- Sanskrit: Vimalakīrti विमलकीर्ति
- Chinese: Wéimójié 維摩詰
- Tibetan: Dri med grags pa དྲི་མེད་གྲགས་པ།
Definition:
The Vimalakīrtinirdeśa, in English “Vimalakīrti’s Instructions,” is an important sūtra of the Mahāyāna, or “Great Vehicle,” dating from approximately the second century CE. The name Vimalakīrti in the title is the name of the sūtra’s protagonist: a layman who embodies the bodhisattva ideal. Vimalakīrti elucidates the Dharma with a wisdom that surpasses even that of the Buddha’s most accomplished monastic disciples. Through a series of philosophical discourses and miraculous feats, Vimalakīrti expounds on the Mahāyāna themes of śūnyatā, or “emptiness,” the unity of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, and the importance of upāya, or “skillful means.”
Significance:
The Vimalakīrtinirdeśa is a masterpiece that blends doctrinal depth with narrative flair. The scripture reflects the Mahāyāna vision through the voice of its remarkable lay protagonist. The sūtra weaves Vimalakīrti’s dialogues and miracles to critique and transcend the perceived limitations of early Buddhist thought. In particular, Vimalakīrti critiques the dichotomy between lay and monastic life and the notions of purity and practice. Vimalakīrti, through his illness and subsequent teachings, serves as a medium to convey the Mahāyāna ideal that enlightenment is not confined to the monastic order but is accessible to all, regardless of their roles in society. Central to the sūtra’s narrative is Vimalakīrti’s silence in response to inquiries about non-duality. This is a literary moment whose eloquence resonated through centuries of Buddhist thought and practice, for, in communicating the incommunicable, Vimalakīrti shows that ultimate truth transcends the domains of language and conceptual thought. This episode critiques the limitations of discursive reasoning and elevates the discourse on prajñā, or “wisdom,” to unparalleled heights.
The sūtra’s historical layers, revealed through its transmission from the original Sanskrit to multiple translations across Asian cultures, demonstrate its universal adaptability, a feature that enriched the Mahāyāna tradition in scope and appeal. Notably, the story of Vimalakīrti, together with the sūtra’s insights, have inspired Buddhist practitioners and captivated scholars and artists, leading to its depiction in numerous forms of Buddhist art across East Asia.
In placing a layman at the heart of its discourse, the authors of the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa called for a transformation in the pursuit of enlightenment, emphasizing that the bodhisattva path is open to all. This sūtra thus stands as a text that both consolidates and expands the Mahāyāna vision, unveiling the concerns and tensions at the center of the Buddhist debate—namely, societal roles and the pursuit of wisdom—at the time of its compilation.
