Thupten Jinpa addresses the enigmatic tension between the philosophy of emptiness and the concept of Buddha-nature, endemic to all Mahayana thought. With the mādhyamaka view of emptiness fairly accessible, a clear presentation of Buddha-nature is required to reconcile the import of various strands in Buddhist thought and textual exegesis. Highlighting five major interpretational schools on the controversial topic of Buddha-nature, Thupten Jinpa helps develop a precise understanding of the purpose and context of such teachings.
Tsongkhapa’s refined stance on the topic of Buddha-nature points to a balanced understanding that doesn’t invalidate such concepts as the luminosity of mind, yet avoids the strongly affirmative climate of shentong presentations. By referring to Gyaltsabje’s writings expounding Tsongkhapa’s views, Thupten Jinpa teases out the implications of their philosophy and the vital importance of a clear understanding of their arguments in order to achieve liberation. The role of hermeneutics is crucial when encountering the broad landscape of interpretive and definitive views presented in the Mahayana literature.