Favorite Madhyamika Book
Favorite Madhyamika Book
What is your favorite Madhyamika book? What one has helped you to understand this topic the most and helped you to bring it into practice? It could be a text, commentary, teaching, etc.
I seem to be fond of Chandrakirti. There are numerous commentaries available in English and some of them are quite challenging. For myself, there is a transcript of a multi-year teaching series on the Madhyamikavatara given by DJKR a number of years ago which was made into an ebook and available through Siddhartha's Intent.
What is yours?
I seem to be fond of Chandrakirti. There are numerous commentaries available in English and some of them are quite challenging. For myself, there is a transcript of a multi-year teaching series on the Madhyamikavatara given by DJKR a number of years ago which was made into an ebook and available through Siddhartha's Intent.
What is yours?
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Aryadeva's Four Hundred Stanzas on the Middle Way,
same with Candrakirti's commentary, Four Illusions: Candrakirti's Advice to Travelers on the Bodhisattva Path
same with Candrakirti's commentary, Four Illusions: Candrakirti's Advice to Travelers on the Bodhisattva Path
svaha
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
"All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.
They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.
Sarvē mānavāḥ svatantrāḥ samutpannāḥ vartantē api ca, gauravadr̥śā adhikāradr̥śā ca samānāḥ ēva vartantē. Ētē sarvē cētanā-tarka-śaktibhyāṁ susampannāḥ santi. Api ca, sarvē’pi bandhutva-bhāvanayā parasparaṁ vyavaharantu."
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Article 1. (in english and sanskrit)
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
K Venkata Ramanan ‘Nāgārjuna’s Philosophy’ - translation of Chinese MMK with commentary.
'Only practice with no gaining idea' ~ Suzuki Roshi
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
I found Fahuaxuani by Zhiyi, and its study by Paul Swanson helpful, in conjunction with Tientai Buddhism and Early Madhyamika by Ng Yu-Kwan. Though not about Nagarjuna directly, they discuss Nagarjuna through the lens of Tiantai thought.
Though not a deliberate discussion of Madhyamika, I like Nagarjuna's Precious Garland as a practical counsel on how to apply the teachings for oneself and others.
Though not a deliberate discussion of Madhyamika, I like Nagarjuna's Precious Garland as a practical counsel on how to apply the teachings for oneself and others.
There is no suffering to be severed. Ignorance and klesas are indivisible from bodhi. There is no cause of suffering to be abandoned. Since extremes and the false are the Middle and genuine, there is no path to be practiced. Samsara is nirvana. No severance achieved. No suffering nor its cause. No path, no end. There is no transcendent realm; there is only the one true aspect. There is nothing separate from the true aspect.
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
The bodhicaryavatara and Khenpo Kunpal's commentary on it, The Nectar of Manjushri's Speech.
"All phenomena of samsara depend on the mind, so when the essence of mind is purified, samsara is purified. Since the phenomena of nirvana depend on the pristine consciousness of vidyā, because one remains in the immediacy of vidyā, buddhahood arises on its own. All critical points are summarized with those two." - Longchenpa
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
This was recommended to me by Vasana and a few others in this forum: Center of the Sunlit Sky, by Karl Brunnhölzl.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily ...
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Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Ju Mipham's commentary on the Madhyamakavatara is very good, it covers the basic arguments of the Madhymaka and applies to various opponents as well as go in depth about a common and serious misunderstanding of emptiness - thta things are empty of something external to them.
Introduction to the Middle Way: Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara with Commentary by Ju Mipham
https://www.amazon.com.au/Introduction- ... B007ZE7YNU
Introduction to the Middle Way: Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara with Commentary by Ju Mipham
https://www.amazon.com.au/Introduction- ... B007ZE7YNU
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Jay Garfield, Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way
"I have made a heap of all that I have met"- Svetonious
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Introduction to the Middle Way (Madhyamakavatara), Candrakirti w/ Ju Mipham's commentary
Meditation on Emptiness, Jeffery Hopkins
Maps of the Profound--Jamyang Shepa's Great Exposition on Buddhist on Non-Buddhist views on the Nature of Reality, trans. Jeffery Hopkins
The Two Truths-Guy Newland
Jan Westerhoff's, The Madhyamaka concept of svabh ̄ava: ontological and cognitive aspects, as well as, various other of his writings pertaining to the middle way
UMA and Jeffery Hopkins have translated a wealth of monastic textbook material free to download
...
