Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Note: I provide Amazon links for ease, if one prefers to buy elsewhere, just use the title and ISBN information for that. Prices can vary from store to store. Some titles may be out of stock/print, check used market for cheaper copies. And as always, as it goes without saying, these topics are difficult to learn by reading alone. It's imperative to receive teachings on them from a qualified teacher. Progress is made that way, not by reading books alone.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, merely a collection of some of the more important or well-regarded publications on these topics.
[b]ABHIDHARMA[/b]:
1. Abhidharmakosha, by Vasubandhu:
-- Pruden, 4 volumes (paperback):
Vol. 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730078/
Vol. 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730086/
Vol. 3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730094/
Vol. 4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730108/
-- Pruden, 4 volumes (hardcover):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0895819139/
-- Gelong Lodrö Sangpo (based on Pruden), 4 volumes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/8120836073/
2. Ornament of Abhidharma, by Chim Jampalyang ([i]commentary[/i]):
-- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0861714628/
3. Arthaviniscaya Sutra ([i]functions as a helpful summary of the topics in Abhidharma[/i]):
-- https://shop.dharmapublishing.com/colle ... e-meanings ([i]the main text and commentary[/i])
-- https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/ ... iscaya.pdf ([i]Only the discourse itself, without the nibandhana, or commentary[/i])
4. Gateway to Knowledge, by Mipham Rinpoche, 4 volumes:
Vol. 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9627341290/
Vol. 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9627341428/
Vol. 3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9627341460/
Vol. 4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9627341681/
5. The Six Topics That All Buddhists Learn, by Khenpo Shenga:
-- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0073NB1RS/ ([i]Similar to Mipham Rinpoche's series, except it's much shorter[/i])
[b]PRAJNAPARAMITA[/b]:
[u]Abhisamayalamkara[/u] ([i]a commentary on the hidden meaning of the Prajnaparamita Sutras, by Maitreya, directly revealed to Asanga[/i]):
Abhisamayalamkara with Vritti by Arya Vimuktisena and Haribhadra's Aloka, (Sparham):
Vol.1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730116/
Vol.2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730124/
Vol.3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730132/
Vol.4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730140/
Golden Garland of Eloquence by Tsongkhapa, (Sparham) ([i]Commentary on the Abhisamayalamkara[/i]):
Vol.1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730159/
Vol.2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730167/
Vol.3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730175/
Vol.4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730140/
Groundless Paths ([i]Nyingma commentaries on the Abhisamayalamkara[/i]), (Brunnhölzl):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393750/
Gone Beyond ([i]Kagyu commentaries on the Abhisamayalamkara[/i]), (Brunnhölzl):
Vol.1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393564/
Vol.2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393572/
[i]According to Acharya Malcolm, the Indian commentaries of Arya Vimuktisena and Haribhadra are the most important to study first. Then, Tsongkhapa's commentary is best of the Tibetan ones.[/i]
[b]Akshayamatinirdesha Sutra[/b] (A very important sutra for the Madhyamaka tradition, much-cited by many masters):
- Aksayamatinirdesasutra Vol. II: Tradition of Imperishability in Buddhist Thought, Braarvig: https://www.amazon.com/dp/8256009179/
- https://www2.hf.uio.no/polyglotta/index ... me&vid=424 ([i]Online version[/i])
The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra “The Teaching of Akṣayamati”: A new and updated online translation, based on Braarvig: https://read.84000.co/translation/toh175.html
With regards to all the other texts in the Prajnaparamita collection, along with commentaries, I have not made a list over essential English translations, as I don't have a proper overview of the many online and book translations that are out there.
