Overview

This book reconstructs and appropriates in contemporary language the Middle Way (Madhyamaka) philosophy of Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), arguably Tibet's greatest philosopher. It reconstructs Tsongkhapa's theories on a number of cross-cultural philosophical topics such as issues relating to self, persons and reality, which are of primary concern to all major philosophical traditions. The interpretations of Tsongkhapa's thought are grounded in the original works, thus enabling Tsongkhapa to speak, as far as possible, in his own voice. Every attempt is made, however, to articulate Tsongkhapa's philosophical thought in language familiar to contemporary western philosophy. The work explores the historical and intellectual context of Tsongkhapa's philosophy and addresses the critical issues related to questions of development and originality in Tsongkhapa's thought. It also deals extensively with one of Tsongkhapa's primary concerns, namely his attempts to demonstrate that the Middle Way philosophy's deconstructive analysis does not negate the reality of the everyday world. The study's central focus, however, is the question of the existence and the nature of self. This is explored both in terms of Tsongkhapa's deconstruction of the self and his reconstruction of person. Finally, the work explores the concept of reality that emerges in Tsongkhapa's philosophy, and deals with his understanding of the relationship between critical reasoning, no-self, and religious experience. This work is a comprehensive text that will serve as an in-depth introduction to Tibetan philosophy and Buddhist studies. For students of general philosophy, it will help bring Tsongkhapa's thought into creative debate and engagement with contemporary philosophy. For the expert, this is one of the most philosophically sensitive studies of a historically significant Tibetan thinker.

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9780700712793

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Thupten Jinpa

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