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The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way: Nāgārjuna's Mūlamadhyamakakārikā 1st Edition

by Nagarjuna (Author), Jay L. Garfield (Translator)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 240 ratings
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The Buddhist saint Nāgārjuna, who lived in South India in approximately the second century CE, is undoubtedly the most important, influential, and widely studied Mahāyāna Buddhist philosopher. His many works include texts addressed to lay audiences, letters of advice to kings, and a set of penetrating metaphysical and epistemological treatises. His greatest philosophical work, the Mūlamadhyamikakārikā--read and studied by philosophers in all major Buddhist schools of Tibet, China, Japan, and Korea--is one of the most influential works in the history of Indian philosophy. Now, in The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way, Jay L. Garfield provides a clear and eminently readable translation of Nāgārjuna's seminal work, offering those with little or no prior knowledge of Buddhist philosophy a view into the profound logic of the Mūlamadhyamikakārikā.
Garfield presents a superb translation of the Tibetan text of Mūlamadhyamikakārikā in its entirety, and a commentary reflecting the Tibetan tradition through which Nāgārjuna's philosophical influence has largely been transmitted. Illuminating the systematic character of Nāgārjuna's reasoning, Garfield shows how Nāgārjuna develops his doctrine that all phenomena are empty of inherent existence, that is, than nothing exists substantially or independently. Despite lacking any essence, he argues, phenomena nonetheless exist conventionally, and that indeed conventional existence and ultimate emptiness are in fact the same thing. This represents the radical understanding of the Buddhist doctrine of the two truths, or two levels of reality. He offers a verse-by-verse commentary that explains Nāgārjuna's positions and arguments in the language of Western metaphysics and epistemology, and connects Nāgārjuna's concerns to those of Western philosophers such as Sextus, Hume, and Wittgenstein.
An accessible translation of the foundational text for all Mahāyāna Buddhism, The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way offers insight to all those interested in the nature of reality.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0195093364
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0195093360
  3. Edition
    1st
  4. Publisher
    Oxford University Press
  5. Publication date
    November 9, 1995
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.2 x 0.8 x 7.9 inches
  8. Print length
    392 pages
  9. See all details
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4.6 out of 5 stars
240 global ratings

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Top reviews from the United States

  • T Wright.
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Best.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 22, 2010
    Verified Purchase
    (redaction & addendum of previous review)
    In reading the entire text, i found the arguements quite overwelming, however the beginning buddhist is not without help. In searching for applicatons to the examinations it can be said that madhyamaka is the synthsis of all other schools. This is a great starting place for organization. monastics usually study these topics for 20 years intensively , they relate most to the abidharma. Having said this , i would reccomend Geshe Tashi Tsering's Foundations book series, especially Relative truth , ultimate truth ( Vol 2) as the companion to this text. In learning the divisions of the two truths by the four major schools one may place the examinations of nagarjuna in thier context and avoid misintrepretation which garfield says " the danger is to mistakenly view the subtleties of emptiness as nihlism". ( paraphrase) So this would be a great guide to the study applicaton and classification of the book's chapters .. July 8, 2010

    I am not a monk, nor have i been given a systematic , structured schooling in buddhist philosophy. My review is based solely upon comparison with my limited understanding of the subtleties of madhyamaka. Nagarjuna is called a master by many prominent buddhist thinkers, to note Tsong khapa. It is said that Nagarjuna is an "Arya" being. "Arya" meaning sees all subtle levels of Dukkha. ( Rather elementary) However it is said repeadedly that without ethics,concentration and then wisdom the madhaymaka is an enigma. Thats why the dalai lama explains it as such. Presupposing the student has built this foundation - Ethics, Concentration, Wisdom. Then one is ready for Madhyamaka.

    Garfield gives the best version to western philosophers. I would caution though taking Garfield's view as the monastic view. Even though he gives a great explanation , thouroughly extensive and simplifies deep points in the madhyamaka, he is not able to approach it from the soterilogical point of view, as compared to that of an Arya being. in the madhyamakaavatara, which is like an introduction to Nagarjuna, chandrakirti says that he isn't even an Arya, of the 6th bhumi. Im sure Garfield would agree, that to have a thourough understanding of this text one would have to explain from that view.

    This text would be greatly understanded by the most extensive commentary extant by Rje Tsong Khapa. (Ocean of reasoning) with this commentary one would get the jest of the major commentaries from Chandrakirti, Buddhapalita, and Tsong Khapa. Ocean is a great companion to this text.

    With this in mind this version of Nagarjuna's seminal treatise is the best buddhist book available, aside from Lamrim Chenmo.

