Mipham's Radical Nonduality by Gregory Forgues

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Lopen Karma Phuntsho interviews Tsadra Foundation's director of research, Gregory Forgues and discusses his recent book Radical Nonduality: Ju Mipham Namgyal Gyatso's Discourse on Reality (Vienna WSTB 106).

Ju Mipham Namgyal Gyatsho (1846–1912) stands as one of the most influential scholars within the Nyingma tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. This book, which will be of interest to both academic researchers and Buddhist practitioners, presents a comprehensive analysis of Mipham's nonconceptual nondualism through the traditional Buddhist framework of ground (gzhi), path (lam), and result ('bras bu).

The study begins by examining how Mipham's view represents a form of ontological nondualism, exploring his innovative use of ascending perspectives to explain the two truths. This approach offers readers new insights into Mipham's sophisticated philosophical system while illuminating the philosophical foundations of the path.

The middle section investigates how knowledge and liberation interweave in Mipham's soteriological project through his teachings on practice and conduct. Here, readers will discover how cognitive nondualism serves as a bridge to realizing ontological nondualism, while scholars will appreciate the theoretical framework underlying these practices.

The final section examines Mipham's soteriological nondualism, in which ground and result are understood to be beyond any distinction or separation. This fresh analysis of Mipham's thought offers valuable insights into one of Tibet's most sophisticated philosophical systems and its practical application on the Buddhist path.

The book is free online here!

Dr. Gregory Forgues is the Director of Research at Tsadra Foundation. Before joining the foundation, Gregory was part of the Open Philology research project with Professor Jonathan Silk at the University of Leiden. He also worked as a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Heidelberg and a Visiting Professor of Buddhist Studies at the University of Bochum. Gregory has published on a wide variety of topics including Mahāyāna sūtra translations, Tibetan tantric rituals, Dzogchen teachings, and digital humanities methods. His PhD dissertation on Jamgon Mipham’s interpretation of the two truths under Professor Klaus-Dieter Mathes' supervision was reviewed by Professor Birgit Kellner and Professor Matthew Kapstein, receiving a distinction from the University of Vienna.

About the media

Featuring	Greg Forgues, Karma Phuntsho
Creator	Tsadra Foundation
Director	Perman, M.
Producer	Tsadra Foundation
Event	Mipham's Radical Nonduality by Gregory Forgues (14 December 2024)
Related Website	Buddha-Nature
Creation Date	14 December 2024
Citation	Forgues, Gregory. "Mipham's Radical Nonduality." Conversations on Buddha-Nature with Lopen Dr. Karma Phuntsho. Produced by the Tsadra Foundation Research Department, Dec 14, 2024. Video, 1:34:44. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9M_ccPJ4hZw.