Some sort of study of Tenets--
Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen;s root text--Presentation of Tenets and various modern commentaries
Appearance and Reality, The Two Truths in the Four Buddhist Tenet Systems--Guy Newland
...
Shaun
Meditation on Emptiness, Jeffery Hopkins
Maps of the Profound--Jamyang Shepa's Great Exposition on Buddhist on Non-Buddhist views on the Nature of Reality, trans. Jeffery Hopkins
The Two Truths-Guy Newland
Jan Westerhoff's, The Madhyamaka concept of svabh ̄ava: ontological and cognitive aspects, as well as, various other of his writings pertaining to the middle way
UMA and Jeffery Hopkins have translated a wealth of monastic textbook material free to download
...
Some sort of study of Tenets--
Jetsun Chokyi Gyaltsen;s root text--Presentation of Tenets and various modern commentaries
Appearance and Reality, The Two Truths in the Four Buddhist Tenet Systems--Guy Newland
...
Shaun
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Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
I've not read it yet but I did hear a fascinating talk from Prof. Komarovski partly around the same topic as this: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Visions-Unity- ... ref=sr_1_2
Seems like it would be an interesting read to go along with the usual suspects on Madhyamaka.
He's also translated three of Shakya Chokden texts: https:/'s/www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Texts-Madhyamaka ... ref=sr_1_1
Seems like it would be an interesting read to go along with the usual suspects on Madhyamaka.
He's also translated three of Shakya Chokden texts: https:/'s/www.amazon.co.uk/Three-Texts-Madhyamaka ... ref=sr_1_1
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Where is this available?
"I have made a heap of all that I have met"- Svetonious
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
http://uma-tibet.org/indexlisted.php
or
http://uma-tibet.org/index-2a.html
Check out Hopkins Audio Archive, too. It has the excellent resources.
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Gendun Chopel's Ornament of the Thought of Nagarjuna, translated by Lopez as "The Madman's Middle Way"
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Steering clear of Tibetan polemics is a good way to go as well.
"All phenomena of samsara depend on the mind, so when the essence of mind is purified, samsara is purified. Since the phenomena of nirvana depend on the pristine consciousness of vidyā, because one remains in the immediacy of vidyā, buddhahood arises on its own. All critical points are summarized with those two." - Longchenpa
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
If some one came and took all of my Madhyamaka books (and I have many), I would fight to keep at least two:
Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness by Khenpo Tsultrum Gyamtso Rinpoche and the attendant commentary by Andy Karr called Contemplating Reality. They are both very accessible and practical. However, they are most applicable to Kagyu/Mahamudra practice.
I also think Douglas Duckworth's Jamgon Mipam: His Life and Teachings is excellent, although it is less practical than the first two. This is more of a Nyingma/Dzogchen point of view.
Although not really Madhyamaka, I also find Shabkar's Flight of the Garuda to be a great book generally, but it is restricted (or ought to be be Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche). Very practical, and he goes through the fundamentals of Madhyamaka. The best translation, hands down, is by Erik Pema Kunsang.
Progressive Stages of Meditation on Emptiness by Khenpo Tsultrum Gyamtso Rinpoche and the attendant commentary by Andy Karr called Contemplating Reality. They are both very accessible and practical. However, they are most applicable to Kagyu/Mahamudra practice.
I also think Douglas Duckworth's Jamgon Mipam: His Life and Teachings is excellent, although it is less practical than the first two. This is more of a Nyingma/Dzogchen point of view.
Although not really Madhyamaka, I also find Shabkar's Flight of the Garuda to be a great book generally, but it is restricted (or ought to be be Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche). Very practical, and he goes through the fundamentals of Madhyamaka. The best translation, hands down, is by Erik Pema Kunsang.
"The world is made of stories, not atoms."
--- Muriel Rukeyser
--- Muriel Rukeyser
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Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Mine is Khenpo Tsultrim Gyamtso's "The Sun of Wisdom"
Re: Favorite Madhyamika Book
Treasury of Precious Qualities, Jigme Lingpa, Commentary by Kangyur Rinpoche
Kirt
Kirt
“Where do atomic bombs come from?”
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche
Zen Master Seung Sahn said, “That’s simple. Atomic bombs come from the mind that likes this and doesn’t like that.”
"Even if you practice only for an hour a day with faith and inspiration, good qualities will steadily increase. Regular practice makes it easy to transform your mind. From seeing only relative truth, you will eventually reach a profound certainty in the meaning of absolute truth."
Kyabje Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.
"Only you can make your mind beautiful."
HH Chetsang Rinpoche