Geshe Thubten Jinpa : Self, Reality and Reason in Tibetan Philosophy

Paperback edition. This book reconstructs and appropriates in contemporary language the Middle Way (Madhyamaka) philosophy of Lama Tsong Khapa, arguably Tibet's greatest philosopher. The central focus of this study is the question of the existence and the nature of the self, dealing extensively with one of Tsong Khapa`s primary concerns - to demonstrate that Madhyamaka philosophy`s deconstructive analysis does not negate the reality of the everyday world.

This important work also explores the concept of reality that emerges in Tsong Khapa`s philosophy, and deals with his understanding of the relationship between critical reasoning, no-self, and religious experience. The interpretations of Tsong Khapa`s thought are grounded in the original works, thus enabling Tsong Khapa to speak, as far as possible, in his own voice, while articulating his philosophical thought in language familiar to modern western philosophy.

Geshe Thubten Jinpa has been the main English translator to the Dalai Lama for more than 15 years, and studied philosophy at Cambridge University. He is thus in a unique position to offer this exploration of Lama Tsong Khapa`s thought from both perspectives.