The lineage of Śāntideva
a revered 8th-century Indian Buddhist monk and author of the seminal text Bodhicaryāvatāra (The Way of the Bodhisattva), is rooted in the broader Mahāyāna tradition and closely connected to the Madhyamaka and Yogācāra schools. The lineage reflects the transmission of Mahāyāna teachings, particularly those emphasizing the Bodhisattva path.
1. Buddha Shakyamuni
The historical Buddha, whose teachings form the foundation of all Buddhist traditions. The concept of the Bodhisattva, central to Śāntideva's work, originates from the Buddha's teachings.
2. Maitreya
Maitreya is regarded as a future Buddha and a key figure in Mahāyāna Buddhism. He is traditionally considered to have imparted teachings to Asaṅga, which became central to the Yogācāra school.
3. Asaṅga
A major proponent of the Yogācāra school, Asaṅga is said to have received teachings from Maitreya in a heavenly realm. Asaṅga's works, such as Mahāyānasaṃgraha and Abhidharmasamuccaya, greatly influenced the development of Mahāyāna Buddhism, particularly in terms of the Bodhisattva ideal and the understanding of mind.
4. Vasubandhu
Asaṅga's half-brother, Vasubandhu, initially a Sarvāstivāda scholar, later became a key figure in the Yogācāra tradition. His works helped systematize Mahāyāna thought, particularly in the context of mind and consciousness.
5. Dignāga
A disciple of Vasubandhu, Dignāga is known for founding the tradition of Buddhist logic and epistemology, which played a significant role in Mahāyāna philosophical developments.
6. Dharmakīrti
A key figure in Buddhist logic and epistemology, Dharmakīrti's works expanded upon Dignāga's contributions. Although not directly linked to Śāntideva, the emphasis on rigorous logical reasoning in the Mahāyāna tradition influenced the intellectual context in which Śāntideva wrote.
7. Nāgārjuna
Although Nāgārjuna precedes Śāntideva, he is considered an essential part of the lineage in the broader sense. His development of the Madhyamaka philosophy, with its focus on emptiness (śūnyatā), deeply influenced Mahāyāna thought and the Bodhisattva path, which are central to Śāntideva's writings.
8. Āryadeva
A direct disciple of Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva contributed to the spread of the Madhyamaka school and further developed the teachings on emptiness and the Bodhisattva path.
9. Buddhapālita and Bhāvaviveka
These scholars continued the Madhyamaka tradition, with Buddhapālita emphasizing the Prāsaṅgika approach to emptiness and Bhāvaviveka offering a more structured interpretation known as Svātantrika-Madhyamaka.
10. Candrakīrti
A key figure in the Prāsaṅgika-Madhyamaka school, Candrakīrti's commentaries on Nāgārjuna's works became foundational texts for the understanding of Madhyamaka philosophy, which Śāntideva would have been influenced by.
11. Śāntideva
Śāntideva was a monk at Nalanda University, synthesized the teachings of the Madhyamaka and Yogācāra schools with a profound emphasis on the Bodhisattva ideal. His Bodhicaryāvatāra is a manual for aspiring Bodhisattvas, outlining the path of compassion, wisdom, and the practice of the six perfections (pāramitās).
12. Transmission to Tibet
Śāntideva's teachings were later transmitted to Tibet, where they became integral to Tibetan Buddhism, especially in the Kadampa, Gelug, and other schools. Figures like Atiśa (982–1054) played a crucial role in bringing Śāntideva's works to Tibet, where they became foundational texts for the study and practice of Mahāyāna Buddhism.
This lineage reflects the deep roots of Śāntideva's teachings in the broader Mahāyāna tradition, connecting the wisdom of Buddha Shakyamuni through the key figures in the Madhyamaka and Yogācāra schools, leading to Śāntideva's profound contributions to the path of the Bodhisattva.
