b o m a m g s u m - g y i r n a m - b s a d , g s u n - r a b k u n - g y i g n a d b s d u s - pa; " L e g s - b s a d s n i n - p o " ( A : B l o - b z a n y e - s e s ) No. 19
O t h e r e x o t e r i c w o r k s (mdo, d b u - m a , e t c . )
C h e ' p h o - b a 'ji-ltar b s t a n - p a ' i mdo ( C a n o n i c a l work, A ; u n k n o w n ) No. 12 R t e n - c i n ' b r e l - b a r ' b y u n - b a ' i s n i n - p o ' i c h i g - l e ' u r b y a s - p a ( C a n o n i c a l w o r k ,
A : K l u - s g r u b ) No. 1
Rten-Sin ' b r e l - b a r ' b y u n - b a ' i s n i n - p o m a m - p a r b á a d - p a ( C a n o n i c a l w o r k , A : K l u - s g r u b ) No. 1
G s u n - l a n c h a b - á o g - g i s k o r - r n a m s ( A : B l o - b z a h d p a l - l d a n y e - á e s ) No. 2 5 R g y a l - p o Z l a - b a b z a n - p o ' i r n o m - p h r u l , t a ' i - s i - t u i h e n - p o R n a m - r g y a l g r a g s -
p a ' i ' d r i - b a ( A : D g e - ' d u n g r u b - p a ) No. 26; - ' d r i - b a ' i l a n No. 27
16
E s o t e r i c B u d d h i s m
B a r - d o ' i g d a m s - p a ; " S k u gsum t h a r - p a ' i rie-lam" ( A : B y a - b t a n - p a , P h y a g - r d o r n o r - b u ) N o . 2
' D o d - k h a m s d b a n - p h y u g - m a D m a g - z o r r g y a l - m o ' i s g r u b - t h a b s , g t o r - i h o g ( A : B l o - b z a n c h o s - k y i r g y a l - m c h a n ) No. 2 1
D g e - s i o n - m a D p a i - m o ' i l u g s - k y i T h u g s - r j e i h e n - p o ' i s g r u b - t h a b s ( A : D g e - ' d u n r g y a - m c h o ) No. 22
' P h a g s - p a 'íam-dpal—gyi m c h a n y a n - d a g - p a r b r j o d - p a ( C a n o n i c a l work, attributed to B u d d h a ) No. 11
A l e x a n d e r C s o m a d e K o r o s ( 1 7 8 4 - 1 8 4 2 )
1.
R t e n - í i n ' b r e l - b a r ' b y u n - b a ' i s n i n - p o ' i c h i g - l e ' u r b y a s - p a ; r c a ' g r e l
"Versified e x p l i c a t i o n of t h e e s s e n c e of c a u s a l i t y ; T h e f u n d a m e n - tal work a n d its c o m m e n t a r y " .
Pothi, T i b e t a n p a p e r ( 7 , 6 cm x 51,5 c m ) , M S ( d b u - m e d ) , ff. 1 - 3 , 8 l i n e s .
B e g i n s ( l v ) : r g y a - g a r s k a d - d u | P r a - t l - t y a - s a - n i u d - p a - d a h r í - d a - y a k ä - r i - k ä I b o d s k a d - d u | R t e n - ö i n ' b r e l - b a r ' b y u n - b a ' i s n i n - p o ' i c h i g - l e ' u r b y a s - p a |
E n d s ( l v ) : R t e n - i i n ' b r e l - b a r ' b y u n - b a ' i c h i g - l e ' u r b y a s - p a s l o b - d p o n ' p h a g s - p a K l u - s g m b - k y i s m j a d - p o r j o g s - s o |
B e g i n s ( 2 r ) : r g y a - g a r s k a d - d u p r a - t i - t y a - s a - m u d - p u - d a h r i - d a - y a b y a g - k h y a - n a | b o d s k a d - d u | R t e n - i i n ' b r e l - b a r | ' b y u n - b a ' i s n i n - p o ' i m u m - p u r bs^ad-pa |
E n d s ( 3 v ) : R t e n - é i n ' b r e l - b a r ' b y u n - b a ' i s n i n - p o m a m - p a r b á a d - p a ' o I s l o b - d p o n K l u - s g r u b - k y i s m j a d - p a r j o g s - s o |
It i n c l u d e s two c a n o n i c a l w o r k s , both p o e m s by N ä g ä r j u n a ( K l u - s g r u b ) , f o u n d e r of t h e m a d h y u m i k u ( d b u - m a ) l e a r n i n g . T h e first, a f u n d a - mental work ( r c a - b a ) , i s t h e P r a t l t y a s a m u t p ä d a - h r d a y a - k ä r i k ä , while t h e o t h e r i s P r a t l t y a s a m u t p ä d a - h r d a y a - v y ä k h y ä n a ; with a c o m m e n t a r y written by t h e a u t h o r himself. In t h o s e v e r s i f i e d w o r k s t h e a u t h o r d e a l s with t h e c h a i n of c a u s a l i t y . Both c a n b e found in the T a n j u r , M d o - ' g r e l ( d b u - m a , Vol. 3 3 ) .
