Cittavisuddhiprakaranam
By Prabhubhai Patel
Summary
This contribution presents an edition and study of the Cittaviśuddhi‑prakaraṇa, a Buddhist treatise attributed to Āryadeva that expounds methods for purifying the mind. The editor introduces the text by discussing its discovery in Tibetan translation and its subsequent identification with a Sanskrit manuscript. He outlines the structure of the work, which consists of verses and prose commentary addressing the defilements that obscure the mind and prescribing contemplative techniques for removing them. Central themes include the impermanent nature of mental states, the role of wisdom (prajñā) in perceiving emptiness and the cultivation of compassion. The article provides a translation of key sections, comparing the Sanskrit with Tibetan variants and noting discrepancies. Through philological analysis, it argues that the Cittaviśuddhi‑prakaraṇa represents an early Yogācāra understanding of the bodhisattva path, bridging Madhyamaka teachings on śūnyatā with practical meditation instructions. The editor also notes parallels with later works like Śāntideva’s Śikṣā‑samuccaya and reflects on the text’s significance for the intellectual history of Indian Buddhism.
Conclusion
The study concludes that the Cittaviśuddhi‑prakaraṇa is a valuable witness to early Mahāyāna thought. Its synthesis of philosophical insight and practical guidance illustrates how Indian Buddhists integrated dialectical analysis with contemplative disciplines. By recovering and translating this treatise, the author contributes to a more nuanced understanding of Āryadeva’s oeuvre and provides scholars with material for comparing Indian and Tibetan Buddhist scholastic traditions.