Essentials of the Middle Way

Tsongkhapa

Based on the commentaries on the "Mūlamadhyamakakārikā" by the great masters Buddhapālita and Candrakīrti, Master Tsongkhapa composed the "Commentary on the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā." This commentary has become the primary text for Tibetan Buddhist scholars studying the Madhyamaka school of Nāgārjuna Bodhisattva. The entire work consists of fourteen volumes, providing commentary on the twenty-seven chapters of the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā. Each chapter's commentary is divided into three sections: "Explanation of the Text," "Scriptural Citations," and "Summary of the Meaning." Here, the "Summary of the Meaning" from each chapter's commentary has been translated and compiled under the title "Summary of the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā," offered as a reference for those studying the tenets of the Madhyamaka school. Any errors in translation are respectfully open to correction by readers.