Cf. S u z u k i , No. 5467, No. 5468.
20
12.
B a r - d o ' i g d a m s - p a ;
" S k u g s u m t h a r - p a ' i no-lam"
" T h e s h o r t w a y l i b e r a t i n g t h e t h r e e b o d i e s . I n s t r u c t i o n s to be f o l l o w e d in the i n t e r m e d i a t e e x i s t e n c e " .
Pothi, T i b e t a n p a p e r ( 1 0 . 5 cm x 60.5 c m ) , M S ( d b u - m e d ) , ff. 1 - 1 1 , 9 l i n e s .
I n t r o d u c t i o n ( l v ) : 'dir m c h u h s - m e d r g y a l - d b a n r j e ' i g s u n - r g y u n - l a s ' p h r o s - p a ' i b a r - d o ' i r n a m - b z a g Ji-ltar ' o s - p a zig b r i - b a r b y a ' o I d e - l a y a h s k y e - S i b a r - d o I rmi-lam b a r - d o | s r i d - p a b a r - c l o - d a n g s u m
C o l o p h o n ( l l r j : d e - l t a r b a r - d o ' i g d a m s - p a ; " S k u g s u m t h a r - p a ' i n e - l a m " z e s b y a - b a ni I r c o d - b r a l - g y i d a m - p a m a n - p o ' i g s u n - l a b r t e n - p a B y a - b t a n P h y a g - r d o r n o r - b u z e s b y a - b a s S t a g - s o g - g a h s - k y i r a - b a r b r i s - p a n i d - d o | z u s - d a g ' c o m - p a - p o s b g y i s - p a ' o |
T h e s e i n s t r u c t i o n s w e r e c o m p i l e d by B y a - b t a n P h y a g - r d o r n o r - b u in t h e p a r k of S t a g - s o g s - g a n s from t h e t e a c h i n g s of s e v e r a l s c h o l a r s , with h i s own c o r r e c t i o n s . T h e t r e a t i s e c o n s i s t s of t h r e e p a r t s d e a l i n g with t h e i n t e r m e d i a t e s t a t e of birth a n d d e a t h , with that of the d r e a m a n d that of e x i s t e n c e .
33.
D r i s - l a n ;
" G r u b - m t h a ' i r g y a - m c h o r ' j u g - p a ' i g r u - r j i n "
"The s h i p p e n e t r a t i n g into t h e s e a of T e a c h i n g - s y s t e m s . A n - s w e r s to q u e s t i o n s " .
S t i t c h e d b o o k l e t , I n d i a n p a p e r ( 1 2 . 5 cm x 25 c m ) , M S (dbu-Sein) pp. 1 - 4 5 , 10 l i n e s .
Introduction (p. 5 ) : d e phyir k y e d - k y i s t o n - p a s a n s - r g y a s - k y i g n a s - c h u l d a n | d e ' i b s t a n - p a | S h o s p h u n - g i c h a d | b s t a n - p a ' j i n - p a r b y e d - p a ' i b s t a n - ' j i n - g y i s ( p . 6 ) s k y e s - b u | g r u b - m t h a ' s m r a - b a - m a m s - k y i r a h - r a n s o - s o ' i g r u b - m t h a ' b á e d - s r o l mi ' d r a - b a Si ' d r a y o d t e s - p a d a n | g ^ a n y a h phyi n a h - g i k h y a d - p a r r i g - g n a s m t h u n - m o n - b a - r n a m s Bod-yul ' d i r d u s nam-gyi c h e d a r - b a s o g s - k y i d r i - b a m j a d - p a Sin-tu l e g s - n a ' a n I d r i - b a p h a l - S h e r m c h a n - n i d - k y i g á u n - d o n d r i - b a r ' d u g - p a ' i I d e s - n a d r i s - l a n - r n a m s - k y i t h u g s Sin-tu c h i m - p a dka' m e d | Si'i p h y i r d k a ' - n a | g £ u n i h e n - p o - r n a m s - k y i don g o - b a - l a s n o n - d u m c h a n - n i d b r d a c h a d - l a ma b y a n - b a ' i p h y i r de'i b s d u s - d o n b s d u s - m c h a n n e r g i i g - l a b s e s - b s n e n m k h a s - p a c h u l b z i n - d u b s t e n - p a ' i s g o - n a s | ' j u b - k h r i d - k y i r t a g s g s a l k h y a b g s u m n o s - ' j i n c h u l j d e - l a b s t e n - n a s 'dod g z e r - b a dein | r t a g s ma g r u b d a n | k h y a b med dein | 'geil k h y a b - l a 'bud z e r - b a s o g s - k y i d e - d a g - g i s r c o u - g i f i mkh a s b y a s g n a s I n a - s t e | p h u n - p