[b]MADHYAMAKA[/b]:
The MMK:
- Nagarjuna's Middle Way: Mulamadhyamakakarika, Siderits/Katsura: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1614290504/
- The Root Stanzas of the Middle Way: The Mulamadhyamakakarika, Padmakara Translation Group: https://www.amazon.com/dp/161180342X/
- Nagarjuna in China: A Translation of the Middle Treatise (Studies in Asian Thought and Religion), Bocking: ([i]Out of print[/i]) STUDIES IN ASIAN THOUGHT AND RELIGION (Book 18), ISBN-13 978-0773489813, 1995
- Ornament of Reason: The Great Commentary To Nagarjuna's Root Of The Middle Way, by Mabja Jangchub Tsondru and Dharmachakra Translation Committee: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393688/
- Aryadeva's Four Hundred Stanzas on the Middle Way: With Commentary by Gyel-Tsap: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393025/
- Introduction to the Middle Way: Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara with Commentary by Ju Mipham, Padmakara Translation Group: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1590300092
Also: I would've enjoyed posting a link to a full proper translation of Buddhapalita's MMK commentary, but there seems to be none. There was a translation project for this that started a decade ago, but clearly it seems to have failed as there's been no news for years, and the website for it has been parked. Very disappointing.
[u]More Nagarjuna, on the topic of emptiness, and related to it[/u]:
- Master of Wisdom: Writings of the Buddhist Master Nagarjuna, Lindtner ([i]Book includes Lokatitastava, Acintyastava, Bodhicittavivarana, Yuktisastika, Shunyatasaptati, Vyavaharasiddhi, Bodhisambharaka[/i]): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0898002869/
- Nagarjuna's Reason Sixty (Yuktisastika) with Candrakirti's Commentary (Yuktisastikavrrti), Loizzo: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0975373420/
- The Dispeller of Disputes: Nagarjuna's Vigrahavyavartani, Westerhoff: https://www.amazon.com//dp/0199732701/
- Crushing the Categories (Vaidalyaprakarana), Westerhoff: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949163008/
[u]General books on Madhyamaka[/u]:
- Madhyamaka Schools in India - A Study of the Madhyamaka Philosophy and of the Division of the System into the Prasangika and Svatantrika Schools, Santina: https://www.amazon.com/dp/8120801539/
- Nagarjuna's Madhyamaka: A Philosophical Introduction, Westerhoff: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0195384962/
If I'm to suggest some Tibetan works to be read on Madhyamaka, I'd go with Gorampa and Gendun Chöphel. But don't start there, start with the Indian masters also known as the Nalanda tradition. This is the advice of many masters, in particular His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Note: I provide Amazon links for ease, if one prefers to buy elsewhere, just use the title and ISBN information for that. Prices can vary from store to store. Some titles may be out of stock/print, check used market for cheaper copies. And as always, as it goes without saying, these topics are difficult to learn by reading alone. It's imperative to receive teachings on them from a qualified teacher. Progress is made that way, not by reading books alone.
This is not intended to be an exhaustive list, merely a collection of some of the more important or well-regarded publications on these topics.