    100% gift to the west, Thank you Garfield,Newland and everyone else for this gift to us all.
    25 people found this helpful
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  • buddhavanhalen
    5.0 out of 5 stars Mind boggling and yet unfathomable great
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Just read and see for yourself. It's hard to understand in just one read I think, but I hope to have a firm "grasp" on it soon.
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  • Reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars Rating an ancient classic? Really?
    Reviewed in the United States on August 27, 2015
    Verified Purchase
    Amazon requested a review. It seems beyond absurd to "rate" an ancient classic text. This is a classic ancient Buddhist text, accompanied by a scholarly and deeply insightful commentary by Jay Garfield. It has academic value as well as value for serious practitioners in any of the major Buddhist traditions. It's not a bedtime read - you would not read it unless you already had a commitment to understanding the approach of this seminal Buddhist thinker and shaper of the tradition (Nagarjuna). Again, too silly to give it a rating, but I just did.
    10 people found this helpful
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  • Nicholas R. Hunter
    4.0 out of 5 stars Demanding but satisfying
    Reviewed in the United States on November 16, 2001
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    As Garfield states in the introduction, his analysis of the text is more from an analytical, Western philosophical perspective than from a "Buddhalogical" (his word) one. The result is authoritative, scholarly and a little dry. His presentation reminds me of David Brazier's presentation of the Abhidharma in his book "Zen Therapy: Transcending the Sorrows of the Human Mind." The experience of reading this book is very demanding, but also very satisfying. The benefits to be derived are probably directly proportional with the work one puts in to understanding it.
    A more poetically compelling translation of the Mulamadhyamikakarika, along with a very thought-provoking introduction, is to be found in Stephen Batchelor's "Verses from the Center."
    66 people found this helpful
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  • Brian
    5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult in the beginning but it's worth it
    Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2019
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    A very detailed commentary and helpful guide through Nagarjuna's fundamental verses. Very digestible for astute lay philosophers and others interested in gaining deeper knowledge of Buddhist studies. Because it can be challenging, I would not recommend if you don't already have some experience with Buddhist texts.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Potonjeri
    5.0 out of 5 stars A fine place to start for a curious non-scholar
    Reviewed in the United States on August 8, 2022
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    Interesting and enlighte
    ning. For clarity, the novice might prefer to start with the textual interpretation before reading the verses.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Mudrooroo Nyoongah
    5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend this book
    Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2017
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    Ah Buddhism and the emptiness of everything thing and subject. To seek to uderstand the Buddhist Doctrine of Emptiness, I recommend this book. It is not easy going, but work your way through it and then again if you like following an argument.
    One person found this helpful
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  • LeighB
    5.0 out of 5 stars Superb Translation And Commentary
    Reviewed in the United States on August 6, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    A superb translation and commentary of Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika. this is so excellent that when I got my Kindle, I got another copy for it so I would always have it handy for reference.
    2 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • tsewang dorji lingtse
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book of philosophy
    Reviewed in India on November 10, 2024
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    Great book of philosophy
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  • Carlo Dolif
    5.0 out of 5 stars Eccellente
    Reviewed in Italy on September 17, 2021
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    Eccellente
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  • Djamel
    5.0 out of 5 stars Nargarjuna’s teaching well commented. Insightful
    Reviewed in France on May 20, 2020
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    Fabulous book!!
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  • D. W. Young
    5.0 out of 5 stars A classic - but caveat emptor
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2011
    Verified Purchase
    A classic text, by one of the finest commentators on, and interpreters of, Nagarjuna, particularly valuable for its skilled and lucid bridging of the Western and Indian philosophical traditions. Hence looking forward to the emerging global perspective which will in due course render obsolete the old Mediterranean-centred, Eurocentric and ethnocentric paradigm. Corrects numerous errors of prior interpretation, so an essential contribution to Madhyamaka scholarship.

    BUT

    If you want the hardcover edition, be aware that the advertising is misleading. The dustover pictured here is not supplied. Amazon has been advised, so knows and seemingly is not interested. As ever, caveat emptor.
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  • Namkha
    2.0 out of 5 stars Deludente
    Reviewed in Italy on December 12, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Quando il commento è più oscuro e difficile da capire del testo originale. Inoltre non sono sicura che il commento sia sempre aderente alla interpretazione Buddhista reale, ma piuttosto mediato dai parametri della filosofia occidentale. Ho trovato fuori luogo i raffronti con Hume, Wigttenstein Kant, quasi che questi ultimi giustificassero la bontà di Nagarjuna e non viceversa.
    Non ho dato una stella perché qui e là qualche frase comprensibile e lineare si trova. Per il resto è peggio della verbosità e convoluzione della lingua italiana. Je Tsongkapa ha fatto un migliore lavoro tanti secoli fa !!
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