Buddhist Philosophy Guides

The Emphasis of the Gelug Tradition in Western Scholarship on Madhyamaka

The Emphasis of the Gelug Tradition in Western Scholarship on Madhyamaka

While its no longer true in many universities, the presentation of Tibetan Buddhism in western academia—and the books that came out of it—was heavily skewed towards the Gelug philosophical view and its traditions. There are various reasons for this, but the following from the Translator's Introduction of the Padmakara Translation Group's The Wisdom Chapter: Jamgön
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Jamgön Kongtrul Reader’s Guide

Jamgön Kongtrul Reader’s Guide

Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye A Guide for Readers Jamgön Kongtrul Lodrö Taye (1813–1900) was a versatile and prolific scholar and one of the most outstanding writers and teachers of his time in Tibet. He was a pivotal figure in eastern Tibet’s nonsectarian movement and made major contributions to education, politics, and medicine. Jump to: Books
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The Levels of Study of the Karma Kagyu at Larung Gar

The Levels of Study of the Karma Kagyu at Larung Gar

We were very pleased to host a talk with Khenpo Jamyang of Larung Gar in Golok on Monday, April 18th, 2016 who discussed  the Kagyu curriculum at the largest center of Buddhist study and practice in the world. Below is a list of the texts that Khenpo discussed and the available English translations.  Most of
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The Seventeen Panditas of Indian Buddhism

The Seventeen Panditas of Indian Buddhism

Image from http://www.rigpashedra.org/   His Holiness the Dalai Lama has often said that Tibetan Buddhism is none other than the Buddhism of India in the tradition of Nalanda, the great center of Buddhist learning that was located in present-day Bihar, India. Many of the greatest masters and scholars in Indian Buddhism resided-and often presided-at this
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Aryadeva: A Reader’s Guide

Aryadeva: A Reader’s Guide

Aryadeva Learn More A Reader's Guide to Nagarjuna's disciple See Also:  Profiles of early Indian Mahayana figures | Tibetan Masters of the 8th Century | Tibetan Masters of the 10th-11th Centuries Nagarjuna | Aryadeva | Asanga | Shantideva | Xuanzang | The Seventeen Pandits of Nalanda Mahayana Buddhist philosophy This article for the Great Masters
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Translating the Maitreya Treatises: An Interview with Thomas Doctor

Translating the Maitreya Treatises: An Interview with Thomas Doctor

We recently interviewed Thomas Doctor, a translator on the Dharmachakra Translation Committee, about the importance of their recent translations of the Maitreya texts and commentaries. Shambhala Publications: The Dharmachakra Translation Committee has now published two of the five Maitreya texts, with a third on the way soon. Can you give a brief overview of why
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Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche: A Reader’s Guide

Jamgon Mipham Rinpoche: A Reader’s Guide

Mipham Rinpoche A Guide to His Works Related Topics Nyingma Lineages: Dudjom Tersar | Longchen Nyingtig | Namcho & Palyul Nyingma Masters: Rongzompa | Longchenpa | Jigme Lingpa | Patrul Rinpoche | Mipham Rinpoche Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912) Mipham Rinpoche is a celebrated Nyingma scholar and practitioner. He is revered for being a prolific writer and
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The Five Maitreya Texts: The “Zip Files” of the Mahāyāna

The Five Maitreya Texts: The “Zip Files” of the Mahāyāna

by Karl Brunnhölzl The five works that the Tibetan tradition ascribes to Maitreya resemble zip files that contain all the profound and vast topics of the Buddhist teachings. In their traditional order: The Ornament of Clear Realization comments on the emptiness taught in the Prajnaparamita Sutras and on what happens in the minds of bodhisattvas
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Nagarjuna as Described by Buton

Nagarjuna as Described by Buton

From Butön's History of Buddhism in India and Its Spread to Tibet Four hundred years after the Buddha passed away, in the southern country of Vidarbha, there lived a prosperous Brahmin who was childless. In a dream, gods foretold that if he invited one hundred Brahmins to a religious festival, a son would be born
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History of the Treasury of Precious Instructions

History of the Treasury of Precious Instructions

The History of the Treasury of Precious Instructions The following excerpt on The Treasury of Precious Instructions is from Ringu Tulku’s The Ri-me Philosophy of Jamgön Kongtrul the Great. This excerpt is part of the Guide to The Treasury of Precious Instructions Use the navigation menu above to explore each page and discover this truly remarkable and
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