Mipham's Beacon of Certainty

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{{Book
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|BookToc=* {{i|Foreword by His Holiness Penor Rinpoche|''ix''}}
* {{i|Acknowledgments|''xi''}}
* {{i|Source Abbreviations|''xv''}}
* {{i|Annotations, Diacritics, and Transcription|''xvii''}}<br><br>
* {{i|1. INTRODUCTION|1}}
* {{i|1.1 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Mipham Rinpoche and the Beacon of Certainty|1}}
* {{i|1.2 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Outline|2}}
* {{i|1.3 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Beacon of Certainty: Context and Significance|2}}
* {{i|1.3.1 &nbsp;&nbsp;Dialectical Philosophy and the Great Perfection|2}}
* {{i|1.3.2 &nbsp;&nbsp;The Beacons Purpose|5}}
* {{i|1.3.3 &nbsp;&nbsp;The Beacons Comparative Method|6}}
* {{i|1.4 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Methods and Sources|7}}
* {{i|1.4.1 &nbsp;&nbsp;Tibetan Language Sources|8}}
* {{i|1.4.1.1 Editions of the Beacon|8}}
* {{i|1.4.2 &nbsp;&nbsp;English Language Sources|11}}
* {{i|1.5 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The Contributions of this Work|14}}<br><br>
* {{i|2. THE LIFE AND WORKS OF MIPHAM RINPOCHE|19}}
* {{i|2.1 Accounts of Mipham’s Life|22}}
* {{i|2.2 The ''Essential Hagiography'' by mKhan chen Kun bzang dpal ldan|23}}<br><br>
* {{i|3. INDO-TIBETAN BUDDHISM: AN OVERVIEW|41}}
* {{i|3.1 Historical and Philosophical Dimensions of Buddhism|41}}
* {{i|3.2 Hīnayāna and Mahāyāna|42}}
* {{i|3.3 Important Teachings of Mahāyāna Scriptures|45}}
* {{i|3.3.1 Prajñāpāramitā|45}}
* {{i|3.3.2 The ''Saṃdhinirmocana'' and the "Essence Sūtras"|47}}
* {{i|3.3.3 Sources for Buddhist Hermeneutics|49}}
* {{i|3.4 Traditions of Indian Madhyamaka|51}}
* {{i|3.4.1 Origins of Prāsaṅgika and Svātantrika Madhyamaka|52}}
* {{i|3.4.2 Yogācāra and the Yogācāra Madhyamaka Synthesis|55}}
* {{i|3.4.3 Madhyamaka and Pramāṇa|57}}
* {{i|3.5 Vajrayāna: Buddhist Tantra|60}}
* {{i|3.5.1 Indian Origins|60}}
* {{i|3.5.2 Philosophical Dimensions of Tantra|62}}
* {{i|3.5.3 Styles of Tantric Practice|68}}<br><br>
* {{i|4. TIBETAN BUDDHIST TRADITIONS AND THE GREAT PERFECTION|71}}
* {{i|4.1 The Yarlung Empire and the Introduction of Buddhism|72}}
* {{i|4.2 Early Nyingma Teachers and Texts|74}}
* {{i|4.2.1 The Treasure Tradition|76}}
* {{i|4.2.2 The Great Perfection|77}}
* {{i|4.2.2.1 Origins|77}}
* {{i|4.2.2.2 The View of the Great Perfection|77}}
* {{i|4.2.2.3 The Three Classes of Great Perfection|79}}
* {{i|4.2.24 Great Perfection in Practice|80}}
* {{i|4.2.3 The Great Perfection in Comparative Philosophical Texts|81}}
* {{i|4.2.3.1 Ch’an and the Great Perfection in the bSam gtan mig sgron|82}}
* {{i|4.2.3.2 Other Early Doxographies|84}}
* {{i|4.3 The New Translation Period and the Nyingma Tradition|86}}
* {{i|4.3.1 Rong zom Paṇḍita|88}}
* {{i|4.3.2 The Rise of Scholasticism|91}}
* {{i|4.3.3 Klong chen rab 'byams|92}}
* {{i|4.3.4 Nyingma Monasticism and the Ecumenical Movement (''ris med'')|97}}
* {{i|4.3.5 A Nyingma Philosophy?|98}}<br><br>
* {{i|5. PHILOSOPHICAL DISTINCTIONS OF MIPHAM'S THOUGHT|101}}
* {{i|5.1 The Gelug Philosophical Tradition|101}}
* {{i|5.2 Theory, Practice, and Ultimate Reality|104}}
* {{i|5.3 Valid Cognition and Philosophical Analysis|107}}
* {{i|5.4 The Philosophy of Extrinsic Emptiness|111}}