o - l a m k h a s - p a d a h | k h a m s - l a m k h a s - p a d a h j s k y e - m í h e d - l a m k h a s - p a d a h | rten-Sin ' b r e l - p a r ' b y u n - b a - l e m k h a s - p a d a n | g n a s d a h g n a s ma y i n - p a - l a m k h a s - p a - r n a m s ma S e s - p a s e s - p a r b y a s | S e s - p a - r n e i m s g o n ' p h e l - d u ' g r o - b a ' i t h a b s - c h u l ' b a d - p a s s g o - n a s d a l - ' b y o r d o n - l d a n - d u m j a d - p a g a l - S h e | d e - d a g ni b s a m - p a b z a n - po'i d r i s - l a n - g y i s s n o n - ' g r o r z u g s - p a yin | (p. 7 ) d r i s - l a n d n o s - g á i ' b u l - b a ni |
C o l o p h o n ( p . 4 3 ) ; d r i s - l a n " G r u b - m t h a ' i rgyei-mchor ' j u g - p a ' i g r u - r j i n s fcs b y a - b a 'di ni | d a d - b r c o n p h u n - s u m - c h o g s - á i n r i g - g n a s - l a m a m -
C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o ' s s y l l a b u s pp. 43-44
d p y o d m k h a ' - l t a r y a n s - p a r u m - p a S k e n - d h e r b h e g z o s b y a - b a ' i J í a r - p h y o g s r g y a - m c h o í h e n - p o - n a s | Stod ja-ti me-tog m n o n - p a r b k r a - b a ' i b a r r a n - d o n í i g - p u ma y i n - p a r s o m s - í a r i t h a m s - í a d - k y i d o n - d u t h o s - p a c h o l - p h y i r n e - í h a r B z a n - l a r s l e b - c h e | smon-lam d b a n - g i s b d a g - m i n t h o s - p a ' i c h e g s u n - r a b - k y i b k a ' - g n a n - k y i d r i - b a M a n - y u l s a - y i t h i g - l e é h o s - r g y a l - g y i g n a s - m í h o g B z a n - l a - n a s b d a g - l a s k y e s - b z a n d r i - c h i g - d a n b í a s - p a s k u r - n a s | d o n - g n e r c h e n - p o s b s k u l - b a ' i n o r | t h u b - p a ' i d b a n - p o k u n - m k h y e n Ni-ma'i g n e n á i - b a - í h o s - k y i d b y i n s - s u m y a - n a n - l a s ' d a s - n a s lo du s o n - d a n b í r a s - p a d g o s z e s - p a s - n a ) d e - d a g - l a 2 i b - p a r b s t a n - r c i s b£in d g o s - n a y a n | b s t a n - r c i s nid b d a g - g i s mi á e s - p a s ' o n - k y a n d e b - t h e r í h o s - ' b y u n s o g s - i a £ib-tu d p y a d - p a s | b s a m - c h e k u n - m k h y e n Ni-ma'i g n e n á i - b a - í h o s - kyi d b y i n s - s u m y a - n a n - l a s ' d a s - n a s lo g s u m - s t o n - d o n - g n i s s o n - b a ' i r a b - b y u n b Ő u - b z i - p a N i - s g r o l - b y e d - k y i c h e s b z a n - p o r S d e - s n o d g s u m d a n R g y u d - s d e b á i - l a s b y a n s - p a r a h Ldum-mkhan m i n - d u ' b o d - p a r a b - ' b y a m s - p a C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o s r a n - g i g n a s G á i - n i - ' o d - d u c h e s d g e - b a r s b y a r |
T h i s i s a s o c a l l e d A l e x a n d e r - b o o k . T h e a u t h o r i s C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o , who wrote t h i s s y l l a b u s in 1824, w h e n C s o m a w a s s t a y i n g in Z a n g l a d u r i n g h i s lirsl s t u d y - t r i p (from J u n e , 1 8 2 3 to O c t o b e r , 1 8 2 4 ) . O u r s i n g l e datum r e f e r r i n g to t h e Lama i s c o n t a i n e d in C s o m a ' s l e t t e r to C a p - tain K e n n e d y (5th May, 1825, p u b l i s h e d by T h e o d o r Duka, Life a n d W o r k s , p. 4 6 ) , a c c o r d i n g to which the Lama w a s b o r n a r o u n d 1760, s p e n t 2 5 y e a r s in L h a s s a a n d w a s g r a n t e d t h e s c h o l a r l y d e g r e e of r a b - ' b y a m s - p a .
