Korea Journal of Buddhist Studies ISSN:1598-0642(Print) 불교학연구

The Abhidharma of Vajrarṣ i (金剛仙論) by Vajrarṣi (金剛仙) is a treatise on Vajracchedikā-prajñā-pāramitā-sūtra (金剛經). It is in fact The Abhidharma of Vajracchedikā-prajñā-pāramitā-sūtra (金剛般若論) by Vasubandhu (天親). And Vasubandhu’s treatise is, in turn, the same as The Abhidharma of Vajracchedikā-prajñā-pāramitā-sūtra by Asaṅga (無 著) that consists in eighty gāthās about Vajracchedikā-prajñā-pāramitāsūtra. It was said that Asaṅga received it from Bodhisattva Maitreya (彌勒菩薩) while in samādhi. Vajrarṣi (or Vajrarśri or Vajrasena) was a disciple of Vasubandhu. He thus inherited the thoughts of Vasubandhu in his Abhidharma of Vajrarṣi: firstly, the idea of the threefold body of the buddha, namely, the Dharma-body, the reward-body and the manifestationbody; Secondly, the ideas of threefold śūnyatā (三空) and twofold nirātman (二無我); and thirdly, the idea about the relationship between the doctrine in words and the enlightenment itself through words. Vajrarṣi however classified the contents of Vajracchedikā-prajñāpāramitā- sūtra into 12 chapters, differently from Vasubandhu’ s classification: (1) Preface; (2) Taking care of Bodhisattvas; (2) Maintenance of pure-mind; (4) Self-discipline going well; (5) Tathagatas are not produced by causation; (6) ātman and dharma are both empty; (7) The virtues of dharma is superior to those of treasures; (8) All sentient beings have the Buddha-nature; (9) The benefits of bearing the Sūtra; (10) Elimination of doubts; (11) Noattachments to enlightenment; and (12) Commitment.