The Central Philosophy of Tibet: A Study and Translation of Jey Tsong Khapa's Essence of True Eloquence

by Robert A.F. Thurman

This is the paperback edition of the first full study, translation, and critical annotation of the Essence of True Eloquence by Jey Tsong Khapa (1357-1419), universally acknowledged as the greatest Tibetan philosopher. Robert Thurman's translation and introduction present a strain of Indian Buddhist thought emphasizing the need for both critical reason and contemplative realization in the attainment of enlightenment. This book was originally published under the title Tsong Khapa's Speech of Gold in the "Essence of True Eloquence." ? "I am very happy that Tsong Khapa's masterpiece of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy has been translated into English, and can now be studied by Western philosophers and practitioners of Buddhism. It has long been one of my favorite works, and I hope that others will appreciate its deep thought and lucid insights as we have for centuries in Tibet."--From the foreword by the Dalai Lama

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Nonfiction, Religion

719 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1991

About the author

Tenzin Robert Thurman is the Jey Tsong Khapa Professor of Indo-Tibetan Buddhist Studies at Columbia University, holding the first endowed chair of Buddhist Studies in the United States. He is the author of the bestseller Inner Revolution, as well as Anger, Infinite Life, and other popular books. He is also a translator of Tibetan texts. He serves as co-founder and president of Tibet House US, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the endangered culture of Tibet.

Reviews

[r0b · Rating 4 out of 5]

5 stars for content, but one star subtracted for the clunky and off-putting translation. I acknowledge and admire Thurman's pioneering efforts (this is the only translation of The Essence of Eloquence available in English!) but I wish he would consider revisiting this work to improve his initial project so it could perhaps be more accessible to a larger audience.