RELATION AS REAL: A Critique of Dharmakirti by Raghunath Ghosh
The book Relation as Real: A Critique of Dharmakirti is the result of intensive and critical study on the arguments forwarded by Dharmakirti on the unreality of Relation in his book Sambandhapariksa. Apart from his metaphysical commitments to the Buddhist Logic and Epistemology Dharmakirti had developed some independent arguments given from the common sense level in favour of denying Relation. So far no philosopher belonging to Nyaya school has come forward to refute or critically evaluate the arguments given by Dharmakirti.
SANTANA AND SANTANANTARA by Dharmakirti, Mangala R. Chinchore, Tr.
Within Buddhist conceptual framework in general an in the world of Buddhist Scholarship in particular the present work is the first full-scale inquiry into the rationale of the acceptance of two important concepts in Buddhist philosophy, viz. Santana and Santanantara. In the work, the rationale of their acceptance and intricate mode of inter-relationship has been explained in great detail. And it has been argued that their acceptance paves way for (a) philosophically satisfactory account of continuity, transformation and transcendence-no matter in case of isolated or inter-related items, and (b) laying foundation of an alternative philosophical psychology in Buddhist Philosophy. It is argued that these features of them hold even in the face of acceptance of complete discreteness and literal momentariness. Assessing pioneering importance of the works of Dharmakirti like Santanantara-siddhi on these counts, it has been maintained that such an account of continuity, transformation and transcendence on the one hand and adoption of an alternative philosophical psychology on the other has to be embedded in the conception of the three major pillars of Buddhism viz. Duhkha, Anatmataand Anityata together with complex sort of inter-relationship between them. The work, thus, underscores the unmistakable importance of the three pillars under consideration in general and of Anityata in particular in properly understanding Buddhist ontology, epistemology, anthropology and psychology along with complex inter-relationship between them. This is, further, sought to be done in such a way that philosophically significant account of continuity, transformation etc. does not fail to be available in the Buddhist conceptual framework.
The book opens with a full account of the baffling personality of the great Bengali Pandit Atisa or Dipamkara Srijnana, the greatest of the teacher-reformers of Tibetan Buddhism. The author proceeds to portray the Tibetan background of early Buddhism and gives an account of the early history of Tibet and Indo-Tibetan connections, together with a study of Buddhism in Tibet from the seventh century onwards right down to the time of Atisa in the eleventh century A.D.
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF ATISHA trans. & anno. by Richard Sherburne, SJ, fore by H.H. the Dalai Lama
Contains the Lamp for the Path and its Commentary, translated in 1983 by Richard Sherburne, plus his translations of the Twenty-five Key Texts aby Atisha. These Texts are found in the Tibetan Tengyur in a collection called The Hundred Root Texts which were preserved by Atisha's followers as fundamental for a proper study of Buddhist theory and practice. The texts are translated and accompanied by the Wylie.
ASVAGHOSA'S BUDDHACARITA OR ACTS OF THE BUDDHA by Johnston
The Buddhacarita is a well-planned work written in Sanskrit by Asvagosha who was a contemporary of Kusana emperor Kaniska. It is one of the few biographies of Buddha that is complete commencing with his birth and ending with his nirvana. This work is composed in the style of of ornate court poetry or kavya.
Unlike the Mahavastu and the Lalitavistara, it is a systematic treatment of the subject matter. The poet is not only moderate in language and style, but he also uses restraint in the presentation of miracles in the Buddha legend, keeping himself far removed from exaggeration.
dBa' bzhed, THE ROYAL NARRATIVE CONCERNING THE BRINGING OF BUDDHA'S DOCTRINE TO TIBET by Pasang Wangdu, Hildegard Diemberger
This volume presents the first translation into a western language of the earliest known version of the great Tibetan history known as the dBa'/sBa bzhed. The original version of this famous text, traditionally attributed to sBa/dBa' gSal snang, is believed to have been written in the 9th century, but until now the only extant versions, which are much reworked and which date back to the 12th and 14th centuries, have never been translated into English.
ILLUSION'S GAME: The Life and Teachings of Naropa by Chogyam Trungpa
In what he calls a "200 percent potent" teaching, Chogyam Trungpa reveals how the spiritual path is a raw rugged "unlearning" process that draws us away from the comfort of conventional expectations and conceptual attitudes toward a naked encounter with reality. The tantric paradigm for this process is the story of the Indian master Naropa (10116-1100), who is among the enlightened teachers of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. Naropa was the leading scholar at Nalanda, the Buddhist monastic university, when he embarked upon the lonely and arduous path to enlightenment. After a series of daunting trials, he was prepared to receive the direct transmission of the awakened state of mind from his guru, Tilopa. Teachings that he received, including those known as the six doctrines of Naropa, have been passed down in the lineages of Tibetan Buddhism for a millennium.
Trungpa's commentary shows the relevance of Naropa's extraordinary journey for today's practitioners who seek to follow the spiritual path. Naropa's story makes it possible to delineate in very concrete terms the various levels of spiritual development that lead to the student's readiness to meet the teacher's mind. Trungpa thus opens to Western students of Buddhism the path of devotion and surrender to the guru as the embodiment and representative of reality.
Gems of Dharma, Jewels of Freedom is a translation of the great Tibetan Buddhist classic the Dagpo Tarjen by Je Gampopa. For some 800 years this masterly overview of the Buddha's teaching has served as a handbook for followers of the twelve Kagyu traditions, which all stem from Je Gampopa's disciples. Placing the quintessential meaning of hundreds of Buddhist scriptures in the palm of one's hand, it provides an ideal resource for those new to Buddhism and is an invaluable reference work for experienced practitioners.
THE INSTRUCTIONS OF GAMPOPA: A Precious Garland of the Supreme Path commentary by Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche, translated by Lama Yeshe Gyamtso, ed. by Laura Roth & David McCarthy
In this commentary on the Precious Garland, one of the masterworks of Gampopa, Rinpoche outlines in twenty-eight categories what practioners of varying levels need to know in order to perfect their spiritual practice. He gives precise instructions on the correct view, meditation and conduct, and offers frank answers to common questions concerning obstacles to Dharma practice.
Gampopa(1070-1153), the father of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, was the foremost student of the great yogi Milarepa. Among his many writings the two most influential are The Jewel Ornament of Liberation and A Precious Garland of the Supreme Path. As Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche points out in his commentary to the Precious Garland, for those with faith in Gampopa studying his text can be "exactly the same as receiving teachings directly from him."
The 12th century master Gampopa is one of the founding fathers of the Kagyu lineage of Tibetan Buddhism. He was renowned for this philosophical knowledge and meditation experience. He unified two streams of transmission: the Kadampa lineage's system of mind training, based on the Mahayana sutras, and the simple and profound meditation instructions of Mahamudra. This combination made the impact of the teachings even more profound. Nowhere is this depth and sagaciousness more evident than in the "Precious Garland." This text presents astute and penetrating instructions which are essential for the Buddhist practitioner.
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