In t h e i n v o c a t i o n t h e a u t h o r q u o t e s from S p y o d - ' j u g , t h e n from two o u t s t a n d i n g s c h o l a r s of Lamaism, C o n - k h a - p a a n d ' L r o m - s t o n . In the i n t r o d u c t i o n following t h i s h e s u m m a r i z e s C s o m a ' s q u e s t i o n s a g a i n :
"How did y o u r M a s t e r , B u d d h a , live a n d w h a t w a s h i s T e a c h i n g ? What kind of v i e w s w e r e a d v o c a t e d by e a c h of t h e f o l l o w e r s a n d w i s e men p a s s i n g o n t h e T e a c h i n g , to w h a t e x t e n t w e r e t h e i r t e a c h i n g s similar a n d different? A n d a b o v e all w h e n did s e c u l a r s c i e n c e s b e g i n to s p r e a d in Tibet? T h e s e q u e s t i o n s - t h e Lama s a y s - a r e p a r t i c u l a r l y a p p r o p r i a t e b e c a u s e t h e y r e f e r to the most e s s e n t i a l b a s i c p r o b l e m s , but t h i s i s w h e r e t h e difficulty in a n s w e r i n g them l i e s , too."
F o l l o w i n g t h i s , C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o d w e l l s o n the n a t u r e of
24
t h e s e difficulties at g r e a t length, t h e n t u r n s to a n s w e r i n g t h e q u e s t i o n s o n e a f t e r the o t h e r , without dividing h i s t r e a t i s e into c h a p t e r s . T h e formal p r o p o r t i o n i n g i s i n d i c a t e d by t h e q u e s t i o n s t h e m s e l v e s , u n d e r s c o r e d by r e d i n k - l i n e s . T h e r e a r e s o m e t w e n t y q u e s t i o n s , which c a n b e g r o u p e d u n d e r t h e following h e a d i n g s :
s a n s - r g y a s á e s - p a r g y u - m c h a n £i'i phyir b t a g s - p a d a n I d e - l a d b y e - b a i i - c a m m £ h i s ( " t h e a n a l y s i s of t h e word s a n s - r g y a s a n d why B u d d h a w a s g i v e n t h i s name,", p. 7 ) ; s g r a c h a d b z o g s o n a n - d o n - r i g - p a d a n I £ h u n - b a s d e b - s b y o r s n a n - n a g m n o n - b r j o d z l o s - g a r s k a r - r c i s - r n a m s B o d - k y i y u l - d u s n o n - n a s y o d - p a ' a m | y u l g á a n - n a s k h y o n s ( " l i n g u i s t i c s , l o g i c , t e c h n i c s , m e d i c i n e , t h e i n n e r s c i e n c e a n d the minor s c i e n c e s : m e t - r i c s , p o e t i c a l m e t a p h o r , d r a m a , a s t r o l o g y - h a v e t h e s e s c i e n c e s e x i s t e d in T i b e t from time immemorial o r h a v e t h e y o r i g i n a t e d in o t h e r c o u n t r i e s ? " , p. 1 9 ) ; k h y a d - p a r g t a n - c h i g s r i g - p a ' d i - b z i n ' b y u n - ' k h u n s d a n l o - r g y u s d a n I d a n - p o r s l o b - d p o n g a h - g i m j a d | B o d - y u l - d u d u s - n u m - g y i c h e l o - c h a - b a s u s k y o h s ( " h o w did t h e s c i e n c e of logic, in the? f i r s t p l a c e , t a k e s h a p e a n d what i s i t s h i s t o r y ; who w e r e i t s first t e a c h e r s ; a n d who w e r e t h e l o c a v a s at its a p p e a r a n c e in Tibet?", p . 22); s a n s - r g y a s - k y i g á u n - d a r i mi m t h u n - p a ' i m u - s t e g s - p a m a n - p a c i - c a m m c h i s ("which a r e the h e r e t i c a l s e c t s incompatible with B u d d h a ' s t e a c h i n g ? " , p. 4 0 ) ; d a - l t a B o d - y u l - d u d a r - b a ' i g r u b - m t h a ' l t a - b a ' i rim-pa mi £ i g - p a ji-cam m £ h i s ( " w h i c h a r e t h e p h i - l o s o p h i c a l t e a c h i n g s p r e s e n t l y t a u g h t in Tibet?", p. 12); R g y a - g a r R g y a - n a g H o r S o g s - n a s g y u - s c a l d a n y o n - t a n m£his—pa d e - d a g - l a s B o d - y u l - d u k h y a d - p a r ' p h a g s - p a g a n ( " w h i c h of t h e s c i e n c e s a n d v i r t u e s to b e found in India, C h i n a and M o n g o l i a a r e a d v o c a t e d , e s p e c i a l l y , in Tibet?", p. 4 2 ) .
