Ratnagotravibhāga — Sublime Continuum
Treatise on Buddha-nature attributed to Maitreya, transmitted via Asaṅga.
Save your scripture progress
Create a free account to save scriptures, track progress, and continue your daily learning path.
Exposition of the Ratnagotravibhāga
Context
The Ratnagotravibhāga, proclaimed to be the work of Bodhisattva Maitreya, was transmitted through Bodhisattva Asaṅga in the Northern Mahayana tradition. This treatise is one of the five famous works of Maitreya and is regarded as the theoretical foundation for the doctrine of Buddha-nature, one of the most central issues in Mahayana Buddhism.
The context for the composition of the Ratnagotravibhāga lies within the foundations of Yogācāra and Madhyamaka philosophy. During the period of Mahayana development, Buddhist masters felt it necessary to explain why all sentient beings have the capacity to become Buddhas. This question led to the exploration of the concept of "Buddha-nature" (Buddha-dhātu) or "Tathāgatagarbha," a primordial quality of reality present in all living beings, enabling them eventually to attain awakening.
Main Contents
The Ratnagotravibhāga affirms that Buddha-nature is not a material treasure or anyone's private possession. It is the "jewel-nature," the quality or essence of Buddhahood already accumulated within the minds of sentient beings. This treatise teaches that all sentient beings possess the Tathāgatagarbha, covered by ignorance, defilement, and afflictions, yet the core of Buddha-nature remains intact and pure.
The essence of the Ratnagotravibhāga lies in the analysis of three factors: first, Buddha-nature itself; second, the afflictions that cover it, like clouds covering the sun; and third, the possibility of removing these defilements in order to reveal the original luminous core. The treatise further declares that Buddha-nature is unborn and unceasing, neither increasing nor decreasing, beyond all dualistic linguistic concepts of being and nonbeing.
From the Yogācāra-Madhyamaka perspective, the Ratnagotravibhāga points out that Buddha-nature is not an absolute entity, nor is it utterly nonexistent. It is rightly revealed only through the Middle Way, the relinquishing of all extreme concepts of being or nonbeing.
🌏 The Buddhist canon is vast — some sūtras (such as comparative Vinaya across schools, or untranslated Tibetan-canon texts) have to this day NEVER been translated into Vietnamese or English by anyone, scholars included. Rather than leave it blank, Inti AI offers a FAITHFUL summary grounded in the tradition — from the sūtra's title, origin and essence — so you can still reach this rare part of the treasury. Whenever an original translation exists, the app shows the original first.
Translations belong to the translator/source credited above. The bilingual compilation, presentation, and AI translations compiled by Inti are © Inti Foundation. Please attribute when quoting; do not bulk-copy or use commercially without permission.