Atiśa Dīpaṃkaraśrījñāna (982–1054 ᴄᴇ), often referred to in Tibetan as jo bo, “(The) Lord,” was a renowned figure in the history of Tibetan Buddhism famous for coming to Tibet and revitalizing Buddhism there during the early eleventh century.
A bodhisattva who first appears in the Sukhāvatīvyūha sūtra (Toh 115) and then in a number of other Mahāyāna sūtras such as the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka (Toh 113). Avalokiteśvara develops into a great bodhisattva who embodies compassion with multiple forms in Indian, Chinese, and Tibetan Buddhism.
Indian preceptor and translator.
The altruistic resolve to achieve complete and perfect buddhahood for the sake of oneself and all sentient beings.
Ma Gewai Lodrö (ma dge ba’i blo gros), a Tibetan lotsāwa, was an important disciple of Rinchen Zangpo (rin chen bzang po, 958–1055) who translated several texts with Atiśa and worked with the Kaśmīri master Subhūtiśribhadra to translate a number of pramāṇa texts.
Subhūtiśrī(śānti) was a paṇḍita from Kaśmīr invited to Western Tibet during the reign of the king Lha Dé (Lha lde) who translated a number of Prajñāpāramitā texts, sūtras, and works of pramāṇa.
The important West Tibetan monastery founded in 996 ᴄᴇ by King Yeshé Ö (ye shes ’od) and the translator Rinchen Zangpo (rin chen bzang po).
(rKTs = University of Vienna Resources for Kanjur and Tanjur Studies, http://www.rkts.org. For other abbreviations, see notes.)
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo (Āryāvalokiteśvaraparipṛcchāsaptadharmakanāmamahāyānasūtra). Toh 150, Degé Kangyur vol. 57 (mdo sde, pa), folios 331.a–331.b. tbrc.org
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. rKTs-K150, He48.6, Hemis Kangyur (He) (MsK), mdo sde, nga, folios 296.b–299.b. Digital scans from rKTs.
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. rKTs-K150, J94, Lithang (li thang) Kangyur (J) (PK), vol. 52 (mdo sde, pa), folios 278.a–279.a. tbrc.org
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. rKTs-K150, Q 817, Peking Qianlong (Q) (PK), vol. 33 (mdo sna tshogs, nu), folios 293.b–294.b (p. 36 in bound edition).
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. bka’ ’gyur (dpe bsdur ma) [Comparative Edition of the Kangyur], krung go’i bod rig pa zhib ’jug ste gnas kyi bka’ bstan dpe sdur khang (The Tibetan Tripitaka Collation Bureau of the China Tibetology Research Center). 108 volumes. Beijing: krung go’i bod rig pa dpe skrun khang (China Tibetology Publishing House), 2006–9, vol. 57, pp. 875–78.
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gyis zhus pa / byang chub sems dpa’i slab pa bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. Go16,04, Gondhla Collection (Go) (MsK), vol. 16 (ka), folios 49.a–49.b. Digital scans from rKTs. See also Tauscher (2008) below.
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs kyi dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. rKTs-K150, L154, London Kangyur (L) (MsK), vol. 52 (mdo sde, za), folios 8.b–9.a. Digital scans from rKTs.
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs kyi dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. rKTs-K150, C790, Phug brag Kangyur (F) (MsK), vol. 80 (mdo sde, la), folios 371.b–372.b. Institute for Advanced Studies of World Religions. 1990.
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs kyi dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. rKTs-K150, Z242, Shey Palace Manuscript Kangyur (Z) (MsK), vol.69 (mdo, za), folios 7.a–8.a. Digital scans from rKTs.
’phags pa spyan ras gzigs kyi dbang phyug gis zhus pa chos bdun pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo. rKTs-K150, S211, Stok Palace Manuscript Kangyur (stog pho brang bris ma) (S) (MsK), vol. 73 (mdo sde, za) folios 7.b-8.b. TBRC W22083. 109 vols. leh: smanrtsis shesrig dpemzod, 1975–80. tbrc.org
84000. The Tantra of Siddhaikavīra (Siddhaikavīratantram, dpa’ bo gcig pu grub pa’i rgyud, Toh 544). Translated by Dharmachakra Translation Committee. Online publication, 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, 2016.
84000. The Sūtra on Timings for the Gaṇḍī (Gaṇḍīsamayasūtra, gaN DI’i dus kyi mdo, Toh 299). Translated by Lowell Cook. Online publication, 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha, 2024.
Apple, James B. “Atiśa’s Open Basket of Jewels: A Middle Way Vision in Late Phase Indian Vajrayāna.” The Indian International Journal of Buddhist Studies 11 (2010): 117–98.
Chattopadhyaya, Alaka. 1967. Atīśa and Tibet Life and Works of Dīpaṃkara Śrījñāna in relation to the History and Religion of Tibet. (Reprinted) New Delhi: Motilal Banarsidass, 1999, 2011.
Pad dkar bzang po (author), mi nyag mgon po (editor). “ ’phags pa spyan ras gzigs dbang phyug gis zhus pa’i chos bdun pa’i mdo.” In mdo sde spyi’i rnam bzhag, p. 426. Beijing: mi rigs dpe skrun khang (Minorities Publishing House), 2006. TBRC W1PD76588. tbrc.org
Sherburne, Richard. The Complete Works of Atīśa Śrī Dīpaṃkara Jñāna, Jo-bo-rje: The Lamp for the Path and Commentary, together with the newly translated Twenty-Five Key Texts (Tibetan and English Texts). New Delhi: Aditya Prakashan, 2000.
Tauscher, Helmut. Catalogue of the Gondhla proto-Kanjur. Vienna: Arbeitskreis für Tibetische und Buddhistische Studien Universität Wien, 2008.