[b]ABHIDHARMA[/b]:
1. Abhidharmakosha, by Vasubandhu:
-- Pruden, 4 volumes (paperback):
Vol. 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730078/
Vol. 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730086/
Vol. 3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730094/
Vol. 4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730108/
-- Pruden, 4 volumes (hardcover):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0895819139/
-- Gelong Lodrö Sangpo (based on Pruden), 4 volumes:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/8120836073/
2. Ornament of Abhidharma, by Chim Jampalyang ([i]commentary[/i]):
-- https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0861714628/
3. Arthaviniscaya Sutra ([i]functions as a helpful summary of the topics in Abhidharma[/i]):
-- https://shop.dharmapublishing.com/colle ... e-meanings ([i]the main text and commentary[/i])
-- https://www.ancient-buddhist-texts.net/ ... iscaya.pdf ([i]Only the discourse itself, without the nibandhana, or commentary[/i])
4. Gateway to Knowledge, by Mipham Rinpoche, 4 volumes:
Vol. 1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9627341290/
Vol. 2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9627341428/
Vol. 3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9627341460/
Vol. 4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9627341681/
5. The Six Topics That All Buddhists Learn, by Khenpo Shenga:
-- https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0073NB1RS/ ([i]Similar to Mipham Rinpoche's series, except it's much shorter[/i])
[b]PRAJNAPARAMITA[/b]:
[u]Abhisamayalamkara[/u] ([i]a commentary on the hidden meaning of the Prajnaparamita Sutras, by Maitreya, directly revealed to Asanga[/i]):
Abhisamayalamkara with Vritti by Arya Vimuktisena and Haribhadra's Aloka, (Sparham):
Vol.1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730116/
Vol.2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730124/
Vol.3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730132/
Vol.4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730140/
Golden Garland of Eloquence by Tsongkhapa, (Sparham) ([i]Commentary on the Abhisamayalamkara[/i]):
Vol.1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730159/
Vol.2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730167/
Vol.3: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730175/
Vol.4: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0875730140/
Groundless Paths ([i]Nyingma commentaries on the Abhisamayalamkara[/i]), (Brunnhölzl):
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393750/
Gone Beyond ([i]Kagyu commentaries on the Abhisamayalamkara[/i]), (Brunnhölzl):
Vol.1: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393564/
Vol.2: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393572/
[i]According to Acharya Malcolm, the Indian commentaries of Arya Vimuktisena and Haribhadra are the most important to study first. Then, Tsongkhapa's commentary is best of the Tibetan ones.[/i]
[b]Akshayamatinirdesha Sutra[/b] (A very important sutra for the Madhyamaka tradition, much-cited by many masters):
- Aksayamatinirdesasutra Vol. II: Tradition of Imperishability in Buddhist Thought, Braarvig: https://www.amazon.com/dp/8256009179/
- https://www2.hf.uio.no/polyglotta/index ... me&vid=424 ([i]Online version[/i])
The Noble Mahāyāna Sūtra “The Teaching of Akṣayamati”: A new and updated online translation, based on Braarvig: https://read.84000.co/translation/toh175.html
With regards to all the other texts in the Prajnaparamita collection, along with commentaries, I have not made a list over essential English translations, as I don't have a proper overview of the many online and book translations that are out there.
[b]MADHYAMAKA[/b]:
The MMK:
- Nagarjuna's Middle Way: Mulamadhyamakakarika, Siderits/Katsura: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1614290504/
- The Root Stanzas of the Middle Way: The Mulamadhyamakakarika, Padmakara Translation Group: https://www.amazon.com/dp/161180342X/
- Nagarjuna in China: A Translation of the Middle Treatise (Studies in Asian Thought and Religion), Bocking: ([i]Out of print[/i]) STUDIES IN ASIAN THOUGHT AND RELIGION (Book 18), ISBN-13 978-0773489813, 1995
- Ornament of Reason: The Great Commentary To Nagarjuna's Root Of The Middle Way, by Mabja Jangchub Tsondru and Dharmachakra Translation Committee: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393688/
- Aryadeva's Four Hundred Stanzas on the Middle Way: With Commentary by Gyel-Tsap: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1559393025/
- Introduction to the Middle Way: Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara with Commentary by Ju Mipham, Padmakara Translation Group: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1590300092
Also: I would've enjoyed posting a link to a full proper translation of Buddhapalita's MMK commentary, but there seems to be none. There was a translation project for this that started a decade ago, but clearly it seems to have failed as there's been no news for years, and the website for it has been parked. Very disappointing.
