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Mutual criticism in Mahayana Sutras

It has been said that there can been found mutual criticism in Mahayana sutras. Does anyone know any sources or the sources of scholars who quote specific examples of this?

Many thanks,
Justin

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#1Submitted by Gregory Hamilto... on Mon, 11/30/2015 - 06:44.
Gregory Hamilton Schmidt's picture

Mutual Criticism

Justin - I see a general reference to this in Paul Williams's "Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations." Is this the source of your question?

I found a PDF of the 2nd Edition of this text here.

Here he references a potential approach to the Mahayana I find practical in referring to it as the "Mahayanas" to avoid the fallacy of a unitary tradition where their exists a plurality of communities.

One example of mutual criticism outlined in this text is of the Madhyamaka, "writers in
India who identified themselves as Madhyamikas engaged in mutual criticism – most
notably the criticisms by Candrakcrti of Bhavaviveka."

This, then, refers to the well known criticism of the Svatrantika by the Prasangika school

I believe Santaraksita's criticism of Nirakaravadin mental realism would also fit within this category.

#2Submitted by Justin Williams on Sat, 12/05/2015 - 22:23.
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Thanks Gregory. It is

Thanks Gregory. It is interesting about Candrakirti and Bhavaviveka, however their writings were not sutras.
I did find some kinds of criticism myself, so I'll mention them:
The Astasāhasrikā Sutra (8,000 verse) does not exactly criticise the original sutras, but it does say they don't have definitive meaning, and puts itself a step above by saying it is the Second Turning of the wheel of dharma. The Samdhinirmocana Sutra then in effect criticises the former, but putting its own teachings forward as the Third Turning, claiming the former was not definitive, and that its own is. The Aksayamatinirdesa Sutra apparently contradicts the Samdhinirmocana Sutra by saying the 3rd turning is lower than the 2nd, that the 2nd is definitive - the view apparently followed by the Gelugpas of Tibetan Buddhism.

Any more specific contradictions would be welcomed!