The Refutation of the Self in Indian Buddhism Candrakirti on the Selflessness of Persons

Since the Buddha did not fully explain the theory of persons that underlies his teaching, in later centuries a number of different interpretations were developed. This book presents the interpretation by the celebrated Indian Buddhist philosopher, Candrakirti (ca. 570–650 C.E.). Candrakirti’s fullest statement of the theory is included in his Autocommentary on the Introduction to the Middle Way (Madhyamakavatarabhasya), which is, along with his Introduction to the Middle Way (Madhyamakavatara ), among the central treatises that present the Prasavgika account of the Madhyamaka (Middle Way) philosophy. In this book, Candrakirti’s most complete statement of his theory of persons is translated and provided with an introduction and commentary that present a careful philosophical analysis of Candrakirti’s account of the selflessness of persons. This analysis is both philologically precise and analytically sophisticated. The book is of interest to scholars of Buddhism generally and especially to scholars of Indian Buddhist philosophy.

1. Introduction 2. Translation 3. Commentary 4. Appendix: Vasubandhu’s "Refutation" and the central Philosophical questions about which Indian Buddhist Theories of persons are concerned

James Duerlinger teaches in the Philosophy Department at the University of Iowa, USA. His research interests include the philosophy of religion, ancient Greek philosophy, and Indian Buddhist philosophy.