The Collected Topics of Epistemology (bsdus grwa) is the first text studied in the monastic education system of the Gelugpa school of Tibetan Buddhism. This foundational text provides students with the basics of both the system of debate that is central to the entire monastic educational curriculum and the layout of existence according to the Indian Sūtra School. The Gomang College of Drepung Monastery’s curriculum uses The Collected Topics text written by Ngag-wang-tra-shi (1678-1738), one of the most prominent disciples of Jam-yang-zhay-pa (1648-1721), Gomang’s principal textbook author. Ngag-wang-tra-shi’s Collected Topics presents in an abbreviated way the process of oral debate practiced daily in the Gelugpa education system. It does so by drawing from Dharmakīrti’s (c. 600-660) Commentary on Dignāga’s “Compilation of Valid Cognition.”

This volume contains chapter 21 of Ngag-wang-tra-shi’s text.