Madhyamika

Naropa Institute, Boulder, Colorado

23.01.1997 – 17.04.1997
52 hours

From January to April 1997 Ringu Tulku Rinpoche taught this course at Naropa Institute (since 1999 named Naropa University) in Boulder, Colorado, a private university founded by Chögyam Trungpa Rinpoche.

The course was based on:

• Chapter 9 “Wisdom” of “Way of the Bodhisattva” by Shantideva, translated by Padmakara Translation Group. The verse numbers refer to this text, they will be similar in other translations, but not necessarily identical.
• the book “Wisdom: Two Buddhist Commentaries” by Khenchen Kunzang Palden & Minyak Kunzang Sönam, translated from the Tibetan by Padmakara Translation Group.

The Madyamika school of Buddhism originates with Nagarjuna in India in the 2nd century C.E., based on the Prajnaparamita Sutras. It refers to the ultimate nature of phenomena and the realization of this in meditation and was a major influence on the development of Mahayana. It holds the view that all phenomena are empty of self existence and that they arise by dependant origination. Madhyamika is sometimes called the “Middle Way” school, because it avoids the two extremes of existence and non-existence.

Shantideva in the 8th century as a scholar of Madhyamika at the Nalanda university wrote the Bodhicharyavatara, the most famous and treasured text of Mahayana Buddhism.

Overview of the content

(detailed content list with the transcripts on each chapter page)

1. Jan 23, Verse 1: What is Kangyur, Tengyur. Life of Shantideva. Study and experience
2. Jan 28, Verses 2 – 4: The two truths – relative and absolute. The four main schools: Vaibhashika, Sautrantika, Cittamatra, Madhyamika
3. Jan 30: Continuing with the differences between the four schools
4. Feb 04, Verses 4 + 5: Refutation of the objections to the two truths
5. Feb 06, Verses 30 – 34: Refutation of objections to the path of shunyata
6. Feb 11, Verses 35 – 39: Refutation with regard to the benefit
7. Feb 13, Verses 42 – 55: Refutation of the Shravaka view by the Mahayana
8. Feb 18, Verses 56 – 59: How to look at the existence of “self” in an analytical way
9. Feb 20, Verses 60 – 75: Meditation on emptiness of imputed self. Differences between the Hindu and Buddhist views of rebirth. Samkhya and Naiyayika philosophies
10. Feb 25, Verses 78 – 88: The first of the four mindfulnesses – body or form
11. Feb 27, Verses 88 – 101: The second, mindfulness of feeling
12. March 04, Verses 102 – 105: The third, mindfulness of the mind
13. March 06, Verses 105 – 110: The fourth, mindfulness of all phenomena
14. March 18, Revision
15. April 01, Verses 111 – 115: Refutation of the arguments of “true” existence
16. April 03, Verses 116 – 126: Refutation of the belief in an uncaused origination and refutation of the belief in a Creator
17. April 08, Verses 127 – 144: Refutation of the Belief in Autogenesis
18. April 10, Verses 143 – 144: Investigation of interdependence and the nature of vows
19. April 15, Verses 145 – 150: Investigation of the result, finding the truth
20. April 17, Verses 151 – 167: The benefits of realizing emptiness

Transcribed and Edited by Maggy Jones, Samye Ling, Scotland – 1998, 2007, rev. Langholm, 2021.

Except where stated otherwise, all quotations are taken from the root text, “The Way of the Bodhisattva” translated from Tibetan by the Padmakara Group: Shambhala, 1997. ISBN 1-57062-253-1 and the commentary by Khenchen Kunzang Palden “Nectar of Manjushri’s Speech” included in: “Wisdom: Two Buddhist Commentaries” by Khenchen Kunzang Palden & Minyak Kunzang Sönam. Translated from Tibetan by the Padmakara Translation Group. Peyzac-le-Moustier; Editions Padmakara, 1993. ISBN 2-906949-07-8. 

Verse Numbers refer to “Wisdom” Chapter 9 of “Way of the Bodhisattva” by Shantideva translated by Padmakara Translation Group. . Shambhala, 1997. ISBN 1-57062-253-1 Rev. Figures in brackets, e.g. [6] refer to verse numbers in the root text, Chapter 9, Wisdom.

NOTE: Verse numbers will be similar to those of other translations but not necessarily identical.

The Titles are taken from the structural outline of “Nectar of Manjushri’s Speech”, the commentary by Khenchen Kunzang Palden. “Wisdom: Two Buddhist Commentaries” by Khenchen Kunzang Palden & Minyak Kunzang Sönam. Editions Padmakara, 1993. France, Peyzac-le-Moustier;  ISBN 2-906949-07-8.

 N.B. This edited version has not been checked for accuracy. There are doubts about some Indian names and terminology that do not appear in the Commentary.