Research On The Idea Of Tathagata-Garbha In Lankavatara Sutra

There are four translations of Lankavatara Sutra in the history and only three versions of them have circulated up to now,which stand in a special position in the history of Chinese Buddhism,especially in the establishment of Chan sect.The idea of Lankavatara Sutra is followed by both the School of Dharma-Essence and The School of Dharma-Existence,and for the emergence of Sanskrit text in recent times a trend of research is triggered.About the main idea of Lankavatara Sutra,The Yogacara always differentiate it as “five paths and three noumena,consciousness of eight phases and two kings of anatta”,and if depend on the views of The Chan Sect and The Huayan School it could be summarized as Tathagata-Garbha or One Only Dharma Realm.However,there are many ideas take a skepticism in the researches of idea of Tathagata-Garbha in the present age.Though survey these arguments and debates and we could only find that all these kind of researches are too complicated to reorganize for they depend on some standpoints,some kinds of way,or some social moralities.Thus,this thesis would take a scholastic attitude of studying Buddhism in Buddhism,in which analyzing the text and idea history are the main means of writing that through investigating the exegeses and Lankavatara Sutra itself,and referencing the debates since the modern times,all the works is aim to show the effects and encouragements in the scholastic studying and the development of society by the idea of Tathagata-Garbha.Therefore this thesis is constructed by four parts,after a general introduction about the the researching status of Lankavatara Sutra,the first chapter would present the translation and spread of Lankavatara Sutra and the main idea of Tathagata-Garbha.From the second chapter to the fourth chapter,this thesis would explain the idea of empty,non-empty,emptying non-empty in the Lankavatara Sutra.And in the fifth chapter,we would sort up the arguments by idea of Tathagata-Garbha,and give it a pondering over and some kinds of response.The last chapter would be the conclusion of this thesis which is although there are so many researches take a skepticism but all the studies of idea of Tathagata-Garbha and any Buddhism questions led by it will be the cores to dig in the future.