Introduction to the Middle Way : Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara with Commentary by Ju Mipham

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Summary: Essential Text for Students of Tib. Buddhism and Madhyamaka
Review: All four schools of Tibetan Buddhism follow the philosophical approach of the Prasangika-Madhyamaka tenet system and its explanation of emptiness. They consider the wisdom of emptiness the one and only essential component to liberation from suffering and understanding of true reality.

Of course, this "wisdom" aspect of the path is conjoined with the "method" aspect of love, compassion, and bodhicitta -- or seeking enlightenment for the sake of others. It is said that while the method aspect is easy to explain but very difficult to realize (Think of Jesus's "love your neighbor as yourself" - it's not hard to grasp this idea, but how many of us can do it?), so the wisdom of emptiness is very difficult to explain, yet much easier to realize through meditation.

Still, we like to have things explained, and that is what makes this text by Chandrakirti, and the accompanying commentary by Ju Mipham, so essential. The fundamental explanation of emptiness is laid out by Nagarjuna in his "Root Verses on the Middle Way" (multiple translations are available -- the one by Jay Garfield entitiled "Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way" includes his own commentary and can be recommended), but Nagarjuna is notoriously difficult to approach, even with commentary. This is why Tibetan Buddhists studying in monasteries begin with Chandrakirti. The title of Chandrakirti's work, in fact, could more elaborately be translated as "Introduction to Nagarjuna's Root Verses on the Middle Way".

Chandrakirti lays out in a much simpler way the fundamental wisdom of emptiness and conjoins his explanation with the perfection of the paramitas of the "method" aspect -- generosity and so on. The language is poetic and the translation lends itself to memorization (which is how Tibetan monks and nuns learn it). Memorizing stanzas, entire chapters, or the whole text, can be recommended as a way of internalizing the knowledge, and this translation is skilful enough to make that possible and enjoyable.

Still, Chandrakirti's volume could hardly be called "Emptiness for Dummies" -- it is still a challenging text, and this is what makes the accompanying commentary by Ju Mipham so invaluable. Mipham was an exemplary master, and is supremely qualified to offer commentary. He places the writings of Chandrakirti in a much broader context and offers copious explanations.

Unfortunately, one must admit that his text is quite difficult in its own right. This is exacerbated by the fact that he died before completing the commentary, and it was compiled by his students, who, in their zeal not to omit anything written by the late master, included everything they could find, with the result that there is much repetition and the organization is less clear than one might desire.

Thus, one must conclude by saying that the study of this text would be much facilitated by reading it with a study group and preferably in communication with an authentic master who has studied and personally realized the teachings.

And lastly -- best wishes to those who undertake to study such masterpieces. May you and all beings be happy.

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Summary: An absolute "must-read" for serious students
Review: Carefully translated into English by the Padmakara Translation Group, Introduction To The Middle Way: Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara With Commentary by Jamgon Mipham is a seminal and highly recommended treatise drawn from the Madhyamika school of Buddhism. Introduction To The Middle Way contains Chandrakirti's Madhyamakavatara, enhanced with Jamgon Mipham's extensive textual outline and interpretation of this classic text called "The Word of Chandra: The Necklace of Spotless Crystal", as well as a brief yet highly informative introduction to the Madhyamika school and Chandrakirti's role in it, including a background on Jamgon Mipham's point of view. An absolute "must-read" for serious students and dedicated followers of the Madhyamika school of Buddhism, Introduction To The Middle Way is very highly recommended for Buddhist Studies reference collections and reading lists.