In the c o l o p h o n C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o s a y s : " T h e Rümi S k a n d e r b l i e g ( = A l e x a n d e r C s o m a de K ö r ö s ) , who i s like the v a s t , o p e n s k i e s in h i s u n s h a k a b l e f o r t i t u d e a n d h i s i n s i g h t , d e m o n s t r a t e d in s c i e n c e s , , u n d e r - t a k i n g t h e a r d u o u s j o u r n e y from t h e l a r g e o c e a n of t h e O r i e n t to j a s m i n e - c o v e r e d U p p e r Tibet, in h i s s e a r c h f o r t h e T e a c h i n g , not f o r h i s own s e l f - i s h p u r p o s e but f o r t h e s a l v a t i o n of all p e o p l e , a n d a r r i v i n g at Zangla, o b - t a i n e d k n o w l e d g e , t h r o u g h t h e p o w e r of p r a y e r , of me, a n d it i s from Z a n g - la, t h e s p l e n d i d s e a t of t h e K i n g of t h e L e a r n i n g , t h e e a r t h l y g o v e r n o r in M a n - y u l p r o v i n c e , t h a t ho s e n t h i s q u e s t i o n s about t h e B u d d h i s t d i s c o u r s e s a c c o m p a n i e d with h i s h u m b l e r e q u e s t a n d v a l u a b l e p r e s e n t s ; a n d b e s e e c h -
i n g l y u r g e d me t h a t h e n e e d e d to k n o w how m a n y y e a r s h a d p a s s e c s i n c e t h e L o r d of Wisdom, t h e O m n i s c i e n t , t h e C o m p a n i o n of t h e S u n ( = B u d d h a ) h a d d e p a r t e d from e a r t h y s u f f e r i n g to t h e Empire of Q u i e t u d e (= N i r v a n a ) ; a n d s i n c e f o r in o r d e r to e s t a b l i s h t h i s , o n e n e e d s to b e e q u i p p e d with familiarity with c h r o n o l o g y , w h i c h I myself am not t r a i n e d in, I s t u d i e d t h e l e g e n d s , c h r o n i c l e s a n d o t h e r b o o k s t h o r o u g h l y a n d a f t e r c a r e f u l c a l c u l a - t i o n s I f o u n d t h a t from the d e p a r t u r e of t h e Ominiscient, t h e C o m p a n i o n of t h e S u n from e a r t h l y s u f f e r i n g to t h e E m p i r e of Q u i e t u d e t h r e e t h o u s a n d a n d s e v e n t y - t w o y e a r s h a d p a s s e d till t h e p r e s e n t y e a r (= 1 8 2 4 ) of t h e f o u r t e e n t h e r a n a m e d S a v i n g t h e Sun, w h e n I, t h e s c h o l a r C h u l - k h r i m s r g y a - m c h o - a n e x p e r t in t h e T r i p i t a k a a n d t h e f o u r T a n t r a s - I, w h o c a l l myself o n l y Ldum-mkhan, compiled, in my r e s i d e n c e , t h e Sunlit E a r t h , u n - d e r f a v o u r a b l e a u s p i c e s , t h e b o o k a n s w e r i n g t h e q u e s t i o n s entitled ' T h e s h i p p e n e t r a t i n g into t h e s e a of t e a c h i n g - s y s t e m s ' . "
Cf.: L. Ligeti, T ' o u n g P a o XXX ( 1 9 3 3 ) , pp. 2 6 - 3 6 , Gy. K a r a , K ö r ö s i C s o m a S á n d o r ( M ú l t m a g y a r t u d ó s a i ) , B u d a p e s t 1970; N a g y , pp. 1 - 7 .
»
K u n - d g a1 í h o s - l e g s ' s s y l l a b u s p. 3, p. 189
33.
R g y a - g a r ruin-yul-pu S k e n - d h a s d r i s - l a n
" A n s w e r s to t h e q u e s t i o n s of t h e E u r o p e a n S k e n - d h a "
( T h e a b o v e title c a n b e r e a d in the c o l o p h o n , t h e t i t l e - p a g e i s b l a n k ) . T h e work c o n s i s t s of f o u r s e p a r a t e b o o k l e t s . S t i t c h e d b o o k l e t s , Indian p a p e r ( 1 2 . 5 cm x 25 c m ) , M S (dbu-<*an), Vol. 1 pp. 1 - 6 2 , Vol. II pp.
6 3 - 1 1 0 , Vol. Ill pp. 1 1 1 - 1 7 4 , Vol. IV p p . 175-189; 7 l i n e s .
