Expanding Wisdom and Compassion
Through Study and Contemplation
The Translation Project focuses on Tibetan expositions of Four Great Indian Books, together with a related theme of the Mind of Clear Light. The Four Great Indian books are essential Buddhist texts that form the basis of philosophical study and contemplation in Tibetan Monastic Colleges. They are Maitreya’s Ornament for the Clear Realizations, Nāgārjuna’s Fundamental Treatise on the Middle Called "Wisdom," Chandrakīrti’s Supplement to (Nāgārjuna’s) "Treatise on the Middle," and Dharmakīrti’s Commentary on (Dignāga’s) "Compilation of Valid Cognition."
The Four Great Indian Books are taught through levels of Tibetan textbooks, exploring detailed issues through exposition and debate. Each Tibetan Monastic College has its preferred textbook author; UMA translations focus on Jam-yang-shay-pa (1648-1721) together with commentaries by the Mongolian author Ngag-wang-pal-dan (b. 1767) and others. To date UMA has published forty-five annotated translations of textbook literature in English and Chinese (free for downloading), including three translations of a treatise on the Mind of Clear Light by the Nying-ma scholar Mi-pam-gya-tsho (1846-1912).
UMA's publications offer a wide-ranging, researched, and explorative body of work about these indispensable repositories of Buddhist philosophical thought so profound that it becomes meditative contemplation of the nature of reality and a call to compassion. A feature of the Project is the usage of consistent vocabulary and format throughout the translations which enhances comprehension.p>
-- Jeffrey Hopkins
Recent Publications
2022
- Kön-chog-jig-may-wang-po’s Commentary on Jang-kya Röl-pay-dor-je’s “Song of the View, Identifying Mama”: Lamp for the Words. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Jam-yang-zhay-pa’s Great Exposition of Tenets: Introduction to the Middle Way School with Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s Annotations: In consultation with Lo-sang-gyal-tshan. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Emptiness in the Sutric-Autonomy Middle Way School of Buddhism With Jig-me-dam-chö-gya-tsho’s Commentary. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- 昂望班登《〈現觀莊嚴論〉辭義解:慈尊口訣》第二品:道智、第三品:基智 ("Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s The Meaning of the Words of Maitreya’s Ornament for the Clear Realizations: Chapters Two and Three: Knowers of Paths and Knowers of Bases", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- Reasoning From Effects, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Illuminating a Little the Presentation of Signs and Reasonings: Beautiful Golden Garland of Eloquence, 3. By Katherine Rogers.
2021
2020
- Newly Revised and Expanded By One-Third! Buddha's Answer Dispelling Contradiction in the Sutras: Brief Indication: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Interpretable and the Definitive: 3. By William Magee.
- 昂望班登所著《〈現觀莊嚴論〉辭義解:慈尊口訣》第一品:能表一切相智 ("Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s The Meaning of the Words of Maitreya’s Ornament for the Clear Realizations: Chapter One: Characterizing Omniscience", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin. April.
- Tsong-kha-pa’s Revised Presentation of Compatibly Appearing Subjects in The Essence of Eloquence with Jig-me-dam-chö-gya-tsho’s Commentary, 7. By Jeffrey Hopkins. April.
- How Can a Conclusion Be Drawn From a Sign? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Illuminating a Little the Presentation of Signs and Reasonings: Beautiful Golden Garland of Eloquence, 1. By Katherine Rogers. April.
- What Constitutes a Correct Reason? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Illuminating a Little the Presentation of Signs and Reasonings: Beautiful Golden Garland of Eloquence, 2. By Katherine Rogers. March.
- Classes and Texts in the Curriculum of Gomang College of Drepung Monastic University. By Tshe-wang-trin-lay, Lo-sang-gyal-tshan, and Jongbok Yi. Translated by Jeffrey Hopkins. February.
- Decisive Analysis about How Are Hearers and Solitary Realizers Born From Buddhas? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle, 3. By Jules Levinson. January.
2019
- Questioning the Buddha About Contradictions in His Teachings: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Interpretable and the Definitive: 2. New edition by William Magee and Jeffrey Hopkins. October, 2019.
- Finalizing the Meaning of Autonomist and Consequentialist: Tsong-kha-pa's Great Exposition of Special Insight with the Four Interwoven Annotations: Compatibly Appearing Subjects, 6. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- A Guide to Tsong-kha-pa’s “Middle-length Exposition of Special Insight”: An Abbreviated version of Tri-jang Lo-sang-ye-she-tan-dzin-gya-tsho’s Topical Outline (sa bcad). By Jeffrey Hopkins, edited by Paul G. Hackett. Spring, 2019.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義 "The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Seven", Chinese Translation. By Patrick Lin. Winter, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Maitreya's Ornament for the Clear Realizations)
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義 "The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Eight", Chinese Translation.By Patrick Lin. Winter, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Maitreya's Ornament for the Clear Realizations)
- What is a Consequentialist? Tsong-kha-pa's Great Exposition of Special Insight with the Four Interwoven Annotations: Compatibly Appearing Subjects, 5. By Jeffrey Hopkins. Winter, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Chandrakirti's Supplement to the Middle Way: Napper)
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義 "The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Six", Chinese Translation. By Patrick Lin. Winter, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Maitreya's Ornament for the Clear Realizations)
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義 "The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Five", Chinese Translation. By Patrick Lin. Winter, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Maitreya's Ornament for the Clear Realizations)
- Chandrakīrti Undermines Bhāvaviveka’s Assertion of Autonomy: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six, Compatibly Appearing Subjects, 3. By Jeffrey Hopkins. Fall, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Chandrakīrti’s Supplement to (Nāgārjuna’s) “Treatise on the Middle”)
- Two Puzzles: What Do "Own-Character" and "Imputational Natures" Mean?. By Jeffrey Hopkins. Fall, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Tenets)
- Newly Revised and Expanded! Empty of What? Imputational Natures as Character-Non-Natures: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Interpretable and the Definitive: 4. By William Magee. Fall, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Tenets)
- Why Did Dharmakīrti Write the Commentary? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Decisive Analysis of (Dharmakīrti’s) “Commentary on Valid Cognition”: Introduction 1. By Hiroshi Nemoto. Summer, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Dharmakirti's Commentary on Valid Cognition)
- Subtle Mind and Primordial Wisdom; Mi-pam-gya-tsho’s Analysis of Fundamental Mind chapter 3, with oral commentary by Khetsun Sangpo. With the Tibetan. By Jeffrey Hopkins. Summer, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Fundamental Mind)
- Getting into Emptiness. Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six, Introduction -- Meaning of “The Manifest,” Vessels, Nāgārjuna’s Lives, and Sameness. By Craig Preston. Spring, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Chandrakīrti’s Supplement to (Nāgārjuna’s) “Treatise on the Middle”)
- 蔣揚協巴之深奧地圖—自續派 "Easy Access to Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Maps of the Profound: Middle Way School, with English Introduction and the Khalkha Mongolian Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s Annotations". By Su-an Lin. Spring, 2018. (Click here to view the UMA Archive on Chandrakīrti’s Supplement)
2018
Categorized List of Books available for free download
- Maitreya's Ornament for Clear Realizations, with the titles of the Eight Categories and Seventy Topics indicated. By Jeffrey Hopkins & Jongbok Yi.
- Ngag-wang-pal-dan's Explanation of the Treatise “Ornament for the Clear Realizations”: accessible commentary with elaborate outline. By Jeffrey Hopkins & Jongbok Yi.
- Kön-chog-jig-may-wang-po’s Presentation of the Grounds and Paths: Beautiful Ornament of the Three Vehicles: five paths of the three vehicles and the ten Bodhisattva grounds of the Great Vehicle. By Elizabeth Napper.
- Traversing the Spiritual Path: Kön-chog-jig-may-wang-po’s Presentation of the Grounds and Paths: with expansive oral commentary by Dan-ma-lo-chö and Lo-sang-gyal-tshan. By Elizabeth Napper.
