Madhyamaka Studies

Index of Articles available on gileht.site

Content: Analysis of Nāgārjuna’s Teachings,
  + Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra in 8000 lines,
  + Heart Sūtra, Diamond Sūtra, and Vimalakīrti Sūtra.

Last update: October 12, 2025
Image from: Stoneflower013 (see full image at the end of this page)

Work in progress.

I hope you like Teachings by Colours:
- T1 / First truth / dependent origination / adapted skilful means / manifestations,
- T2 / Second truth / emptiness / no absolute, wisdom,
- Unborn, unconditioned, unchanging, unceasing,
- U2T / Union of the Two Truths, [U2T-in-action],
- Uopp / Non-duality, Union of opposites,
- Tetralemma: not 'this', not 'non-this', not both, not neither,
- Like illusions, reflections, mirages, dreams, echos, 'there, yet not there',
- Middle Way free from all extremes,
- Oneness, Cycle, Merit / Magical feasts,
- Ignorance / errors / extremes,
- Reality-as-it-is, Tathātā, Suchness, Dharmadhātu,
  Dharmatā, Buddha-nature, Trikāya,  Ground, Basis, Source,
  Primordial Awareness, Pure Consciousness,  Luminous Emptiness,
- Important highlights.

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A. Introductory Texts

[a] Nāgārjuna's Aspiration - Introduction to Mahāyāna  

[b] Introduction to the Two Truths - Lama Chime Rinpoche 

[c] What was your true face before space? - Master Kusan (Zen) 

[d] Heart Sūtra (Prajñāpāramitāhṛdaya Sūtra) - Recently revised

[e] Diamond Sūtra (Vajracchedikā Prajñāpāramitā Sūtra) - Recently revised

[f] Vimalakīrti Sūtra (12 chapters)

[g] Perfection of Wisdom in 8,000 lines (32 chapters) - Recently revised 

[h] Perfection of Wisdom in 25,000 lines - Work in progress (76 Chapters)

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B. Nagarjuna's Collection of Praises

It is said that towards the end of his life, acting on advice from Tara, Nagarjuna returned to Southern India and dwelt at a place called Mount Splendour, where he gave extensive teachings on both the sutras and tantras, and composed many more texts. These writings are known as the Collection of Praises. Nagarjuna's Collection of Praises are likened to the third turning of the Wheel of Dharma.

[1] Hymn to the Dharmadhātu (Dharmadhātustava) (101 verses)

[2] Hymn to Transcending the World (Lokatitastava) (28 verses)

[3] Hymn to the Inconceivable Reality (Acintyastava) (59 verses)

[4] Hymn to the Ultimate Reality (Paramārthastava) (11 verses)

[5] Hymn to the Incomparable One (Niraupamyastavah) (24 verses)

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C. Nagarjuna's Other

[1] Twelve Gate Treatise (22 verses)
(Twelve reasons why everything is empty.)
(Dvādaśanikāya-śāstra)

[2] Twenty Verses on Mahāyāna
(Mahayanavimsika) 

[3] Verses on the Heart of Dependent Origination
(Pratītyasamutpādahṛdayakārikā) (7 verses) 

[4] The Accumulation of Merit and Wisdom
(Bodhisambhāraka) (165 verses)

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D. Nagarjuna's Collection of Advice

Nagarjuna's Collection of Advice  refers to texts by Nagarjuna in which he provides advice to householders and the ordained on how to follow the Buddhist path. These instructions are likened to Buddha's first turning of the Wheel of Dharma.

[1] Precious Garland of Advice for a King (Ratnāvalī) (Introduction + 5 chapters)
Introduction, Chapter 1, Chapter 2, Chapter 3, Chapter 4, Chapter 5 & Conclusion, 

[2] Letter to a Friend (Suhṛllekha) (123 verses)

[3] The Staff of Wisdom (Prajñadanda) (260 verses) 

[4] Exposition of Bodhicitta (Bodhicaryāvatāra) (112 verses)

[5] A Hundred Wisdoms (Prajñāsataka)
(not available)

[6] Drops for Healing Beings (Janaposanabindu)
(not available)

[7] Compendium of Sutras (Sutrasamucchaya)
(not available)

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E. Nagarjuna's Collection of Middle Way Reasoning

Nagarjuna's Collection of Middle Way Reasoning are identified with the second turning of the wheel. Some say that there are five texts in the collection, while others say six, but there is no consensus on the identity of the sixth text.

[1] Root Verses on the Middle Way (Mūlamadhyamakakārikā) (27 chapters) 

[2] Seventy Stanzas on Emptiness (Śūnyatāsaptati) (73 verses) - Recently revised

[3] Sixty Verses of Arguments (Yuktisastika) (60 verses) - Recently revised

[4] The Dispeller of Disputes (Vigrahavyāvartanī) (70 verses)

[5] Crushing the Categories (Vaidalyaprakaraṇa)
(not available)

[6] Conventional Existence
(not available)