I n t r o d u c t i o n ( p . l ) ;
s p y o d - l d a n m k h a s - p a ' i s p y a n - s n a - r u | b d a g - l t a b y i s - p a ' i b l o - n u s - k y i s I ' k h o r ' d a s r n o m - g á a g ä e s min p h y i r l b r i - b a r b y e d - p a ' o s min k y o n |
r g y a - g a r r u m - y u l - n a s b y o n - p a ' i | S k e n - d h a r b h i g - g i s n a n b s k y e d - n a s | b s k u l - p h y i r í h a b - ö h o b b l a b - r l o b - g y i | b s t a n - b ö o s bio mi b d e 'di b k o d |
s p y i r ó h o s t h o m s - ó a d ' k h o r ' d a s g n i s - s u 'clus-.4in I de g n i s - k y i (p. 2) r c a - b a r a n - b z i n s t o n - p a - n i d r t o g s ma r t o g s d b a n - g i s b y a s - c h u l t h a r - p a r i n - p o - á h e ' i d b u r g s a l - b a r y o d - p a ' i d e r - l t o s | d e yon s k a b s - s u b a b - p a d r i - b a d n o s . . .
C o n t e n t s :
1. jug-rten m n o n - p a r g r u b - p a ' i r g y u ' b y u n - b a c h e n - p o b z i ' o (p. 4 ) 2. d k o n - m c h o g - g i m c h a n - n i d ( p . 4 1 )
3. s t o n - p a á a k y a t h u b - p a s d a n - p u r t h u g s b s k y e d - n a s mthar s a n s - r g y a s - n a s ó h o s - k y i ' k h o r - l o b s k o r - c h u l (p. 5 8 ) , 4. R g y a , B o d - d u m d o - s n a g s ji-ltar d a r - c h u l (p. 1 0 0 ) , 5. d a l - ' b y o r - n a s r e a m s n a n - d o n - l a d r i s - p a ' i lan (p. 1 1 8 ) , 6. s o - t h a r r i s b r g y a d - k y i sdoin g r a n s r c i - c h u l (p. 1 8 6 ) . .
28
C o l o p h o n ( p . 1 8 9 ) : d e - l t a r r g y a - g a r r u m - y u l - p a S k e n - d h a s d r i s l a n - d u K u n - d g a ' c h o s - l e g s r d o - r j e R j o n - k h u l phug-mo í h e r b r i s - p a , d g e ' o |
T h i s i s a s o c a l l e d A J e x a n d e r - b o o k t h a t w a s written w h e n C s o m a w a s s t a y i n g in t h e m o n a s t e r y of Z a n g l a d u r i n g h i s f i r s t s t u d y - t r i p (from J u n e , 1 8 2 3 to O c t o b e r , 1 8 2 4 ) . Its a u t h o r i s K u n - d g a ' £ h o s - l e g s whom C s o - ma p r e s e n t s (in h i s l e t t e r to C a p t a i n K e n n e d y of 5th May, 1825, p u b l i s h - e d by T . D u k a , Life a n d W o r k s , p. 4G) a s f o l l o w s : " a Lama of g r e a t r e p u - tation, a r e l a t i v e a n d f r i e n d of the Lama, w h o s e pupil I w a s (= S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s ) " . K u n - d g a ' £ h o s - l e g s w a s t h e h e a d lama of t h e m o n a s t e r y of R j o n - k h u l w h i c h w a s affiliated to t h e Z a n g l a m o n a s t e r y - both b e l o n g i n g to t h e D g e - l u g s - p a s c h o o l ( A . M . F r a n c k e ) .
In t h e i n v o c a t i o n t h e Lama ( b e i n g a c e l e b r a t e d t h e o l o g i a n ) m a k e s e x c u s e s f o r d e a l i n g with s u c h e l e m e n t a r y k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p l a i n s h i s r e a - s o n f o r d o i n g s o . He p o i n t s out to t h e w i s e men that t h i s work of s l i g h t i n t e l l e c t u a l e f f o r t w a s not p r e p a r e d to d i s c u s s q u e s t i o n s of life a n d d e a t h a n d d o e s not follow t h e u s u a l a r r a n g e m e n t a n d s t a n d a r d s of a book, but, a s h e p u t s it, h e w r o t e t h i s s y l l a b u s b e c a u s e :
H a v i n g a r r i v e d from E u r o p e
S k e n - d h a r Bhig b e g g e d mo to w r i t e T h i s c o n f u s e d little s t u d y
W h i c h d o e s not b r i n g luck f o r w i s d o m .
