Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
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Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
I am very interested in the Madhyamaka school and I am here to seek clarity regarding many of its complicated doctrines!
Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
Madhyamaka is not complicated. It exists to dismantle the complications of other systems, that's why it seems complex. But it isn't really.Subcontrary wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:13 pm I am very interested in the Madhyamaka school and I am here to seek clarity regarding many of its complicated doctrines!
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Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
That is encouraging, Malcolm!
I should say more that I am often confounded by the doctrines of Madhyamaka. I'm even now writing a post regarding the Tattvasangraha of Santaraksita which perhaps will demonstrate my confusion!
I should say more that I am often confounded by the doctrines of Madhyamaka. I'm even now writing a post regarding the Tattvasangraha of Santaraksita which perhaps will demonstrate my confusion!
- Shotenzenjin
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Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
Welcome
Generation's shall pass, our determination shall grow, at the foot of Mount Fuji
Like smoke that reaches far beyond the clouds.--nichimoku shonin. Third high priest of Nichiren Shoshu
Hokekko of true Buddhism https://nstny.org
Introduction to Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... VKyEQ_cxK9
Like smoke that reaches far beyond the clouds.--nichimoku shonin. Third high priest of Nichiren Shoshu
Hokekko of true Buddhism https://nstny.org
Introduction to Nichiren Shoshu Buddhism
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source= ... VKyEQ_cxK9
Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
Don’t start with that book.Subcontrary wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:51 pm That is encouraging, Malcolm!
I should say more that I am often confounded by the doctrines of Madhyamaka. I'm even now writing a post regarding the Tattvasangraha of Santaraksita which perhaps will demonstrate my confusion!
- Johnny Dangerous
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Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
I was taught by one my teachers to engage in Madhyamaka analysis in daily life. A lot of Tibetan teachers teach these at basic Dharma talks. That makes it much easier. It is not really complicated at all, as Malcolm says. It also means it has the exact opposite purpose of what people assume - that it is just supposed to be some scholarly teaching, with no practical value.Subcontrary wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:13 pm I am very interested in the Madhyamaka school and I am here to seek clarity regarding many of its complicated doctrines!
I do struggle to read Nagarjuna sometimes, but that's just my education level and conditioning, it is not hard to understand what he is talking about if you apply it.
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when afflicted by disease
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when sad
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when suffering occurs
Meditate upon Bodhicitta when you are scared
-Khunu Lama
Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
Welcome!
Happy Pride month to my queer dharma siblings!
What do you see when you turn out the lights?
What do you see when you turn out the lights?
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Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
It's too late! I read Jha's entire translation a few years ago and am returning to it again, at least sections of it, as a result of a discussion about karma that I had with my sister recently. Anyway, the question remains, do you have suggestions for more "beginnery" material about Madhyamaka?Malcolm wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 10:13 pmDon’t start with that book.Subcontrary wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:51 pm That is encouraging, Malcolm!
I should say more that I am often confounded by the doctrines of Madhyamaka. I'm even now writing a post regarding the Tattvasangraha of Santaraksita which perhaps will demonstrate my confusion!
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Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
That's good advice! I do try to engage in Madhyamaka analysis in daily life, insofar as I understand it. I'm very happy to hear that it's not actually complicated; hopefully one day I'll experience what you mean!Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 10:22 pmI was taught by one my teachers to engage in Madhyamaka analysis in daily life. A lot of Tibetan teachers teach these at basic Dharma talks. That makes it much easier. It is not really complicated at all, as Malcolm says. It also means it has the exact opposite purpose of what people assume - that it is just supposed to be some scholarly teaching, with no practical value.Subcontrary wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:13 pm I am very interested in the Madhyamaka school and I am here to seek clarity regarding many of its complicated doctrines!
I do struggle to read Nagarjuna sometimes, but that's just my education level and conditioning, it is not hard to understand what he is talking about if you apply it.
I'm told that Nagarjuna founded Madhyamaka thought in his book Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, but I have not found any English translations! Do you know of any?
EDIT: NVM two seconds of googling yielded https://terebess.hu/english/Nagarjuna.pdf and https://www.aaari.info/notes/03-06-06Tam2.pdf
Last edited by Subcontrary on Mon May 24, 2021 3:02 am, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
Hi
I found this to be quite interesting
Madhyamakavatara 8-Week Program: Introduction
https://madhyamaka.com/2017-06-07-madhy ... roduction/
I found this to be quite interesting
Madhyamakavatara 8-Week Program: Introduction
https://madhyamaka.com/2017-06-07-madhy ... roduction/
One should not kill any living being, nor cause it to be killed, nor should one incite any other to kill. Do never injure any being, whether strong or weak, in this entire universe!
Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
It’s best if you begin with Aryadevas 400 verses or Candrakirti Madhyamaka avatara.Subcontrary wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 3:00 amThat's good advice! I do try to engage in Madhyamaka analysis in daily life, insofar as I understand it. I'm very happy to hear that it's not actually complicated; hopefully one day I'll experience what you mean!Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 10:22 pmI was taught by one my teachers to engage in Madhyamaka analysis in daily life. A lot of Tibetan teachers teach these at basic Dharma talks. That makes it much easier. It is not really complicated at all, as Malcolm says. It also means it has the exact opposite purpose of what people assume - that it is just supposed to be some scholarly teaching, with no practical value.Subcontrary wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 7:13 pm I am very interested in the Madhyamaka school and I am here to seek clarity regarding many of its complicated doctrines!
I do struggle to read Nagarjuna sometimes, but that's just my education level and conditioning, it is not hard to understand what he is talking about if you apply it.
I'm told that Nagarjuna founded Madhyamaka thought in his book Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, but I have not found any English translations! Do you know of any?
EDIT: NVM two seconds of googling yielded https://terebess.hu/english/Nagarjuna.pdf and https://www.aaari.info/notes/03-06-06Tam2.pdf
Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
A course in Madhyamaka with Thomas Doctor has started this month: https://dharmasun.org/courses/middleway/
1 Myriad dharmas are only mind.
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?
2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.
3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.
4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Mind is unobtainable.
What is there to seek?
2 If the Buddha-Nature is seen,
there will be no seeing of a nature in any thing.
3 Neither cultivation nor seated meditation —
this is the pure Chan of Tathagata.
4 With sudden enlightenment to Tathagata Chan,
the six paramitas and myriad means
are complete within that essence.
1 Huangbo, T2012Ap381c1 2 Nirvana Sutra, T374p521b3; tr. Yamamoto 3 Mazu, X1321p3b23; tr. J. Jia 4 Yongjia, T2014p395c14; tr. from "The Sword of Wisdom"
Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
Indeed, can't speak to the quality of the course, I am sure it is fine, but the message board is a nightmare of proliferation, abandon hope all ye...Astus wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 5:48 pm A course in Madhyamaka with Thomas Doctor has started this month: https://dharmasun.org/courses/middleway/
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Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
Wow, what luck and good timing! Thank you so much!Astus wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 5:48 pm A course in Madhyamaka with Thomas Doctor has started this month: https://dharmasun.org/courses/middleway/
Re: Hello From An Amateur Madhyamaka Scholar!
I have to agree on this approach. With my teacher's guidance, and some steering by my own questioning, I started with Candrakirti's Wisdom chapter and worked toward identifying the 4 (sometimes 5) Madhyamaka reasonings in the text--much of it is actually dominated by the 'diamond splinters.' This was followed by a study of tenets to help understand some of the finer points. I think there probably are a variety ways to approach it, but this is where my own organic mode of inquiry and my teacher led me. I will probably continue to work my way backward to a honest examination of Nagarjuna's root text.Malcolm wrote: ↑Tue May 25, 2021 1:49 pmIt’s best if you begin with Aryadevas 400 verses or Candrakirti Madhyamaka avatara.Subcontrary wrote: ↑Mon May 24, 2021 3:00 amThat's good advice! I do try to engage in Madhyamaka analysis in daily life, insofar as I understand it. I'm very happy to hear that it's not actually complicated; hopefully one day I'll experience what you mean!Johnny Dangerous wrote: ↑Sun May 23, 2021 10:22 pm
I was taught by one my teachers to engage in Madhyamaka analysis in daily life. A lot of Tibetan teachers teach these at basic Dharma talks. That makes it much easier. It is not really complicated at all, as Malcolm says. It also means it has the exact opposite purpose of what people assume - that it is just supposed to be some scholarly teaching, with no practical value.
I do struggle to read Nagarjuna sometimes, but that's just my education level and conditioning, it is not hard to understand what he is talking about if you apply it.
I'm told that Nagarjuna founded Madhyamaka thought in his book Mūlamadhyamakakārikā, but I have not found any English translations! Do you know of any?
EDIT: NVM two seconds of googling yielded https://terebess.hu/english/Nagarjuna.pdf and https://www.aaari.info/notes/03-06-06Tam2.pdf
Shaun