- The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics. By Jeffrey Hopkins & Jongbok Yi.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義:(第⼀章) ("The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter One", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義:(第二章) ("The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Two", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義:(第三章) ("The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Three", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義:(第三章) ("The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Four", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義:(第三章) ("The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Five", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義:(第三章) ("The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Six", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義:(第三章) ("The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Seven", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 般若波羅蜜多經隱義教授, 蔣揚協巴著七十義:(第三章) ("The Hidden Teaching of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutras, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Seventy Topics: Chapter Eight", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 昂望班登所著《〈現觀莊嚴論〉辭義解:慈尊口訣》第一品:能表一切相智 ("Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s The Meaning of the Words of Maitreya’s Ornament for the Clear Realizations: Chapter One: Characterizing Omniscience", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- 昂望班登《〈現觀莊嚴論〉辭義解:慈尊口訣》第二品:道智、第三品:基智 ("Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s The Meaning of the Words of Maitreya’s Ornament for the Clear Realizations: Chapters Two and Three: Knowers of Paths and Knowers of Bases", Chinese Translation). By Patrick Lin.
- Vocabulary for Studying Maitreya’s Ornament for the Clear Realizations: Tibetan-Sanskrit-English. By Jeffrey Hopkins & Jongbok Yi.
- Mind Map Presentations of the Eight Categories and Seventy Topics and of the 173 Aspects: An interactive study aid. By Jongbok Yi.
- Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Concentrative and Formless Absorptions: What Kind of Body and Mind is Needed for Meditative Absorption? Our Own Positions 1. By Leah Zahler and Daniel Cozort.
- Click here to view the UMA Archive on Maitreya's Ornament for the Clear Realizations
- Sources, Homage, Purpose, and Openers of the Chariot-Ways: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Decisive Analysis of Maitreya's "Ornament for the Clear Realizations": Introduction 1. By Gareth Sparham.
- Emptiness in the Middle Way School of Buddhism: Mutual Reinforcement of Understanding Dependent-Arising and Emptiness: spinoff from Maitreya’s section on the turnings of the wheels of doctrine. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Principles for Practice: the Four Reliances, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Interpretable and the Definitive: 1. By William Magee.
- Questioning the Buddha About Contradictions in His Teachings: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Interpretable and the Definitive: 2. New edition by William Magee and Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Newly Revised and Expanded! Buddha's Answer Dispelling Contradiction in the Sutras: Brief Indication: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Interpretable and the Definitive: 3. By William Magee.
- Newly Revised and Expanded! Empty of What? Imputational Natures as Character-Non-Natures: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Interpretable and the Definitive: 4. By William Magee.
- Two Puzzles: What Do "Own-Character" and "Imputational Natures" Mean? By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- [New translation of Chapter Two of Chandrakīrti’s Clear Words with Tsong-kha-pa’s outline, begun March 2019. By Jeffrey Hopkins. In progress.]
- Kön-chog-jig-may-wang-po’s Commentary on Jang-kya Röl-pay-dor-je’s “Song of the View, Identifying Mama”: Lamp for the Words. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- What Does Chandrakirti Add to Nagarjuna's Treatise?: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Beginning 1. By Jules Levinson.
- How Are Hearers and Solitary Realizers Born From Buddhas? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle, 2. By Jules Levinson.
- Decisive Analysis about How Are Hearers and Solitary Realizers Born From Buddhas? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle, 3. By Jules Levinson.
- New Expanded Edition: Getting into Emptiness. Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six, Introduction -- Meaning of “The Manifest,” Vessels, Nāgārjuna’s Lives, and Sameness. By Craig Preston.
- The Opposite of Emptiness in the Middle Way Autonomy School: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six. By Jongbok Yi.
- The Opposite of Emptiness in the Middle Way Consequence School: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six. By Jongbok Yi.
- Just What Are the Two Truths in the Middle Way Consequence School? Section One. Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six. By Guy Martin Newland.
