Treatise on Distinguishing Definitive and Interpretive Meanings: A Treasury (辨了不了義善說藏論)

About 辨了不了義善說藏論

Source text translated by 法尊

56,541 · about 188 min

The *Treatise Discriminating the Definitive and the Provisional: A Treasury of Excellent Explanations* composed by Master Tsongkhapa is an important scripture of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, translated into Chinese by Venerable Fazun. This treatise, completed in the early 15th century, systematically elucidates the core distinctions between the Madhyamaka and Yogācāra schools of Buddhist thought, with a primary focus on analyzing the dialectical relationship between the definitive meaning (ultimate truth) and the provisional meaning (expedient teachings). With rigorous logic, Tsongkhapa establishes the view of the Prāsaṅgika Madhyamaka school, thereby laying the doctrinal foundation for the Gelug tradition. This treatise holds milestone significance in the history of Tibetan Buddhism, revered as an authoritative exposition of exoteric doctrine, exerting a profound influence on subsequent Buddhist scholarship and practice. It remains an essential text for the study of Madhyamaka philosophy to this day.