[u]More Nagarjuna, on the topic of emptiness, and related to it[/u]:
- Master of Wisdom: Writings of the Buddhist Master Nagarjuna, Lindtner ([i]Book includes Lokatitastava, Acintyastava, Bodhicittavivarana, Yuktisastika, Shunyatasaptati, Vyavaharasiddhi, Bodhisambharaka[/i]): https://www.amazon.com/dp/0898002869/
- Nagarjuna's Reason Sixty (Yuktisastika) with Candrakirti's Commentary (Yuktisastikavrrti), Loizzo: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0975373420/
- The Dispeller of Disputes: Nagarjuna's Vigrahavyavartani, Westerhoff: https://www.amazon.com//dp/0199732701/
- Crushing the Categories (Vaidalyaprakarana), Westerhoff: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1949163008/
[u]General books on Madhyamaka[/u]:
- Madhyamaka Schools in India - A Study of the Madhyamaka Philosophy and of the Division of the System into the Prasangika and Svatantrika Schools, Santina: https://www.amazon.com/dp/8120801539/
- Nagarjuna's Madhyamaka: A Philosophical Introduction, Westerhoff: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0195384962/
If I'm to suggest some Tibetan works to be read on Madhyamaka, I'd go with Gorampa and Gendun Chöphel. But don't start there, start with the Indian masters also known as the Nalanda tradition. This is the advice of many masters, in particular His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
Last edited by Ayu on Mon Nov 16, 2020 11:30 am, edited 2 times in total.
Reason: Reported by Norwegian « Sun Nov 15, 2020 11:56 pm When you edit the post, please use "Disable BBCode" - because right now, the links are making the post look a little strange. Thanks!
Reason: Reported by Norwegian « Sun Nov 15, 2020 11:56 pm When you edit the post, please use "Disable BBCode" - because right now, the links are making the post look a little strange. Thanks!
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
There is no suffering to be severed. Ignorance and klesas are indivisible from bodhi. There is no cause of suffering to be abandoned. Since extremes and the false are the Middle and genuine, there is no path to be practiced. Samsara is nirvana. No severance achieved. No suffering nor its cause. No path, no end. There is no transcendent realm; there is only the one true aspect. There is nothing separate from the true aspect.
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
-
- Posts: 1678
- Joined: Tue Feb 22, 2011 3:13 pm
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Thank you, this is great!
I would be happy to participate in a book club reading of some of these texts if there is interest among others?
I would be happy to participate in a book club reading of some of these texts if there is interest among others?
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
+1
There is no suffering to be severed. Ignorance and klesas are indivisible from bodhi. There is no cause of suffering to be abandoned. Since extremes and the false are the Middle and genuine, there is no path to be practiced. Samsara is nirvana. No severance achieved. No suffering nor its cause. No path, no end. There is no transcendent realm; there is only the one true aspect. There is nothing separate from the true aspect.
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
-Guanding, Perfect and Sudden Contemplation,
-
- Posts: 879
- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2019 6:11 am
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Thanks, this is great. Could anyone comment on starting with Chim Jampalyang rather than Vasubandhu's original text?
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Very difficult.avatamsaka3 wrote: ↑Thu May 07, 2020 7:50 pm Thanks, this is great. Could anyone comment on starting with Chim Jampalyang rather than Vasubandhu's original text?
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
5 star thread.
The profound path of the master.
-- Virūpa, Vajra Lines
-- Virūpa, Vajra Lines
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- Joined: Mon Apr 08, 2019 6:11 am
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
So Vasubandhu first then.
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
It makes sense to read a text, before the commentary on the text.
Or one could read a chapter of the original text, followed by the chapter of the commentary on the original text. And keep going like that until they have finished both.
But to read the commentary first? Nope.
"My religion is not deceiving myself."
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Jetsun Milarepa 1052-1135 CE
"Butchers, prostitutes, those guilty of the five most heinous crimes, outcasts, the underprivileged: all are utterly the substance of existence and nothing other than total bliss."
