The Treasury of Higher Knowledge: With the Clarified Meaning Commentary

[ Chapter on the Elements ]

If this [work] is logical, it should be accepted; if it is not, it should be set aside and stated otherwise. For it is not impossible for the intellect of those like me to stumble when dealing with difficult subject matter.

original: "yaḥ sarvathāsarvahatāndhakāraḥ saṃsārapāṅkājjagadujjahāra | tasmai namaskṛtya yathārthaśāstre śāstraṃ pravakṣyāmyabhidharmakośam || 1 ||"

Explaining the meaning of this verse, the Teacher Vasubandhu, the author of the original verses says: Desiring to compose the treatise, and in order to make known the greatness of his own Teacher by recounting His virtues, he begins this salutation to Him. The treatise refers to the Treasury of Higher Knowledge. Desiring to compose means wishing to create. Of his own Teacher means his personal Teacher. For the Blessed One the Buddha is the Teacher's own Teacher, because the Teacher has followed His instructions. Or, it is because that Teacher, being moved by great compassion, has claimed the entire world as His own; therefore, the Blessed One is the personal Teacher of the author, who is also included in that world. "In order to make known His greatness" means: "Greatness" refers to the perfection of accomplishing one's own welfare and the welfare of others; "to make known" means to cause this to be understood. Recounting His virtues means stating His qualities. He begins this salutation means he performs a bow of respect.

Though the act of bowing happened in the past, the present tense "begins" is used because the intention to offer the salutation remains even now, or because the act of salutation never ceases through the succession of disciples. We see a similar usage in the science of grammar: "Now begins the instruction of words. The word 'Now' is used here to indicate the commencement of the subject" This is a famous quote from Patanjali's Mahābhashya (1.1.1), the foundational text of Sanskrit grammar.

If one asks: "The understanding of greatness comes from recounting virtues alone, not from a bow, does it not?" We answer: No; for the bow is an indicator of that greatness. By the act of bowing, greatness is signaled. Alternatively: Greatness is indeed made known by recounting virtues, not by the bow; however, the act of bowing is undertaken to produce personal merit, or to demonstrate adherence to the conduct of the virtuous. For it is the practice of the virtuous to begin a task only after performing worship, praise, and salutations to their chosen deity.

Why is the "making known of greatness" necessary? We explain: It is to produce a sense of reverence. The production of reverence, in turn, is to ensure that the words of the Teacher are heard with respect. Hearing with respect leads, in sequence, to the production of wisdom arising from hearing, reflection, and meditation. The production of that wisdom is for the purpose of abandoning the mental afflictions Kleshas: Mental states like greed, hatred, and delusion that cloud the mind. That abandonment, in turn, leads to the attainment of Nirvana: The state of final peace and the cessation of all suffering, which is the ultimate goal.

The Teacher mentions the "making known of greatness" as the primary purpose because it is the immediate reason for the verse. The other purposes can be inferred, so they were not explicitly stated.