The Root Stanzas on the middle way

The Root Stanzas on the Middle Way Mulamadhyamaka-karika Nagarjuna The Mahayana teachings of the Buddha gave rise to two traditions: the tradition of vast activities, Yogachara, expounded by Asanga through the inspiration of the Bodhisattva Maitreya, and the tradition of the profound view or Madhya- maka, descending through the Bodhisattva Mañjushri and systematically expounded by Nagarjuna. The Root Stanzas on the Middle Way (Mulamadhyamaka-karika), constitute the fundamental expression of the Madhyamaka view, in which the nature of phenomena is defined as “emptiness”, understood in terms of dependent origination. The crucial doctrine of emptiness is the basis on which the entire practice of the Mahayana, both sutra and tantra, is founded. This is a translation of the Tibetan version of the origi- nal Sanskrit, following the commentary of Jamgön Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912), a great master of the Nyingma school and adherent of the rimé or non-sectarian movement. This volume, containing both the Tibetan text and translation, was made to mark the visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to France in August 2008, and as a support for the teachings scheduled for that occasion.