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Nagarjuna's Letter to a Friend: With Commentary by Kangyur Rinpoche
An exposition of the entire Buddhist path in only 123 verses. A Buddhist classic.
Nagarjuna's poetic presentation of the fundamental teachings of the Great Vehicle, or Mahayana, is remarkable for its concise style and memorable imagery, making it one of the most widely quoted sources in other commentaries on the Mahayana path. The great Indian Buddhist master Nagarjuna (first-second century C.E.) wrote his celebrated poem "Letter to a Friend" as a gift of advice to a South Indian king, and it has since become a monument in the Indian shastra tradition.
Despite its short length (only 123 verses), Nagarjuna's "Letter to a Friend" covers the entire Mahayana path, combining a practical approach to daily conduct with a theoretical exposition of the different stages leading to enlightenment. It has thus been an ideal source for many of Tibet's great scholars seeking a scriptural authority to enhance their own descriptions of the Buddhist path. Any difficulties in understanding the poem are overcome here by Kangyur Rinpoche's commentary, which turns Nagarjuna's sometimes cryptic poem into straightforward prose, expanding on each topic and ordering the different subjects in such a way that on returning to the original poem, the reader can easily make sense of the advice it contains.
It includes headings to explain Nagarjuna's frequent changes in subject and full explanations of the ideas introduced in each verse. In addition to the commentary, this book presents the original poem in the Tibetan and in a new English translation that attempts to emulate Nagarjuna's lines of metric verse. Also included are Kangyur Rinpoche's structural outline (sa bchad), a Tibetan line index to enable students to locate quotations used in other Tibetan works, full notes, and a glossary.
Nagarjuna's poetic presentation of the fundamental teachings of the Great Vehicle, or Mahayana, is remarkable for its concise style and memorable imagery, making it one of the most widely quoted sources in other commentaries on the Mahayana path. The great Indian Buddhist master Nagarjuna (first-second century C.E.) wrote his celebrated poem "Letter to a Friend" as a gift of advice to a South Indian king, and it has since become a monument in the Indian shastra tradition.
Despite its short length (only 123 verses), Nagarjuna's "Letter to a Friend" covers the entire Mahayana path, combining a practical approach to daily conduct with a theoretical exposition of the different stages leading to enlightenment. It has thus been an ideal source for many of Tibet's great scholars seeking a scriptural authority to enhance their own descriptions of the Buddhist path. Any difficulties in understanding the poem are overcome here by Kangyur Rinpoche's commentary, which turns Nagarjuna's sometimes cryptic poem into straightforward prose, expanding on each topic and ordering the different subjects in such a way that on returning to the original poem, the reader can easily make sense of the advice it contains.
It includes headings to explain Nagarjuna's frequent changes in subject and full explanations of the ideas introduced in each verse. In addition to the commentary, this book presents the original poem in the Tibetan and in a new English translation that attempts to emulate Nagarjuna's lines of metric verse. Also included are Kangyur Rinpoche's structural outline (sa bchad), a Tibetan line index to enable students to locate quotations used in other Tibetan works, full notes, and a glossary.
208 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 100
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310 people want to read
About the author
Nāgārjuna
156 books123 followersAcharya Nāgārjuna (Telugu: నాగార్జున) (c. 150 - 250 CE) was an Indian philosopher and the founder of the Madhyamaka school of Mahāyāna Buddhism.
His writings are the basis for the formation of the Madhyamaka school, which was transmitted to China under the name of the Three Treatise (Sanlun) School. He is credited with developing the philosophy of the Prajnaparamita sutras, and was closely associated with the Buddhist university of Nalanda. In the Jodo Shinshu branch of Buddhism, he is considered the First Patriarch.
His writings are the basis for the formation of the Madhyamaka school, which was transmitted to China under the name of the Three Treatise (Sanlun) School. He is credited with developing the philosophy of the Prajnaparamita sutras, and was closely associated with the Buddhist university of Nalanda. In the Jodo Shinshu branch of Buddhism, he is considered the First Patriarch.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
September 14, 2014
Easy to read, covers the whole of the Buddhist Path, from basic morality to highest wisdom. Excellent book.
