With its emphasis on the concept of buddha-nature, or the ultimate nature of mind, the Uttaratantra is a classical Buddhist treatise that lays out an early map of the Mahayana path to enlightenment. Tsering Wangchuk unravels the history of this important Indic text in Tibet by examining numerous Tibetan commentaries and other exegetical texts on the treatise that emerged between the eleventh and fifteenth centuries. These commentaries explored such questions as: Is the buddha-nature teaching found in the Uttaratantra literally true, or does it have to be interpreted differently to understand its ultimate meaning? Does it explicate ultimate truth that is inherently enlightened or ultimate truth that is empty only of independent existence? Does the treatise teach ultimate nature of mind according to the Cittamatra or the Madhyamaka School of Mahayana? By focusing on the diverse interpretations that different textual communities employed to make sense of the Uttaratantra, Wangchuk provides a necessary historical context for the development of the text in Tibet.

Uttaratantra in the Land of Snows: Tibetan Thinkers Debate the Centrality of the Buddha-Nature Treatise, Tsering Wangchuk, SUNY Press, Paperback, 208 pages, $38.95

Tsering Wangchuk is Assistant Professor and Richard C. Blum Chair in Himalayan Studies at the University of San Francisco.

CONTENTS: Uttaratantra in the Land of Snows
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS		xi
INTRODUCTION		1
	General Remarks	1
	Textual Historical Background	5
Part I. Early Period: Kadam Thinkers Rescue the Treatise
CHAPTER 1 Rise of the Uttaratantra in Tibet: Early Kadam Scholars Revitalize the Newly Discovered Indian Exegesis		13
	Introduction	13
	Ngok and Chapa on the Pervasive Nature of the Buddha-Body	15
	Ngok and Chapa on Definitive or Provisional Nature in the Uttaratantra	18
	Ngok and Chapa on the Uttaratantra as a Last Wheel Treatise	19
	Buddha-Element as a Conceived Object	20
	Ngok and Chapa Differ on Emphasis	21
	Conclusion	24
CHAPTER 2 Sowing Seeds for Future Debate: Dissenters and Adherents		25
	Introduction	25
	Sapen, the Dissenter	26
	Rikrel, the Third Karmapa, and Sangpu Lodro Defend the Uttaratantra	29
	Rinchen Yeshe's Proto Other-Emptiness Presentation of the Uttaratantra, and Buton's Reply	34
	Conclusion	38
Part II. The Pinnacle Period: The Other-Emptiness Interpretation Spreads
CHAPTER 3 Other-Emptiness Tradition: The Uttaratantra in Dolpopa's Works		43
	Introduction
	Predominance of the Last Wheel Scriptures
	Is the Uttaratantra a Cittamatra Text or a Madhyamaka Text?
	Classification of Cittamatra
	Classification of Madhyamaka
	Conclusion
CHAPTER 4 The Uttaratantra in Fourteenth-Century Tibet		55
	Introduction	55
	Sazang Follows in His Master's Footsteps	55
	Two Fourteenth-Century Kadam Masters' Uttaratantra Commentaries	59
	Longchenpa's View on the Uttaratantra	63
	Conclusion	65
Part III. The Argumentation Period: Self-Emptiness Proponents criticize Other-Emptiness Approach
CHAPTER 5 Challenges to the Purely Definitive Nature of the Uttaratantra: Zhalu Thinkers Criticize Dolpopa		69
	Introduction	69
	Buton's Ornament	70
	Dratsepa's Commentary	72
	Conclusion	80
CHAPTER 6 Challenges to the Supremacy of the Uttaratantra: Rendawa and Tsongkhapa on Tathagata-Essence Literature		83
	Introduction	83
	Rendawa on the Uttaratantra and the Tathagata-Essence Literature	83
	Tsongkhapa on the Uttaratantra and the Tathagata-Essence Literature	89
	Conclusion	95
CHAPTER 7 Gyeltsap's Commentary on the Uttaratantra: A Critique of Dolpopa's Interpretation of Tathagata-Essence Literature		97
	Introduction	97
	Middle Wheel and Last Wheel Teachings	101
	Definitive Meaning and Provisional Meaning	103
	Self-Emptiness and Other-Emptiness	104
	Conclusion	106
CONCLUSION		109
	General Remarks	109
	Completing the Cycle	112
NOTES		119
BIBLIOGRAPHY		181
	Tibetan Language Works Cited	181
	English Language Works Cited	186
INDEX		191