Dharmachakra Translation Committee. - Ornament of reason: the great commentary to Nagarjunas Root of the middle way

ORNAMENT OF REASON

Ornament of Reason

THE GREAT COMMENTARY TO NGRJUNAS

Root of the Middle Way

by Mabja Jangchub Tsndr

Translated by the Dharmachakra

Translation Committee

SNOW LION PUBLICATIONS

ITHACA, NEW YORK

Snow Lion Publications

P.O. Box 6483 Ithaca,
NY 14851 USA

(607) 273-8519

www.snowlionpub.com

Copyright 2011 Dharmachakra Translation Committee

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without prior written permission from the publisher.

Printed in USA on acid-free recycled paper.

ISBN-13 978-1-55939-368-3

ISBN-10 1-55939-368-8

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Rma-bya Byang-chub Brtson-grus, d. 1185.

[Dbu ma rtsa ba shes rab kyi grel pa thad pai rgyan. English]

Ornament of reason : the great commentary to Ngrjunas Root of the middle way / by Mabja Jangchub Tsndr; translated by the Dharmachakra Translation Committee.

p. cm.

Includes translations from Tibetan.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-55939-368-3 (alk. paper)

ISBN-10: 1-55939-368-8 (alk. paper)

1. Ngrjuna, 2nd cent. Madhyamakakrik. 2. Mdhyamika (Buddhism)Early works to 1800. I. Ngrjuna, 2nd cent. Madhyamakakrik. English. II. Dharmachakra Translation Committee. III. Title.

BQ7479.8.N344M333713 2011

294.385dc22

2010037413

The print edition of this book was designed and typeset by Gopa & Ted2, Inc.

Visual outline on pp. 53375 created for the Tsadra Foundation

by Rafael Ortet.

I AM OFTEN reminded of the great kindness of the scholars and translators of the past who translated a vast array of Buddhist literature into Tibetan. Through their persistent efforts, working in small teams, they made books available to Tibetans that allowed a deep understanding of the Buddhas teachings to take root in Tibet. It was this understanding that later found expression in the many books composed by Tibetan authors. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to know that there are groups of experienced translators today, similar to those of the past, such as the Dharmachakra Translation Committee, who are working steadily to translate Buddhist books from Tibetan into English and other Western languages. Undoubtedly these will make an invaluable contribution to a deep and lasting understanding of the Buddhist tradition.

The revered Indian master Ngrjuna was extremely kind, like a second Buddha. He was a scholar of high distinction, who was renowned for his spiritual realization. The Buddha made a prophecy in the Lankavatara Sutra about his coming and what he would do to preserve and propagate Buddhism. He restored the declining Mahayana tradition and his six works on the Madhyamika view laid the basis for the Madhyamika School. Even to this day we regard Arya Ngrjuna as the final authority concerning the Madhyamika point of view.

Ngrjunas Root of the Middle Way presents a clear, firm philosophical thesis with respect to things lacking true existence. It argues that just as sentient beings are devoid of innate existence, so are all Buddhas, the cycle of existence, and the tranquility of nirvana. Such assertions are a great source of inspiration, for they suggest that each of us has the opportunity to scale the greatest spiritual heights, provided we tread the right path.

I am pleased to know that great care has been taken in preparing this translation along with the early Tibetan commentator Mabja Jangchub Tsndrs explanation of the Root of the Middle Way. I have no doubt that readers interested in the development of the Madhyamika view will derive great benefit from this work. I congratulate all who have participated in this translation and offer my prayers that the good you have done will make a far-reaching contribution to peace and enlightenment in the world.

11 September 2008