* {{i|5.5 Mipham’s Interpretation of Extrinsic Emptiness and Tathāgatagarbha|114}}
* {{i|5.6 Mipham’s Position on the Tathāgatagarbha|117}}<br><br>
* {{i|6. The ''Beacon of Certainty''|125}}
* {{i|6.1 Recapitulation of Earlier Discussions|125}}
* {{i|6.2 The Topics of the ''Beacon''|126}}
* {{i|6.2.1 The ''Beacon'' and Tsongkhapa’s ''Eight Great Difficult Points''|128}}
* {{i|6.2.2 Some Observations on Topics 5, 6, and 7|130}}
* {{i|6.3 View, Meditative Practice, and Ultimate Reality in the ''Beacon''|133}}
* {{i|6.3.I Anupakṣas and Pūrvapakṣas: An Overview|133}}
* {{i|6.3.1.1 Essential Issues and Arguments in Topics 1, 3, and 4|134}}
* {{i|6.3.1.2 Go ram pa's Analysis of View and Meditation in the ''TSB''|136}}
* {{i|6.3.1.2.1 Go ram pa on the Ultimate View|137}}
* {{i|6.3.1.2.2 Go ram pa on Meditative Practice |139}}
* {{i|6.3.2 Topic 1: Philosophical View and Rational Negation|141}}
* {{i|6.3.2.1 Tsongkhapa on the Negandum and Its Substratum|141}}
* {{i|6.3.2.2 Mipham's Theory of Negation|144}}
* {{i|6.3.2.2.1 Negation and the Definition of the Ultimate|144}}
* {{i|6.3.2.2.2 Mipham's Analysis of Negation in the ''MAZL''|146}}
* {{i|6.3.2.2.3 Mipham's Theory of the Ultimate: Gnosis and Coalescence|151}}
* {{i|6.3.3 Topics 3 and 4: Tsongkhapa and Mipham on Modal Apprehension and<br>Analytical Reasoning|157}}
* {{i|6.3.3.1 Tsongkhapa on the Role of Conceptuality in Meditation|157}}
* {{i|6.3.3.1.1 Yon tan rgya mtsho on Modal Apprehension and Analysis|160}}<br><br>
* {{i|7. ASCERTAINMENT (''nges pa'') AND CERTAINTY (''nges shes''):<br> SOME CONCLUSIONS|169}}
* {{i|7.1 Mipham’s Place in Tibetan Philosophy|182}}
* {{i|7.2 Philosophical Texts and Human Relatedness|184}}<br><br>
* {{i|8. THE TRANSLATION OF THE ''Beacon of Certainty''|187}}
* {{i|8.1 Terminology and Syntax|187}}
* {{i|8.2 Technical Terms|188}}
* {{i|8.3 Proper Names|192}}
* {{i|8.4 On the Use and Disuse of Sanskrit Terms|192}}
* {{i|8.5 Outline of the ''Beacon'' and Khro shul 'jam rdor's Commentary|193}}
* {{i|Abbreviations and Bibliography|193}}
* {{i|Introduction|194}}
* {{i|Topic 1|196}}
* {{i|Topic 2|199}}
* {{i|Topic 3|203}}
* {{i|Topic 4|208}}
* {{i|Topic 5|214}}
* {{i|Topic 6|219}}
* {{i|Topic 7|227}}
* {{i|Conclusion|237}}<br><br>
*{{i|9. STAINLESS LIGHT: A Commentary on the ''Beacon of Certainty''|241}}
* {{i|Topic 1|251}}
* {{i|Topic 2|271}}
* {{i|Topic 3|291}}
* {{i|Topic 4|306}}
* {{i|Topic 5|329}}
* {{i|Topic 6|345}}
* {{i|Topic 7|371}}
* {{i|Conclusion|404}}<br><br>
* {{i|10. The LION'S ROAR PROCLAIMING EXTRINSIC EMPTINESS|415}}<br><br>
*Appendix: Explanatory Diagrams and Tables<br>
*{{i|''Diagram 1'': Conceptuality and True Existence According to Go ram pa and<br>Mipham|429}}
* {{i|''Diagram 2'': Conceptuality and True Existence According to Tsongkhapa|430}}
* {{i|''Table 1'': Mipham's System of Four Pramāṇas|431}}
* {{i|''Table 2'': Traditions, Two-truth Paradigms, and Their Sources|432}}
* {{i|''Table 3'' Pramāṇas and Their Paradigms of Truth and Negation|433}}
* {{i|''Table 4'': The Role of Ascertainment and Conceptuality According to Mipham<br>and Gelug Philosophers|434}}
* {{i|''Notes to Tables''|435}}
* {{i|Glossary of Technical Terms|439}}
* {{i|Notes|461}}
* {{i|Bibliography of Works Consulted|533}}
* {{i|Index|557}}
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Latest revision as of 11:27, 5 August 2020



