Heart of the Middle Way

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The Heart of the Middle Way (Skt. Madhyamaka-hṛdaya; Tib. དབུ་མའི་སྙིང་པོ་, u mé nying po, Wyl. dbu ma’i snying po) is a Madhyamika treatise by Bhavaviveka. Its auto-commentary is called the Blaze of Reason (Tarkajvālā).

Outline

Chapters 1-3 present Bhavaviveka's own philosophy:[1]

1. Not Relinquishing the Mind of Awakening
2. Taking the Vow of an Ascetic
3. Seeking the Knowledge of Reality

Chapters 4 and 5 present the views of his Buddhist opponents:[1]

4. Introduction to the Analysis of Reality According to the Śrāvakas
5. Introduction to the Analysis of Reality According to the Yogācāras

Chapters 6-9 present the views of his Hindu opponents:[1]

6. Introduction to Reality According to the Sāṃkhyas
7. Analysis of Reality According to the Vaiśeṣikas
8. Analysis of Reality According to the Vedanta
9. Introduction to the Analysis of Reality According to the Mīmāṃsā

The text concludes with a brief account of Jain views of omniscience and four verses in praise of the Buddha.[1]

10. Exposition of the Realization of Omniscience
11. Exposition of Praise and Characteristics

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Eckel, pp. 19-20


Sources

  • Eckel, Malcolm David (2009), Bhaviveka and His Buddhist Opponents: Chapters 4 and 5 of the verses on the Heart of the Middle Way (Madhyamakahrdayakarikah), Harvard University Press
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