In t h e s i x n u m b e r e d c h a p t e r s of t h e s y l l a b u s K u n - d g a ' S h o s - l e g s w r i t e s a b o u t t h e following s u b j e c t s : B u d d h i s t c o s m o l o g y ; t h e t h r e e p r e c i o u s s t o n e s ( B u d d h a , h i s l e a r n i n g a n d h i s c h u r c h ) ; B u d d h a ' s life; how t h e s u t r a s a n d t a n t r a s s p r e a d in India a n d Tibet; t h e e s s e n c e of lam-rim; a n d the e i g h t a r e a s of p r á t i m o k s a . A m o n g t h e s e t h e most d e t a i l e d e x p l i c a t i o n i s g i v e n o n the s u b j e c t of by a n - £ h u b lam-rim ("the g r a d e d way to e n l i g h t - e n m e n t " ) . T h e l a t t e r s u b j e c t must h a v e p a r t i c u l a r l y f a s c i n a t e d C s o m a a s h e h a d c o l l e c t e d quite a n u m b e r of t h e m o s t important lam-rim b o o k s (No.
1 4 - 1 9 ) .
A s i s s h o w n in h i s i n v o c a t i o n , the f a m o u s Lama felt a little u n -
e a s y a b o u t t h e r i o n - s c i e n t i f i c c h a r a c t e r of h i s book, but h i s r e s e r v a t i o n s p r o v e d g r o u n d l e s s a s h i s s y l l a b u s b e c a m e r a t h e r p o p u l a r in W e s t e r n - T i - bet.
Cf.: K o n g t r u l ' s E n c y c l o p a e d i a of I n d o - T i b e t a n C u l t u r e , P a r t s 1 - 3 , e d i t e d b y P r o f . Dr. L o k e s h C h a n d r a , with a n i n t r o d u c t i o n by E . G e n e Smith, pp. 34-35; L. Ligeti, T ' o u n g P a o XXX ( 1 9 3 3 ) , pp. 2 6 - 3 6 ; N a g y , pp.
7 - 1 1 ; A . H. P r a n c k e , U n g a r i s c h e J a h r b ü c h e r VIII ( 1 9 2 8 ) , pp. 3 7 5 - 3 7 7 .
T ä r a n ä t h a ' s work pp. 1 9 6 - 1 9 7
33.
B i o m - l d a n - ' d a s t h u b - p a ' i d b a n - p o ' i m j a d - p a , mdo-cam b r j o d - p a , m t h o n - b a s d o n - l d a n r a b - t u d g a ' - b a - d a n b c a s - p a s ;
" D a d - p a ' i n i n - b y e d p h y o g s b r g y a r ' ó h a r - b a "
" E x t r a o r d i n a r i l y joyful work, r a d i a t i n g t h e s u n b e a m s of t h e faith in a h u n d r e d d i r e c t i o n s , e v e n the m e r e s i g h t of w h i c h if b e n e f i c i a l . T h e l e g e n d a r y n a r r a t i v e o.f t h e a c t s of t h e life of t h e Lord of t h e Wise, t h e T r i u m p h a n t l y d e p a r t e d . "
Pothi, T i b e t a n p a p e r ( 6 . 5 cm x 40 c m ) , M S ( d b u - m e d ) , ff. 1 - 1 9 7 , 6 l i n e s .
I l l u s t r a t i o n s ( p . 3 2 ) :
lv left: é á k y a rig g c o - b o Z a s - g c a n - s r a s , right: k u n - m k h y e n T ä - r a - n a - t h a ,
2r left: R t o g s - p a ' i d b a n - p h y u g r a h - r i g r j e , right: S n i g s - d u s s k y a b - g i i g n a g - g i d b a n .
Introduction ( lv) : B i o m - l d a n - ' d a s dpal r g y a l - b a é a k y a t h u b - p a á a k y a s e n - g e S ä k y a ' i r g y a l - p o g a n d e ' i m j a d - p a m d o - c a m b r j o d - p a | m t h o n - b a s d o n - l d a n r a b - t u d g a ' - b a - d a n b i a s - p a s ; " D a d - p a ' i n i n - b y e d p h y o g s b r g y a r ' c h a r - b a " z e s b y a - b a |
C o l o p h o n ( I 9 6r) : c e s - p a B c o m - l d a n - ' d a s t h u b - p a ' i d b a n - p o ' i m j a d - p a mdo-cam b r j o d - p a | m t h o n - b a s d o n - l d a n r a b - t u d g a ' - b a - d a n b c a s - p a s " D a d - p a ' i n i n - b y e d p h y o g s b r g y a r ' c h a r - b a " i e s b y a - b a 'di ni
" L u n - s d e b z i " - l a s ' b y u n - b a ' i l o - r g y u s nid g á i r b z u r i - z i n | " L a s b r g y a - p a "
d a n " R t o g s - b r j o d b r g y a - b a " d a n | m d o - p h r a n ' g a ' - n a s n e - b a r m k h o - b a r e - r e com b y a n s - s t e | r g y a l K h a m s - p a T a - r a - n a - t h a s r a n - n i d - k y i d a d - p a ' i g s o s - s u ' g y u r - z i n | g z a n ' g a ' i d g e - b a s p e l - b a ' i r g y u r ' g y u r - b a y a n - s r i d s n a m - n a s l e g s - p a r s p y a d - p a - s t e N a g s - r g y a l - g y i d b e n - g n a s - s u ' o | m a n - galam |
32
T h e a u t h o r i s T a r a n a t h a ( 1 5 7 5 - ? ) , t h e o u t s t a n d i n g m a s t e r of t h e í o - n a n - p a s e c t , w h o g i v e s a c o l o u r f u l d e s c r i p t i o n of B u d d h a ' s life in l e g e n d a r y e p i s o d e s , from h i s d e s c e n t from t h e T u s i t a h e a v e n to h i s d e - p a r t u r e into t h e N i r v a n a (i.e. into d e a t h ) .
