Nagarjuna's Advice for Buddhists

Geshe Sopa's Explanation of Letter to a Friend

Lhundub Sopa, Beth Newman

• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Year: 2023
• Print ISBN:
  9781614297857
• eBook ISBN:
  9781614298090
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Eastern Philosophy

A modern commentary by a beloved Tibetan teacher on a classical Indian Buddhist text and an introduction to Buddhism by one of the tradition’s most famous authors. A teaching on how to live a Buddhist life in contemporary society.

Letter to A Friend, by the great Indian philosopher Nagarjuna, is one of the best-known introductions to Buddhism in classical Indian Buddhist literature. In this warm and generous commentary, one of the twentieth century’s most beloved teachers, Geshe Lhundup Sopa, shows how Nagarjuna’s advice on how to follow Buddhist ethics while living fully in the world speaks just as clearly to us today as it did to the Indian king for whom it was composed.

Nagarjuna maintained that all Buddhists can embody the full teachings of the Buddha. Therefore, this book covers topics from simple virtues to the most profound truths of emptiness. Expertly compiled by his student, scholar Beth Newman, from talks given over a number of years, the commentary brings this ancient Buddhist teaching to a modern audience.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• 1. Why Read This Book?
• 2. General Advice
• 3. Advice Primarily for Laypeople
• 4. The Way to Eliminate Desire
• 5. The Qualities That Accompany Wisdom
• 6. Advice for People Who Desire Spiritual Goals
• 7. The Practices to Attain Spiritual Goals
• 8. Using Your Human Life
• 9. Developing Aversion to Samsara
• 10. Aspects of the Path Common to All Vehicles
• 11. The Uncommon Path
• Appendixes
• Glossary
• Notes
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Authors
• Copyright