Mipham's Beacon of Certainty
Book
Book

For centuries, Dzogchen—a special meditative practice to achieve spontaneous enlightenment—has been misinterpreted by both critics and malinformed meditators as being purely mystical and anti-rational. In the grand spirit of Buddhist debate, 19th century Buddhist philosopher Mipham wrote Beacon of Certainty, a compelling defense of Dzogchen philosophy that employs the very logic it was criticized as lacking. Through lucid and accessible textural translation and penetrating analysis, Pettit presents Mipham as one of Tibet's greatest thinkers. (Source: Wisdom Publications)

Citation Pettit, John W. Mipham's Beacon of Certainty: Illuminating the View of Dzogchen, the Great Perfection. Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism. Boston: Wisdom Publications, 1999.


  • Foreword by His Holiness Penor Rinpocheix
  • Acknowledgmentsxi
  • Source Abbreviationsxv
  • Annotations, Diacritics, and Transcriptionxvii

  • 1. INTRODUCTION1
  • 1.1     Mipham Rinpoche and the Beacon of Certainty1
  • 1.2     Outline2
  • 1.3     The Beacon of Certainty: Context and Significance2
  • 1.3.1   Dialectical Philosophy and the Great Perfection2
  • 1.3.2   The Beacons Purpose5
  • 1.3.3   The Beacons Comparative Method6
  • 1.4     Methods and Sources7
  • 1.4.1   Tibetan Language Sources8
  • 1.4.1.1 Editions of the Beacon8
  • 1.4.2   English Language Sources11
  • 1.5     The Contributions of this Work14

  • 2. THE LIFE AND WORKS OF MIPHAM RINPOCHE19
  • 2.1 Accounts of Mipham’s Life22
  • 2.2 The Essential Hagiography by mKhan chen Kun bzang dpal ldan23

  • 4. TIBETAN BUDDHIST TRADITIONS AND THE GREAT PERFECTION71
  • 4.1 The Yarlung Empire and the Introduction of Buddhism72
  • 4.2 Early Nyingma Teachers and Texts74
  • 4.2.1 The Treasure Tradition76
  • 4.2.2 The Great Perfection77
  • 4.2.2.1 Origins77
  • 4.2.2.2 The View of the Great Perfection77
  • 4.2.2.3 The Three Classes of Great Perfection79
  • 4.2.24 Great Perfection in Practice80
  • 4.2.3 The Great Perfection in Comparative Philosophical Texts81
  • 4.2.3.1 Ch’an and the Great Perfection in the bSam gtan mig sgron82
  • 4.2.3.2 Other Early Doxographies84
  • 4.3 The New Translation Period and the Nyingma Tradition86
  • 4.3.1 Rong zom Paṇḍita88
  • 4.3.2 The Rise of Scholasticism91
  • 4.3.3 Klong chen rab 'byams92
  • 4.3.4 Nyingma Monasticism and the Ecumenical Movement (ris med)97
  • 4.3.5 A Nyingma Philosophy?98

