The Great Treatise on the Stages of the Path to Enlightenment, Volume 1

October 15, 2000
Completed in 1402, the "Great Treatise" is a central work of Mahayana Buddhism by the Tibetan Master Tsong-kha-pa, founder of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism. This careful translation is the work of a committee of scholars, and a foreword by noted Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman clearly places the importance of the work in context. This is the first volume of a projected three-volume set, which will constitute the first complete English translation of this important Buddhist text. This first third deals with the importance of the teacher, instructions in meditation, and the concepts of taking refuge, karma, ethics, suffering, and dependent arising. The remaining volumes promise to continue in this fashion, touching on all important Buddhist concepts, mapping the way toward the attainment of Buddhahood. The text will sometimes be difficult and the concepts puzzling or misleading for general readers, but practitioners and students of Buddhism will welcome it and eagerly await the rest. The meticulous scholarship and excellent documentation makes this an essential title for larger academic collections and those with a demonstrated interest in Eastern philosophy; it is also recommended for large or specialized public library collections.--Mark Woodhouse, Elmira Coll., NY

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