A Note on the Aryadharmadhatugarbhavivarana
By Suniti Kumar Pathak
Summary
Pathak provides a concise analysis of a little‑known Buddhist treatise, the Āryadharmadhātugarbhavivaraṇa. This text expounds the concept of the dharmadhātu (realm of reality) as inherently pure and identical with the tathāgatagarbha (Buddha‑nature) present in all beings. The author summarises the treatise’s argument that ignorance veils this innate purity, creating the illusion of duality. Through meditative insight and ethical practice, practitioners remove obscurations and realise their intrinsic Buddhahood. Pathak situates the text at the intersection of Madhyamaka and Yogācāra thought, noting its emphasis on both emptiness and mind‑only doctrines. He compares the Āryadharmadhātugarbhavivaraṇa with other tathāgatagarbha scriptures and discusses its influence on later Mahāyāna traditions in Tibet and East Asia.
Conclusion
The note concludes that the Āryadharmadhātugarbhavivaraṇa offers a succinct and harmonising view of Buddha‑nature, presenting the dharmadhātu as both empty and luminous. Recognising this innate purity encourages compassion and confidence in the possibility of awakening for all beings.