  • 5. PHILOSOPHICAL DISTINCTIONS OF MIPHAM'S THOUGHT101
  • 5.1 The Gelug Philosophical Tradition101
  • 5.2 Theory, Practice, and Ultimate Reality104
  • 5.3 Valid Cognition and Philosophical Analysis107
  • 5.4 The Philosophy of Extrinsic Emptiness111
  • 5.5 Mipham’s Interpretation of Extrinsic Emptiness and Tathāgatagarbha114
  • 5.6 Mipham’s Position on the Tathāgatagarbha117

  • 6. The Beacon of Certainty125
  • 6.1 Recapitulation of Earlier Discussions125
  • 6.2 The Topics of the Beacon126
  • 6.2.1 The Beacon and Tsongkhapa’s Eight Great Difficult Points128
  • 6.2.2 Some Observations on Topics 5, 6, and 7130
  • 6.3 View, Meditative Practice, and Ultimate Reality in the Beacon133
  • 6.3.I Anupakṣas and Pūrvapakṣas: An Overview133
  • 6.3.1.1 Essential Issues and Arguments in Topics 1, 3, and 4134
  • 6.3.1.2 Go ram pa's Analysis of View and Meditation in the TSB136
  • 6.3.1.2.1 Go ram pa on the Ultimate View137
  • 6.3.1.2.2 Go ram pa on Meditative Practice 139
  • 6.3.2 Topic 1: Philosophical View and Rational Negation141
  • 6.3.2.1 Tsongkhapa on the Negandum and Its Substratum141
  • 6.3.2.2 Mipham's Theory of Negation144
  • 6.3.2.2.1 Negation and the Definition of the Ultimate144
  • 6.3.2.2.2 Mipham's Analysis of Negation in the MAZL146
  • 6.3.2.2.3 Mipham's Theory of the Ultimate: Gnosis and Coalescence151
  • 6.3.3 Topics 3 and 4: Tsongkhapa and Mipham on Modal Apprehension and
    Analytical Reasoning
    157
  • 6.3.3.1 Tsongkhapa on the Role of Conceptuality in Meditation157
  • 6.3.3.1.1 Yon tan rgya mtsho on Modal Apprehension and Analysis160

  • 7. ASCERTAINMENT (nges pa) AND CERTAINTY (nges shes):
    SOME CONCLUSIONS
    169
  • 7.1 Mipham’s Place in Tibetan Philosophy182
  • 7.2 Philosophical Texts and Human Relatedness184

  • 8. THE TRANSLATION OF THE Beacon of Certainty187
  • 8.1 Terminology and Syntax187
  • 8.2 Technical Terms188
  • 8.3 Proper Names192
  • 8.4 On the Use and Disuse of Sanskrit Terms192
  • 8.5 Outline of the Beacon and Khro shul 'jam rdor's Commentary193
  • Abbreviations and Bibliography193
  • Introduction194
  • Topic 1196
  • Topic 2199
  • Topic 3203
  • Topic 4208
  • Topic 5214
  • Topic 6219
  • Topic 7227
  • Conclusion237

  • 9. STAINLESS LIGHT: A Commentary on the Beacon of Certainty241
  • Topic 1251
  • Topic 2271
  • Topic 3291
  • Topic 4306
  • Topic 5329
  • Topic 6345
  • Topic 7371
  • Conclusion404

  • 10. The LION'S ROAR PROCLAIMING EXTRINSIC EMPTINESS415

  • Appendix: Explanatory Diagrams and Tables
  • Diagram 1: Conceptuality and True Existence According to Go ram pa and
    Mipham
    429
  • Diagram 2: Conceptuality and True Existence According to Tsongkhapa430
  • Table 1: Mipham's System of Four Pramāṇas431
  • Table 2: Traditions, Two-truth Paradigms, and Their Sources432
  • Table 3 Pramāṇas and Their Paradigms of Truth and Negation433
  • Table 4: The Role of Ascertainment and Conceptuality According to Mipham
    and Gelug Philosophers
    434
  • Notes to Tables435
  • Glossary of Technical Terms439
  • Notes461
  • Bibliography of Works Consulted533
  • Index557