- Buddhapālita’s Refutation, Bhāvaviveka’s Criticism, and Avalokitavrata’s Commentary: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six, Opposite of the Consequences, 1. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Chandrakīrti Defends Buddhapālita against Bhāvaviveka: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six, Opposite of the Consequences, 2. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Chandrakīrti Undermines Bhāvaviveka’s Assertion of Autonomy: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of the Middle: Chapter Six, Compatibly Appearing Subjects, 3. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- What is a Consequentialist? Tsong-kha-pa's Great Exposition of Special Insight with the Four Interwoven Annotations: Compatibly Appearing Subjects, 5. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Finalizing the Meaning of Autonomist and Consequentialist: Tsong-kha-pa's Great Exposition of Special Insight with the Four Interwoven Annotations: Compatibly Appearing Subjects, 6. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Tsong-kha-pa’s Revised Presentation of Compatibly Appearing Subjects in The Essence of Eloquence with Jig-me-dam-chö-gya-tsho’s Commentary, 7. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Exposing Bhāvaviveka’s Assertion of Inherent Existence, Compatibly Appearing Subjects 8. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Emptiness in the Sutric-Autonomy Middle Way School of Buddhism With Jig-me-dam-chö-gya-tsho’s Commentary. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Click here to view the UMA Archive on Chandrakīrti’s Supplement to (Nāgārjuna’s) “Treatise on the Middle”
- Topography of the Tibetan Intellectual World, and How to Debate It: Ngag-wang-tra-shi’s The Collected Topics of Epistemology, Volume 1, Chapters 1-12. By Steven Weinberger.
- The Difference Between Realizing and Not Realizing: Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Presentation of Awareness and Knowledge, 1. By Elizabeth Napper.
- How Can a Conclusion Be Drawn From a Sign? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Illuminating a Little the Presentation of Signs and Reasonings: Beautiful Golden Garland of Eloquence, 1. By Katherine Rogers.
- What Constitutes a Correct Reason? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Illuminating a Little the Presentation of Signs and Reasonings: Beautiful Golden Garland of Eloquence, 2. By Katherine Rogers.
- Reasoning From Effects, Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Illuminating a Little the Presentation of Signs and Reasonings: Beautiful Golden Garland of Eloquence, 3. By Katherine Rogers.
- Click here to view the UMA Archive on Dharmakīrti’s Commentary on (Dignāga’s) “Compilation of Valid Cognition”
- Why Did Dharmakīrti Write the Commentary? Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Decisive Analysis of (Dharmakīrti’s) “Commentary on Valid Cognition”: Introduction 1. By Hiroshi Nemoto.
- Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Presentation of Tenets: Lion’s Roar Eradicating Error, Precious Lamp Illuminating the Genuine Path to Omniscience with Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s Word Commentary. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Great Exposition of Tenets on the Two Truths in the Consequence School with Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s Annotations: Sections 1-5. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- 蔣揚協巴之深奧地圖—中觀宗簡介 (1) ("Easy Access to Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Maps of the Profound: Middle Way School, with English Introduction and the Khalkha Mongolian Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s Annotations"). By Su-an Lin.
- 蔣揚協巴之深奧地圖—自續派 ("Easy Access to Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Maps of the Profound: Autonomy School, with English Introduction and the Khalkha Mongolian Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s Annotations"). By Su-an Lin.
- 蔣揚協巴之深奧地圖—應成派 ("Easy Access to Jam-yang-shay-pa’s Maps of the Profound: Consequence School, with English Introduction and the Khalkha Mongolian Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s Annotations"). By Su-an Lin.
- Jam-yang-zhay-pa’s Great Exposition of Tenets: Introduction to the Middle Way School with Ngag-wang-pal-dan’s Annotations: In consultation with Lo-sang-gyal-tshan. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Click here to view the UMA Archive on Tenets
- Classes and Texts in the Curriculum of Gomang College of Drepung Monastic University. By Tshe-wang-trin-lay, Lo-sang-gyal-tshan, and Jongbok Yi. Translated by Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Mi-pam-gya-tsho’s Primordial Enlightenment: The Nying-ma View of Luminosity and Emptiness, Analysis of Fundamental Mind, with Oral Commentary by Khetsun Sangpo. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- The Extraordinary View of the Great Completeness; Mi-pam-gya-tsho’s Analysis of Fundamental Mind chapters 1-2, with oral commentary by Khetsun Sangpo. With the Tibetan. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- Subtle Mind and Primordial Wisdom; Mi-pam-gya-tsho’s Analysis of Fundamental Mind chapter 3, with oral commentary by Khetsun Sangpo. With the Tibetan. By Jeffrey Hopkins.
- UMA Institute for Tibetan Studies Tibetan-Sanskrit-English Dictionary (2016). By Jeffrey Hopkins, Paul Hackett, et al.
- Bibliography of Sources for the UMA Institute for Tibetan Studies (March, 2018). By William Magee et al.