A Madhyamaka Reader: The Middle Way in Indian Buddhist Philosophy

Stemming from the works of Nāgārjuna (ca. 150 CE), one of the most influential thinkers in the history of Buddhist philosophy, the Madhyamaka (“Middle Way”) tradition flourished for over a thousand years in India as one of two main streams of thought in Mahāyāna Buddhism. To this day, most Tibetan Buddhists consider Madhyamaka to represent the pinnacle of Buddhist thought.

An anthology of original translations of Sanskrit philosophical works, A Madhyamaka Reader traces the arc of the Middle Way school over the course of its history. Presenting lengthy selections—including several complete texts—from the tradition’s main contributors, this book represents all the main currents over nearly a millennium of Madhyamaka philosophy’s development in India. The selections are prefaced by interpretive introductions that provide the background and context needed to grasp the distinctive contributions made by each text, and Dan Arnold’s clear and accessible translations enable readers to follow for themselves the arguments of some of the Buddhist world’s greatest philosophers. Suitable for a range of courses in Buddhist and comparative philosophy, A Madhyamaka Reader offers a comprehensive overview of one of the Buddhist world’s most significant traditions of thought.