Buddhist Epistemology in the Geluk School: Three Key Texts

Tibet’s philosophical tradition is on brilliant display in this anthology of works exploring the means to finding certainty in an impermanent and interdependent world. Here, descendants of the great Tsongkhapa plumb the nature of knowing to harness it in the service of awakening.

This volume includes translations of three separate Tibetan works by iconic figures in the Geluk school of Buddhism. The first work, Banisher of Ignorance, is by Khedrup Gelek Palsang (1385-1438), and the second, On Preclusion and Relationship, is by Gyaltsab Darma Rinchen (1364-1432). The authors--popularly known as Khedrup Je and Gyaltsab Je--were the foremost disciples of the Geluk-school founder, Tsongkhapa Losang Drakpa (1357-1419). The third text, Mighty Pramana Sun, is a commentary on the first chapter of Candrakirti’s Clear Words (Prasannapada) by Jamyang Shepa (1648-1721).

These works concern themselves primarily with the Buddhist theory of knowledge--the means by which we are able to know things and how we can be certain of that knowledge. Encapsulating this theory is the notion of pramana, the Buddhist understanding of which was shaped most significantly by the Indian masters Dignaga (fifth to sixth century) and Dharmakirti (seventh century). Based on their explanation, pramana is often translated as ＂valid cognition,＂ a literal reference to the kind of cognition that they proposed could be relied upon to supply indisputable knowledge.

In the Buddhist Pramana tradition, rigorous reasoning is held to play a crucial role in gaining such knowledge, and there is no better exemplar of the sophistication this endeavor achieved in Tibet than Khedrup Je’s work here. He systematically catalogs and rebuts a host of views with unmatched acumen and flair. All three works illustrate how those who follow the tradition have viewed the systematic approach as necessary not only for textual analysis--for those seeking to unravel the complexities of the Indian Buddhist scriptures and treatises--but also for practitioners aiming to progress along the spiritual path and achieve the highest Buddhist goals.

Jonathan Samuels (Sherab Gyatso) received his Geluk education as a monk at monasteries in India, beginning at the Institute of Buddhist Dialectics in Dharamsala, and gained the title of geshe at Drepung Loseling Monastery. He also holds a DPhil in Oriental studies from Oxford University. He was the principal teacher for the Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo Translator Program in Dharamsala, served as interpreter for his teacher Gen Lobsang Gyatso, translated several of his books, including Bodhicitta: Cultivating the Compassionate Mind of Enlightenment, and wrote the Tibetan language guide Colloquial Tibetan: The Complete Course for Beginners. He currently works as an academic and has held posts at Oxford University and Heidelberg University. He presently works for the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna.

Khedrup Gelek Palsang (1385-1438), well known as Khedrup Je, was one of the main disciples of Tsongkhapa (1357-1419), founder of the Geluk school of Tibetan Buddhism. Khedrup was already a learned scholar in the Sakya school when he met Tsongkhapa, having trained with the master Rendawa Shönü Lodrö (1349-1412). His eleven volumes of collected works contain key commentaries on philosophy such as the one here, but also many influential works on tantra. He also composed the main biography of Tsongkhapa. His literary flair and skill in argumentation continue to be emulated in the Geluk school to this day.

Gyaltsab Je (1364-1432) was born in the Tsang province of central Tibet. He was a famous student of Je Tsongkhapa, and became the first Ganden Tripa (throne holder) of the Gelug tradition after Je Tsongkhapa’s death. He also studied with Rendawa Zhonnu Lodro (red mda’ ba gzhon nu blo gros, 1349-1412). Gyaltsab Je was a prolific writer; one of his most famous texts is a commentary of Shantideva’s A Guide to the Bodhisattba’s Way of Life. Lodro Tenpa, the seventh Ganden Tripa, was his student.