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Ratnākaraśānti
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ratnākaraśānti (also known as Ratnākara, Śāntipa, and Śānti) (late-10th century to mid-11th century) was an influential Buddhist philosopher and vajrayana tantric adept and scholar. He was the "gate scholar" of Vikramaśilā university's eastern gate (modern-day Bihar in India), a key post in the university's leadership.[1][2] Ratnākara was known by the title kalikālasarvajña ("the Omniscient One of the Degenerate Age") and is depicted as one of the eighty-four mahāsiddhas (great yogic masters).[3]
Ratnākaraśānti | |
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![]() A Tibetan illustration of Ratnākaraśānti as a scholar. | |
Personal | |
Born | 10th century |
Died | Mid 11th century |
Religion | Buddhism |
School | Vajrayana |
Education | Vikramashila |
Ratnākara wrote over forty works which include several influential commentaries to Mahayana sutras and tantras (especially the Hevajra tantra), treatises on Yogācāra, Madhyamaka, and Pramāṇa.[3] Because his unique philosophy attempts to merge the insights of both Yogācāra and Madhyamaka, Ratnākara referred to it as Trisvabhāva-mādhyamaka ("the middle way of the three natures").[4] He also known as a major defender of the "nirākāravāda" (without images") interpretation of Yogācāra.[5]
At Vikramaśilā, Ratnākara was a teacher to Atīśa, Maitrīpa, Śraddhākaravarman, and Drokmi Śākya Yeshe.[6][7] He was also a contemporary of Vāgīśvarakīrti.[8] Ratnākaraśānti was influential on some Tibetan Buddhist figures. Defenders of the shentong view him as a forerunner of this tradition and as a defender of shentong. His work on the Hevajra Tantra was also influential.[3]