The Supreme Source - The Kunjed Gyalpo
The Fundamental Tantra of Dzogchen Semde
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Abhidharma handbooks:
The Essence of Scholasticism: Abhidharmahr̥daya
Entrance Into the Supreme Doctrine: Skandhila's Abhidharmāvatāra
Saṃyuktābhidharmahṛdaya
Abhidharma background:
Sarvāstivāda Abhidharma
The Dawn of Abhidharma
Abhidharma & Madhyamaka:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
The Essence of Scholasticism: Abhidharmahr̥daya
Entrance Into the Supreme Doctrine: Skandhila's Abhidharmāvatāra
Saṃyuktābhidharmahṛdaya
Abhidharma background:
Sarvāstivāda Abhidharma
The Dawn of Abhidharma
Abhidharma & Madhyamaka:
Maha Prajnaparamita Sastra
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: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Asanga.; Abhidharmasamuccaya. Trans: (into French) W. Rahula, trans (from French into English) S. Boin-Webb, Asian Humanities Press: Fremont, 2001.
Guenther, H.V.; Philosophy and Psychology in the Abhidharma. Motilal Barnarsidass: Delhi, 1991.
Haldar, A.; Some Psychological Aspects of Early Buddhist Philosophy Based On Abhidharmakośa of Vasubandhu. The Asiatic Society: Calcutta, 1981
Suen. S.; Methods of spiritual praxis in the Sarvāstivāda:A Study Primarily Based on the Abhidharma-mahāvibhāṣā. Unpublished PhD thesis: University of Hong Kong, 2009.
Westerhoff, J.; ‘The Madhyamaka Concept of Svabhāva: Ontological and Cognitive Aspects’ in Asian Philosophy Vol. 17, No. 1. Routledge, March 2007.
Guenther, H.V.; Philosophy and Psychology in the Abhidharma. Motilal Barnarsidass: Delhi, 1991.
Haldar, A.; Some Psychological Aspects of Early Buddhist Philosophy Based On Abhidharmakośa of Vasubandhu. The Asiatic Society: Calcutta, 1981
Suen. S.; Methods of spiritual praxis in the Sarvāstivāda:A Study Primarily Based on the Abhidharma-mahāvibhāṣā. Unpublished PhD thesis: University of Hong Kong, 2009.
Westerhoff, J.; ‘The Madhyamaka Concept of Svabhāva: Ontological and Cognitive Aspects’ in Asian Philosophy Vol. 17, No. 1. Routledge, March 2007.
- Svalaksana
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- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:11 pm
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
I would surely be happy to join such a group, as I'm about to start proper study of some of these fundamental works.
This is quite unfortunate. I had Vasubandhu's Treasury of Abhidharma with Ninth Karmapa Wangchuk Dorje's commentary already ordered, but I've swapped with Ornament of Abhidharma, after reading the Chimzö was considered the definitive commentary studied on all Tibetan schools. I thought that having Vasubandhu's text together with Chim Jampalyang's commentary would be an accessible study endeavour but now I'm not so sure I did the right thing.Malcolm wrote: ↑Thu May 07, 2020 8:53 pmVery difficult.avatamsaka3 wrote: ↑Thu May 07, 2020 7:50 pm Thanks, this is great. Could anyone comment on starting with Chim Jampalyang rather than Vasubandhu's original text?
Looking but not seeing - that's my eye.
Thinking but not minding - that's my mind.
Speaking but not expressing - that's my tongue.
Traveling but not going - that's my path.
Thinking but not minding - that's my mind.
Speaking but not expressing - that's my tongue.
Traveling but not going - that's my path.
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Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Hello Manjushri, I've added you to the group so you should now be able to read and post here: https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewforum.php?f=133
- Svalaksana
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- Joined: Wed Feb 05, 2020 11:11 pm
Re: Essential & Useful Reading on Abhidharma and Prajnaparamita/Madhyamaka
Oh great, thanks! As soon as I start reading it, I'll join the conversation.jake wrote: ↑Sun Nov 15, 2020 10:09 pmHello Manjushri, I've added you to the group so you should now be able to read and post here: https://www.dharmawheel.net/viewforum.php?f=133
Looking but not seeing - that's my eye.
Thinking but not minding - that's my mind.
Speaking but not expressing - that's my tongue.
Traveling but not going - that's my path.
Thinking but not minding - that's my mind.
Speaking but not expressing - that's my tongue.
Traveling but not going - that's my path.