Ocean of Reasoning: A Great Commentary on Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika (Paperback)

~ Rje Tsong Khapa (Author), Jay L. Garfield (Translator), Geshe Ngawang Samten (Translator)
Key Phrases: definitive sutras, transcendent lord, basic arising, Four Noble Truths, The Sammitiya, The Essence of Eloquence (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

"With the publications of Ngawang Samten and Jay Garfield's lucid translation of the Ocean of Reasoning, by the founder of Geluk, Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), Western readers can for the first time appropriate the most influential Tibetian commentary on the single most important text in the Mahayana philosophical canon." --Buddhadharma
"Samten and Garfield have achieved a small miracle by making Ocean of Reasoinng as clear and accessible in English as they have. Tsongkhapa's interpretation of the Fundamental Verses is consistent and compelling."--Buddhadharma
"This book is essential reading for those who are seriously interested in Indo-Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. The combination of a prominent Tibetan scholar and a Western philosopher yields an erudite but readable translation of one of the most important Tibetan works on Madhyamaka philosophy. The authors do a superb job of introducing the text and in rendering it into English in a way that makes it accessible to readers with a background in Buddhist thought or Western philosophy."-- John Powers, author of Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
"In so clearly presenting Tsongkhapa's text, [the authors] have produced a model work, which will hopefully be emulated by others working in the field. It is highly recommended for anyone who is seriously interested in Madhyamaka philosophy and/or its reception in Tibet." --Religious Studies Review

Product Description

Tsong kha pa (14th century) is arguably the most important and influential philosopher in Tibetan history. An Ocean of Reasoning is the most extensive and perhaps the deepest extant commentary on Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika (Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way), and it can be argued that it is impossible to discuss Nagarjuna's work in an informed way without consulting it. It discusses alternative readings of the text and prior commentaries and provides a detailed exegesis, constituting a systematic presentation of Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophy. Despite its central importance, however, of Tsong kha pa's three most important texts, only An Ocean of Reasoning remains untranslated, perhaps because it is both philosophically and linguistically challenging, demanding a rare combination of abilities on the part of a translator. Jay Garfield and Ngawang Samten bring the requisite skills to this difficult task, combining between them expertise in Western and Indian philosophy, and fluency in Tibetan, Sanskrit, and English. The resulting translation of this important text will not only be a landmark contribution to the scholarship of Indian and Tibetan Buddhism, but will serve as a valuable companion volume to Jay Garfield's highly successful translation of The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 632 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (April 20, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195147332
• ISBN-13: 978-0195147339
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #455,137 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 37 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars pinnacle of madhyamaka explication, June 22, 2006

By	Edward A. Arnold (Ithaca, NY) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Jay Garfield and Geshe Samten worked on this project for 10 years, and it shows. This text is difficult in translation as well, with Tsongkhapa's deep insight and vast learning engaging the reader on every page. Garfield's Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way is a necessary guide to plumb these dark waters, though Ocean's translation of the root verses replace that one's. This material can be approached only by those who have some familiarity with the topic, and only repeated engagement with the proofs can bring the sort of spiritual benefits promised by Nagarjuna and Tsongkhapa, those delving beyond the intellectual awareness of emptiness. If you are looking for Zen-like sound bites to amuse yourself, then look elsewhere - this is 'Tibetan stone cheese' that requires patience and effort.

10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Among the great books of all time, October 4, 2007

By	Marcia Twain (Saginaw, MI USA) - See all my reviews

The present generation of well-informed translators are doing the world a great service as they continue to bring the great texts of Buddhist philosophy to us. This is an authoritative translation of one of the greatest philosophical works of all time, which has never before been available in English. About one thousand years ago it took hundreds of years for the Tibetans to translate the early Buddhist works into the Tibetan language. Now, following the Tibetan diaspora that was forced by the Chinese invasion of Tibet, the center of humanity's philosophical consciousness is relocating to the English speaking world. It is now more than one hundred years since the early English translators managed to produce translations of marginal quality. The present generation of translators is providing not only great translations, but also well-informed commentary. This is a great gift to humanity. Thank you.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mindblowing, September 12, 2009

By	River (West Lafayette, IN) - See all my reviews

I bought this book to have while attending a week of Geshe Sopa's summer course at the Deer Park Buddhist center in July '09. Honestly it is way beyond my understanding, but in the presence of Geshe Sopa and with his powerful teaching, I benefited greatly from this study. It's a very interesting work, but unless you are way farther along this spiritual path than I (easily possible) or have the benefit of a knowledgeable teacher to guide you along, it's extremely deep and steep at the same time. The arguments/debates are mind-bogglingly complex at times and then reduced to what seems absurdly obvious at others. It's an experience to be sure! One morning at Deer Park, it seemed to me that most of the teaching that morning revolved around the point of whether or not a rabbit has/can have horns. Of course the jackalope image came to mind which made the whole argument kind of humorous to me. But it turns out to have very serious implications in this context. This is serious study.