The Treasury of Knowledge, Book Six, Parts One and Two : Indo-Tibetan Classical Learning and Buddhist Phenomenology

Jamgon Kongtrul Lodro Taye; Kalu Rinpoche Translation Grp; Gyurme Dorje
Shambhala
9781559393898
1-55939-389-0

Jamgn Kongtruls encyclopedic Treasury of Knowledge presents a complete account of the major lines of thought and practice that comprise Tibetan Buddhism. Among the ten books that make up this tour de force,.

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Book Six is by far the longestconcisely summarizing the theoretical fields of knowledge to be studied prior to the cultivation of reflection and discriminative awareness. The first two parts of Book Six, contained in this volume, respectively concern Indo-Tibetan classical learning and Buddhist phenomenology. The former analyzes the traditional subjects of phonology and Sanskrit grammar, logic, fine art, and medicine, along with astrology, poetics, prosody, synonymics, and dramaturgy. The principal non-Buddhist philosophical systems of ancient India are then summarized and contrasted with the hierarchical meditative concentrations and formless absorptions through which the summit of cyclic existence can genuinely be attained. Part Two examines the phenomenological structures of Abhidharmathe shared inheritance of all Buddhist traditionsfrom three distinct perspectives, corresponding to the three successive turnings of the doctrinal wheel.