The Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
The first complete English translation of renowned scholar-saint Tsongkhapa's Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path.

Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the author of the well-known Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment and the teacher of the First Dalai Lama, is renowned as one of the greatest scholar-saints that Tibet has ever produced. A dozen years after writing the Great Treatise, he wrote the Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path, presented here in its first complete English translation.

Half the length of the well-known Great Treatise, this work similarly presents a systematic overview of the Buddhist path. Tsongkhapa begins by abridging the longer work, distilling its explanations for quicker integration. He presents a series of meditations, beginning with recognizing the rarity of our human existence and the great opportunities it affords, followed by reflections on impermanence, suffering, and the promise of liberation from our past actions, until proceeding to the path of bodhisattvas, whose universal compassion seeks to free every being from suffering. Tsongkhapa gives especially detailed instructions on samatha, the deep meditative concentration that is a precondition for the highest insight into the nature of reality. The final and largest section, on that very insight, is unique to this work, particularly Tsongkhapa’s presentation of conventional truth and ultimate truth.

Those new to Tibetan Buddhist teachings will benefit from the approachable style of this classic handbook for enlightenment, and beginners and longtime practitioners alike will cherish the clear guidance from one of Tibet’s great luminaries.
1137938351
The Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment
The first complete English translation of renowned scholar-saint Tsongkhapa's Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path.

Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the author of the well-known Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment and the teacher of the First Dalai Lama, is renowned as one of the greatest scholar-saints that Tibet has ever produced. A dozen years after writing the Great Treatise, he wrote the Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path, presented here in its first complete English translation.

Half the length of the well-known Great Treatise, this work similarly presents a systematic overview of the Buddhist path. Tsongkhapa begins by abridging the longer work, distilling its explanations for quicker integration. He presents a series of meditations, beginning with recognizing the rarity of our human existence and the great opportunities it affords, followed by reflections on impermanence, suffering, and the promise of liberation from our past actions, until proceeding to the path of bodhisattvas, whose universal compassion seeks to free every being from suffering. Tsongkhapa gives especially detailed instructions on samatha, the deep meditative concentration that is a precondition for the highest insight into the nature of reality. The final and largest section, on that very insight, is unique to this work, particularly Tsongkhapa’s presentation of conventional truth and ultimate truth.

Those new to Tibetan Buddhist teachings will benefit from the approachable style of this classic handbook for enlightenment, and beginners and longtime practitioners alike will cherish the clear guidance from one of Tibet’s great luminaries.
49.95 In Stock
The Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

The Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

The Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

The Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment

Hardcover

$49.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    In stock. Ships in 1-2 days.
  • PICK UP IN STORE

    Your local store may have stock of this item.

Related collections and offers


Overview

The first complete English translation of renowned scholar-saint Tsongkhapa's Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path.

Tsongkhapa (1357–1419), the author of the well-known Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment and the teacher of the First Dalai Lama, is renowned as one of the greatest scholar-saints that Tibet has ever produced. A dozen years after writing the Great Treatise, he wrote the Middle-Length Treatise on the Stages of the Path, presented here in its first complete English translation.

Half the length of the well-known Great Treatise, this work similarly presents a systematic overview of the Buddhist path. Tsongkhapa begins by abridging the longer work, distilling its explanations for quicker integration. He presents a series of meditations, beginning with recognizing the rarity of our human existence and the great opportunities it affords, followed by reflections on impermanence, suffering, and the promise of liberation from our past actions, until proceeding to the path of bodhisattvas, whose universal compassion seeks to free every being from suffering. Tsongkhapa gives especially detailed instructions on samatha, the deep meditative concentration that is a precondition for the highest insight into the nature of reality. The final and largest section, on that very insight, is unique to this work, particularly Tsongkhapa’s presentation of conventional truth and ultimate truth.

Those new to Tibetan Buddhist teachings will benefit from the approachable style of this classic handbook for enlightenment, and beginners and longtime practitioners alike will cherish the clear guidance from one of Tibet’s great luminaries.

Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781614294436
Publisher: Wisdom Publications MA
Publication date: 06/29/2021
Series: Wisdom Culture Series
Pages: 488
Product dimensions: 6.00(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.50(d)

About the Author

Tsongkhapa Losang Drakpa (1357–1419), perhaps Tibet’s greatest religious genius, founded the Geluk school and Ganden Monastery and was teacher to the First Dalai Lama.

Philip Quarcoo began studying Tibetan Buddhism in London in the late 1990s. He earned his first degree in modern European languages at the University of Durham, UK, and in 2007 graduated with a master's degree in Tibetan studies from the University of Munich, Germany, where he is currently researching nineteenth-century Tibetan and Mongolian devotional poetry.

Table of Contents

Foreword His Eminence Ling Rinpoche vii

Translator's Preface xiii

Preliminaries

1 The Greatness of the Author 5

2 The Greatness of the Dharma 13

3 Listening to and Explaining the Dharma 19

4 Relying on a Teacher 31

5 The Meditation Session 45

6 The Freedoms and Endowments of This Life 59

7 The Paths of the Three Types of Persons 67

The Stages Shared With Persons Of Lesser Capacity

8 Death and Future Lives 79

9 Refuge in the Three Jewels 99

10 Karma and Its Effects 119

The Stages Shared With Persons Of Medium Capacity

11 Suffering 153

Contemplating the Eight Types of Suffering 157

Contemplating the Six Types of Suffering 162

12 Mental Afflictions 167

13 Cyclic Existence and Liberation 173

The Stages Of Persons Of Great Capacity

14 Entering the Great Vehicle 189

15 The Sevenfold Instruction for Training in Bodhicitta 195

16 Equalizing and Exchanging Oneself and Others 209

The Ritual for Adopting Bodhicitta 214

17 Guarding One's Bodhicitta 221

18 Training in the Perfections and Gathering Disciples 239

Generosity 246

Ethics 250

Patience 254

Joyous Effort 261

Meditative Stabilization 265

Wisdom 266

The Four Ways of Gathering Disciples 271

Meditative Stabilization and Wisdom

19 Samatha and Special Insight 277

20 The Practice of Samatha 287

21 Accomplishing Samatha 313

22 The Practice of Special Insight 331

23 The Selflessness of Persons 351

24 The Selflessness of Phenomena 367

25 The Two Truths 379

26 Uniting Samatha and Special Insight 407

27 Conclusion 423

Notes 429

Bibliography 443

Index 451

About the Authors 463

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews