A Series of Articles on The Five Maitreya Texts
Essential Texts in of the Mahayana in the Tibetan Tradition

Mining for Wisdom within Delusion: Maitreya's Distinction between Phenomena and the Nature of Phenomena and Its Indian and Tibetan Commentaries

A monumental work and Indian Buddhist classic, the Ornament of the Mahāyāna Sūtras (Mahāyānasūtrālamkāra) is a precious resource for students wishing to study in-depth the philosophy and path of Mahāyāna Buddhism. This full translation and commentary outlines the importance of Mahāyāna, the centrality of bodhicitta or the mind of awakening, the path of becoming a bodhisattva, and how one can save beings from suffering through skillful means.

This definitive composition of Mahāyāna teachings was imparted in the fourth century by Maitreya to the famous adept Asanga, one of the most prolific writers of Buddhist treatises in history. Asanga’s work, which is among the famous Five Treatises of Maitreya, has been studied, commented upon, and taught by Buddhists throughout Asia ever since it was composed.

In the early twentieth century, one of Tibet’s greatest scholars and saints, Jamgön Mipham, wrote A Feast of the Nectar of the Supreme Vehicle, which is a detailed explanation of every verse. This commentary has since been used as the primary blueprint for Tibetan Buddhists to illuminate the depth and brilliance of Maitreya’s pith teachings. The Padmakara Translation Group has provided yet another accessible and eloquent translation, ensuring that English-speaking students of Mahāyāna will be able to study this foundational Buddhist text for generations to come.

Distinguishing Phenomena from Their Intrinsic Nature: Maitreya's Dharmadharmatavibhanga with Commentaries by Khenpo Shenga and Ju Mipham

From the introduction:

[Khenpo] Shenga’s explanation is presented as an extensive series of annotations that elaborate on the root text. As the source of these annotations, Shenga used an early commentary by the great Indian master Vasubandhu, who, according to tradition, was the younger brother of Asaṅga. With this format, Shenga helps the reader to understand the full import of Maitreya’s teachings more readily, while at the same time not adding any commentary other than Vasubandhu’s.

In contrast to Khenpo Shenga’s approach, which goes straight to the source by relying on Vasubandhu’s classical Indian commentary, Mipham’s work offers extensive discussions on the key points of Maitreya’s teachings. He begins by providing some context for the root text, showing how different commentators have categorized Maitreya’s Five Teachings and presenting his own view of the place of this text within the overall framework of Great Vehicle philosophy. He then launches into a thorough analysis of the text, explaining everything from its title to the translator’s colophon. Like many Tibetan commentaries, Mipham structures his presentation around an outline that highlights the main sections of the root text.

Maitreya's Distinguishing Phenomena and Pure Being

This is another translation of the text along with Mipham Rinpoche's commentary. This was done under the guidance of Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso and has Tibetan on facing pages. 

Luminous Heart: Essential Writings of Rangjung Dorje, the Third Karmapa

The text is discussed throughout this book on the Third Karmapa Rangjung Dorje's writings, and includes an important commentary "The Ornament That Explains the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga".

Additional Resources

See also the Tsadra Foundation's page on the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga

The Rigpa Wiki's page on the Dharmadharmatāvibhāga

In the next article in this series, we look at the final of the Five Maitreya texts, the Treatise on the Sublime Continuum, the Uttaratantra.