Āryacaturdharmakanāmamahāyānasūtra
Āryacaturdharmakanāmamahāyānasūtra (T. ’phags pa chos bzhi pa zhes bya ba theg pa chen po’i mdo). "The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra on the Four Factors".[1]
The third of three short sūtras with similar titles (all referring to sets of four dharmas or factors of the path) found in the Tibetan Kangyur. In many Kangyurs (predominantly those of Tshalpa origin, including the Degé Kangyur) these sūtras are found grouped together.[1]
Of the other sūtras in this set, The Sūtra Teaching the Four Factors (Toh 249) is concerned with the four factors necessary for the practice of confession, while The Four Factors (Toh 250) identifies four beliefs that a wise son of a good family should not accept as true.[1]
Adam Pearcey states:
- In this sūtra, dharma is a flexible term used to refer to a specific set or category of four important components or factors of the path that a bodhisattva, someone who aspires to achieve the perfect awakening of a buddha, should not abandon under any circumstances. These four factors are (1) the thought of awakening, (2) the spiritual friend or companion and guide in virtue, (3) tolerance and lenience, considered here as a pair, and (4) dwelling in the wilderness, that is, in a place suitably removed from the social world of the town so as to enable spiritual practice.[1]
Also:
- There is a short commentary on this sūtra attributed to Vasubandhu and preserved in Tibetan in the Tengyur (*Āryacaturdharmakavyākhyāna, ’phags pa chos bzhi pa’i rnam par bshad pa, Toh 3990), as well as a slightly longer commentary on this commentary, attributed to Jñānadatta (*Āryacaturdharmakavyākhyānaṭīkā, ’phags pa chos bzhi pa’i rgya cher bshad pa’i rgya cher ’grel pa, Toh 3990a).[1]
Text
The Tibetan translation of this sutra can be found in the General Sutra section of the Tibetan Dergé Kangyur, Toh 251
- English translation:
The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra on the Four Factors, 84000 Collection