Cf. MHTL Vol. I, p. 26, No. 503; T P S p. 131, p. 354.
A . C s o m a d e K ö r ö s , E n u m e r a t i o n of H i s t o r i c a l a n d G r a m m a t i c a l W o r k s : J A S B ( 1 8 3 8 ) , p. 149.
12.
T h e compendium of S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s of m e d i c i n e a n d a s t r o l o g y
T h i s i s a s o c a l l e d . A l e x a n d e r - b o o k p r e p a r e d d u r i n g C s o m a ' s s t a y in Z a n g l a (from J u n e , 1 8 2 3 to O c t o b e r , 1 8 2 4 ) . C o n s i s t i n g of two b o o k l e t s , it c o m p r i s e s two s e p a r a t e w o r k s , o n e a n d half b o o k l e t s d e v o t e d to m e d i c i n e , followed by a s h o r t c h r o n o l o g i c a l s u m m a r y . Both w e r e w r i t t e n by "the Lama", i.e. by C s o m a ' s t e a c h e r , S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s , a s i s i n d i c a t e d by t h e common c o l o p h o n r e l a t i n g to b o t h w o r k s .
" T h i s s h o r t a n d c o n c i s e t r e a t i s e o n m e d i c i n e a n d c h r o l o g y , t h e l e n g t h of which c o m p l i e s with the r e q u e s t w h i c h g a v e birth to it, w a s compiled in a v e r y s h o r t time by a monk of t h e m o n a s t e r y of Z a n g l a , S a n s - r g y a s p h u n - c h o g s on the r e q u e s t of the E u r o p e a n , S k a n d h e r b h e g . "
Who, t h e n , w a s t h i s monk of Z a n g l a , "the Lama", with whome C s o m a s p e n t a b o u t s e v e n y e a r s , with a n u m b e r of s h o r t e r a n d l o n g e r b r e a k s , in d i f f e r e n t m o n a s t e r i e s of W e s t e r n - T i b e t ( Z a n g l a , from J u n e , 1 8 2 3 to O c t o b e r , 1824; P h u k t a l , from J u n e , 1 8 2 5 to J a n u a r y , 1827; K a n a m , from t h e autumn of 1827 to t h e autumn of 1 8 3 0 ) . T h e most a u t h e n t i c s o u r c e s r e l a t i n g to h i s life a r e the l e t t e r s of C s o m a (to C a p t a i n K e n n e d y , 5th May, 1825, p u b l i s h e d by T . Duka, Life a n d W o r k s , pp. 4 1 - 6 5 a n d E . G e r a r d , 2 1 s t J a n u a r y , 1829, p u b l i s h e d b y Duka, Life a n d Works, pp. 8 0 - 9 8 ) . P u t t i n g t o g e t h e r the s c a t t e r e d d a t a r e l a t i n g to him, we form the f o l l o w - ing p i c t u r e . He w a s b o r n in Z a n s k a r a r o u n d 1773, in a small v i l l a g e c a l l - e d P a d a m , in a c o m p a r a t i v e l y well-to-do family. A s a Lama of the D g e - l u g s - p a s c h o o l , h e m a d e a p r o t r a c t e d s t u d y - t r i p b e t w e e n 1 8 0 5 a n d 1 8 1 2 in C e n t r a l - T i b e t , that is, to B k r a - s i s l h u n - p o a n d L h a - s a , the s e a t s of t h e P a n - c h e n L a m a s a n d the Dalai L a m a s a n d to B h u t a n ( T i b e t a n ' B r u g - y u l ) a n d e v e n to N e p a l . While in C e n t r a l - T i b e t h e w a s a b l e to b r o a d e n h i s k n o w l e d g e in t h e s c h o l a s t i c s of t h e D g e - l u g s - p a o r d e r , in Bhutan h e w a s d e e p l y i n f l u e n c e d by t h e ' B r u g - p a o r d e r . T h e s p e c i a l i n t e r e s t "the Lama"
s h o w e d t o w a r d t h e K ä l a c a k r a a n d t h e a s t r o l o g i c a l t e a c h i n g s of t h e ' B r u g - p a