August 18, 2024
Recuerdo haber leído una versión más corta de este texto, sin embargo encontré otra más extensa, la cual me impresionó por los cuatro puntos siguientes:
1) Si uno no hablara de Dharma y de otros conceptos budistas, uno pensaría que está ante un texto cristiano, respecto del tema de la moralidad: no emborracharse, no fornicar, considerar que las tentaciones de la carne se combaten al considerar a la mujer un saco de inmundicias (los padres del desierto no hablan de otro modo).
2) Las descripciones del infierno budista, donde las penas son parecidas a las relatadas por Dante Alighieri.
3) La inanidad de todo estadio previo a la disolución en la nada o nirvana. Por muy excelso que sea el estadio en que viva, tarde o temprano se corromperá y caerá en un peor escenario.
4) El llamado al destinatario de esta carta a ayudar, tan pronto alcance la iluminación a liberar las almas de los cautivos del samsara, eso es lo único que vale la pena de reencarnar: salvar a los infortunados del ciclo del sufrimiento.
Debo confesar que me agradó este acercamiento al budismo. Supongo que algún otro texto me habría sido difícil de entender y me habría llevado a dejar el tema por la paz.
1) Si uno no hablara de Dharma y de otros conceptos budistas, uno pensaría que está ante un texto cristiano, respecto del tema de la moralidad: no emborracharse, no fornicar, considerar que las tentaciones de la carne se combaten al considerar a la mujer un saco de inmundicias (los padres del desierto no hablan de otro modo).
2) Las descripciones del infierno budista, donde las penas son parecidas a las relatadas por Dante Alighieri.
3) La inanidad de todo estadio previo a la disolución en la nada o nirvana. Por muy excelso que sea el estadio en que viva, tarde o temprano se corromperá y caerá en un peor escenario.
4) El llamado al destinatario de esta carta a ayudar, tan pronto alcance la iluminación a liberar las almas de los cautivos del samsara, eso es lo único que vale la pena de reencarnar: salvar a los infortunados del ciclo del sufrimiento.
Debo confesar que me agradó este acercamiento al budismo. Supongo que algún otro texto me habría sido difícil de entender y me habría llevado a dejar el tema por la paz.
April 26, 2022
Nagarjuna receives The Perfection of Wisdom scripture from a nagini*
Nagarjuna wrote this poem to King Gautamiputra, his friend, in which he advised him about liberation and enlightenment. Some say this short poem contains the core concepts of Buddhism, by which Nagarjuna guides the reader into taking action towards spiritual activity. :)
*nagini the feminine word of nāga, snake
January 17, 2020
Edited by one of Traleg Kyabgon's students after his death, this translation of a short verse letter written nearly two thousand years ago, with commentary, was based upon a lecture Kyabgon Rinpoche gave at his Buddhist institute in Melbourne before his death.
May 21, 2008
Everyone has to get up on some Nagarjuna (+ commentary!)
July 12, 2014
For everybody who wants to get into Buddhism.
November 18, 2020
I'm going to need some time to process this one. His focus on Hell and all of the details was surprising to me. Old school!
October 19, 2020
This is a must-read for those who want to understand the derivations of the Pure Land teachings. Though it is not the most straight-forward text, it is insightful and really helps to underscore the contributions of the first of the Seven Patriarch (or Masters) as defined by Shinran Shonin. Nagarjuna's letter to King Gauamiputra, he lays out a process for a lay practitioner to follow the Pure Land path while maintaining his lay life. As with just about any Buddhist text, be prepared for a lot of lists - the four this, the seven that, and so on. However, these are useful and explained fully in the commentary by Traleg Kyabgon. This will be a useful reference in my study and practice.
March 14, 2021
Boek waar mijn cursusleraar op afgestudeerd was. Veel over pijn in de hel
Want to read
January 12, 2008Purchased at discount at Winter Retreat. Beautiful photo of Kangyur Rinpoche. This will be great prep for the 2008 retreat.
February 8, 2017
cea mai amplă discuție asupra moralei și eticii spirituale buddhiste - citită de mine până acum, desigur. deschide o nouă direcție de lectură
June 22, 2017
Three earlier translations (cp. to the Tibetan) of this revered primer for Mahayana students in India of 1800 years ago. Still a superb introduction to the Mahayana path.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews