Candrakīrti's Introduction to the Middle Way: A Guide

by Jan Westerhoff

Candrakīrti's Introduction to the Middle Way ( Madhyamakāvatāra ) is a central work of Buddhist philosophy for two reasons. First, it provides an introduction to Madhyamaka, one of the three major philosophical schools of Buddhist thought (the other two being Abhidharma and Yogācāra). Second, within Madhyamaka, Candrakīrti's text occupies a very prominent role. This is primarily due to its enormous influence in Tibet, where Candrakīrti's work became the main entry-point into the study of Madhyamaka thought. While the historical importance of the Introduction to the Middle Way for understanding a major section of Buddhist thought is evident, what makes it particularly interesting for students is the role it plays as an 'introduction'. It is one of Candrakīrti's earlier works and presents a comprehensive guide to the key philosophical ideas and problems of Madhyamaka thought.

This Oxford Guide is for the philosophically interested student or scholar reading the Introduction to the Middle Way . Westerhoff's commentary focuses on the philosophical content of the text, using Candrakīrti's auto-commentary as the main explicatory resource.

Genres: Buddhism

296 pages, Paperback

Published January 17, 2024

About the author

Jan Christoph Westerhoff is a philosopher and orientalist with specific interests in metaphysics and the philosophy of language. He was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge and SOAS. At present he is a University Lecturer in Religious Ethics at the University of Oxford, a Fellow of Lady Margaret Hall and a Research Associate at SOAS. He was previously a Research Fellow in Philosophy at the City University of New York, a Seminar Associate at Columbia University, a Junior Research Fellow at Linacre College and a Junior Lecturer in the Philosophy of Mathematics at the University of Oxford.

He is a specialist in metaphysics and Indo-Tibetan philosophy. His research interests also include the history of ideas in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Reviews

[Ronald S. Green · Rating 5 out of 5]

Candrakīrti's Introduction to the Middle Way (Madhyamakāvatāra) is a key work in Buddhist philosophy for two main reasons. First, it introduces Madhyamaka, one of the three major Buddhist philosophical schools, alongside Abhidharma and Yogācāra. Second, within Madhyamaka itself, Candrakīrti's text holds a special place, largely due to its significant influence in Tibet, where it became the primary gateway to studying Madhyamaka thought.

What makes Westerhoff’s work particularly engaging for students is its role as an "introduction." As one of Candrakīrti's earlier writings, it offers a clear and comprehensive overview of Madhyamaka's central ideas and challenges. Westerhoff’s commentary focuses on the philosophical aspects of the text, drawing heavily on Candrakīrti's auto-commentary for explanation.