Journal of East China Normal University (Philosoph ›› 2018, Vol. 50 ›› Issue (2): 46-53.doi: 10.16382/j.cnki.1000-5579.2018.02.006

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Paramārtha and the Study of “Sam-matīya”

SHENG Kai   

  • Online:2018-03-15 Published:2018-03-27

Abstract: Paramārtha was born in Ujayana and he traveled to many nations surrounding Ujayana in Western India, where the doctrines of sam-matīya were widely preached. Paramārtha translated a series of works of sam-matīya such as Clearly Understanding the Disciplines in 22 Verses, Abhidharm on Bring Peace to the World, and wrote and lectured on Annotations to Clearly Understanding. This shows his proficiency in sam-matīya disciplines. Proposed in Clearly Understanding and On Four Truths, the special four good roots of "endurance, name, appearance, laukikāgradharma" are included in the "four skillful means of perfumation" in Vidyanirdesa-sastra. Paramārtha accepted and preached the unique sam-matīya view of history and time, including "the present kalpa is the ninth kalpa", and there are "seven hundred years" away from the ninth kalpa. Therefore, it is plausible to conclude that Paramārtha adhered to sam-matīya.

Key words: Paramārtha, sam-matīya, Ujayana, four good roots, consciousness of the end of kalpa