The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems

A Tibetan Study of Asian Religious Thought

Thuken Losang Chokyi Nyima, Roger R. Jackson, Lhundub Sopa

• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN:
  9780861714643
• eBook ISBN:
  9780861717866
• Topic: Theology & Religion
• Subtopic: Eastern Philosophy

The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems, by Thuken Losang Chokyi Nyima (1737-1802), is arguably the widest-ranging account of religious philosophies ever written in pre-modern Tibet. Like most Tibetan texts on philosophical systems, this work covers the major schools of India, both Buddhist and non-Buddhist, but then goes on to discuss in detail the entire range of Tibetan traditions as well, with separate chapters on the Nyingma, Kadam, Kagyu, Shije, Sakya, Jonang, Geluk, and Bon schools. Not resting there, Thuken goes on to describe the major traditions of China--Confucian, Daoist, and the multiple varieties of Buddhist--as well as those of Mongolia, Khotan, and even Shambhala. The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems is unusual, too, in its concern not just to describe and analyze doctrines, but to trace the historical development of the various traditions. The Crystal Mirror of Philosophical Systems is an eloquent and erudite presentation exploring the religious history and philosophical systems of an array of Asian Cultures--and offering evidence that the serious and sympathetic study of the history of religions has not been a monopoly of Western scholarship.

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Title Page
• Message from the Dalai Lama
• Special Acknowledgments
• Publisher’s Acknowledgments
• Contents
• General Editor’s Preface
• Translator’s Preface
• Editor’s Introduction
• Map of Tibet
• Technical Note
• The Crystal Mirror: An Excellent Explanation Showing the Sources and Assertions of All Philosophical Systems
• 1. Preface
• 2. Indian Schools
• 3. Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
• 4. The Nyingma Tradition
• 5. The Kadam Tradition
• 6. The Kagyü Tradition
• 7. The Shijé Tradition
• 8. The Sakya Tradition
• 9. The Jonang and Minor Traditions
• 10. The Geluk Tradition 1: Tsongkhapa
• 11. The Geluk Tradition 2: Tsongkhapa’s Successors
• 12. The Geluk Tradition 3: The Distinctiveness of Geluk
• 13. The Bön Tradition
• 14. Chinese Traditions 1: Non-Buddhist
• 15. Chinese Traditions 2: Buddhist
• 16. Central Asian Traditions
• 17. Conclusion
• Appendix: Detailed Outline of Thuken’s Text
• Notes
• Glossary
• Glossary of Enumerations
• Bibliography
• Index
• About the Contribuors
• The Institute of Tibetan Classics
• The Library of Tibetan Classics
• Become a Benefactor of the Library of Tibetan Classics
• About Wisdom Publications
• A Note About Dust Jackets
• Copyright