Tsongkhapa (1357-1419) is by any measure the single most influential philosopher in Tibetan history. His articulation of Prasangika Madhyamaka, and his interpretation of the 7th Century Indian philosopher Candrakirti's interpretation of Madhyamaka is the foundation for the understanding of that philosophical system in the Geluk school in Tibet. Tsongkhapa argues that Candrakirti shows that we can integrate the Madhyamaka doctrine of the two truths, and of the ultimate emptiness of all phenomena with a robust epistemology that explains how we can know both conventional and ultimate truth and distinguish truth from falsity within the conventional world. The Sakya scholar Taktsang Lotsawa (born 1405) published the first systematic critique of Tsongkhapa's system. In the fifth chapter of his Freedom from Extremes Accomplished through Comprehensive Knowledge of Philosophy, Taktsang attacks Tsongkhapa's understanding of Candrakirti and the cogency of integrating Prasangika Madhyamaka with any epistemology. This attack launches a debate between Geluk scholars on the one hand and Sakya and Kagyu scholars on the other regarding the proper understanding of this philosophical school and the place of epistemology in the Madhyamaka program. This debate raged with great ferocity from the 15th through the 18th centuries, and continues still today.
These two volumes study that debate and present translations of the most important texts produced in that context. Volume I provides historical and philosophical background for this dispute and elucidates the philosophical issues at stake in the debate, exploring the principal arguments advanced by the principals on both sides, and setting them in historical context. This volume presents English translations of each of the most important texts in this debate.
Chapter 1. Taktsang Sherab Rinchen, Freedom from Extremes Accomplished through Comprehensive Knowledge of Philosophy, Chapter V (translated by Thomas Doctor with Ryan Conlon, Jay L. Garfield, and John Powers) Chapter 2. Mikyö Dorjé, Karmapa VIII, An Excerpt from One Hundred Thousand Discussions of Mah?mudr? and an excerpt from Chariot of the Dakpo Kagyü Adepts (translated by Thomas Doctor with Jay L. Garfield and John Powers) Chapter 3. Panchen Losang Chökyi Gyaltsen, The Lion's Roar of Scripture and 191 Reasoning: A Response to the Objections of Drapa Sherab Rinchen (translated by José Cabezón and Sonam Thakchöe with Jay L. Garfield and John Powers) Chapter 4. Wangchuk Dorjé, Karmapa IX, Concise Compendium of the Middle Way and Conferring the Definitive Meaning (translated by Ryan Conlon with Thomas Doctor, Jay L. Garfield and John Powers) Chaper 5. Purchok Ngawang Jampa, Diamond Slivers: A Rejoinder to Taktsang Lotsawa (translated by Ryan Conlon and Thomas Doctor with Jay L. Garfield and John Powers) Glossary of English Terms Glossary of Tibetan Terms Glossary of Tibetan Place Names and Orders
The Yakherds is a collective of scholars in Philosophy and Buddhist Studies based in the USA, India, Australia, Nepal, and Germany, and comprises both Western and Tibetan scholars. Between them, they have translated, edited, and written over 70 books and several hundred articles and reviews, including numerous important translations of Tibetan philosophical texts and books on Buddhist philosophy.
Reviews for Knowing Illusion: Bringing a Tibetan Debate into Contemporary Discourse: Volume II: Translations
I celebrate the arrival of this extraordinary book. It marks an important step forward in our understanding of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. * Guy Newland, Central Michigan University, The Journal of Religion *
