Luminosity

Abstract

Luminosity (Skt. prabhāsvaratā; Tib.’od gsal ba; Ch. guāng míng; Jpn. kōmyō; Kor. kwangmyōng) is a key Buddhist concept found throughout the major traditions of Buddhism. In the context of Indo-Tibetan Buddhism, the term is commonly translated as clear light or radiant light, both of which are literal renderings from the Tibetan, while in the context of East Asian Buddhism it is commonly translated simply as purity. Other common English translations include radiance, inner radiance, brightness, and luminous clarity. Although it is clear that luminosity is interpreted differently according to the various Buddhist traditions, it is most often employed to describe the mind’s inherent characteristic of purity that lacks defilements such as afflictive emotions (kleśa). This notion is found throughout the major schools of Buddhism among the early Buddhist, Mahāyāna, and tantric systems of thought and practice. The early Buddhist traditions such as Theravāda generally use the term to illustrate the idea that impurities, which bind one to saṃsāra, are not inherent to the mind. This fact is what allows for the possibility of enlightenment, since stains or afflictions of the mind can potentially be completely and permanently removed. While in the Mahāyāna system, particularly within the contexts of prajñāpāramitā and tathāgatagarbha literature, give increased focus to the mind being naturally luminous and inherently pure, we find within such philosophical systems as Yogācāra and Madhyamaka that luminosity is increasingly associated with emptiness, ultimate reality, and the illumination (prakāśa) of the mind that makes apparent objects of awareness. Tantric teachings tend to emphasize the direct realization or experience of luminosity as itself a means for enlightenment. According to tantric interpretations, luminosity as an experience of consciousness (rather than a mere characteristic of mind’s potentiality) can naturally arise once the gross and subtle levels of consciousness dissolve, such as during orgasm, at the moment of falling asleep, and particularly at the moment of death. A Buddhist tantric practitioner can potentially train in simulating this dissolution process of consciousness during meditation in order to directly recognize the appearance of luminosity, thus leading to liberation and Buddhahood. In the esoteric Tibetan traditions of Dzogchen (Rdzogs chen) and Mahāmūdra, luminosity is emphasized as synonymous with the dharmakāya, the dharmadhātu, and the fundamental nature of all phenomena and reality. It also becomes central for the other-emptiness (gzhan stong) views as maintained by some Tibetan traditions, particularly the Jonang school. Luminosity is thus a central concern for Buddhist soteriology among the major traditions of Buddhism. Despite this core focus, the limited secondary academic literature tends to heavily favor the Indo-Tibetan tantric and philosophical traditions, particularly since luminosity came to be a central theme in Tibetan esoteric Buddhism. References to luminosity in East Asian Buddhism are currently limited within European and American studies, as is reflected in this bibliography.