english introduction

"nOTES ON ThE aRT OF iNTERPRETAT-iON" -iS AN -iMPORTANT NEW
CONTR-iBUT-iON TO A TRAD-iT-iONAL CLASS OF bUDDH-iST PH-iLOSOPH-iCAL
L-iTERATURE WH-iCH GRAPPLES W-iTh A D-iFF-iCULT QUEST-iON ThAT EVERY
GREAT REL-iG-iON MUST ADDRESSH WHEN ARE ThE WORDS OF ThE tEACHER
MEANT TO BE TAKEN L-iTERALLY/ AND WHEN ARE ThEY TO BE
-iNTERPRETED--WHEN ARE ThEY MEANT ONLY F-iGURAT-iVELY?

tHE PRESENT D-iSCUSS-iON OF Th-iS QUEST-iON -iS A BOOK WH-iCH NEARLY
NEVER SAW PUBL-iCAT-iON.  iT -iS BASED ON A SER-iES OF TRANSCR-iPTS AND
TAPE RECORD-iNGS MADE DUR-iNG TEACH-iNGS DEL-iVERED ON ThE ART OF
-iNTERPRETAT-iON BY ThE aBBOT eMER-iTUS OF sERA jEY t-iBETAN mONAST-iC
uN-iVERS-iTYH sERJEY kENSUR r-iNPOCHE/ gEShE lOBSANG wANGCHUK.

kENSUR r-iNPOCHE PASSED AWAY OVER 20 YEARS AGO/ AND -iT -iS AN
-iND-iCAT-iON OF H-iS GREAT -iNS-iGHT -iNTO Th-iS SUBJECT ThAT A GROUP OF
H-iS STUDENTS/ EM-iNENT SCHOLARS -iN ThE-iR OWN R-iGHT/ HAVE WORKED
TOGEThER TO BR-iNG OUT Th-iS VOLUME.  w-iThOUT ThE-iR EFFORTS/ ThESE
UN-iQUE TEACH-iNGS WOULD HAVE BEEN LOST TO FUTURE GENERAT-iONS; ThE
TEXT -iS/ ThEN/ AN UNEXPECTED TREASURE TO ThE WORLD.


aBOUT ThE aUThOR

tHE OPEN-iNG SECT-iON OF "nOTES ON ThE aRT OF iNTERPRETAT-iON"
DESCR-iBES ThE EXEMPLARY L-iFE OF -iTS AUThOR/ sERJEY kENSUR r-iNPOCHE/
gEShE lOBSANG wANGCHUK.  hERE AGA-iN WE ARE FORTUNATE ThAT H-iS
SURV-iV-iNG D-iSC-iPLES HAVE COLLABORATED TO PRESENT A V-iV-iD AND
PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF ThE R-iGORS ThAT kENSUR r-iNPOCHE UNDERWENT -iN
H-iS OWN LONG STUD-iES TO ACQU-iRE A KNOWLEDGE OF ThE TRAD-iT-iONAL
CLASS-iCS OF bUDDH-iSM/ AND OF H-iS SELFLESS EFFORTS TO PRESERVE AND
TRANSM-iT Th-iS KNOWLEDGE DUR-iNG ThE D-iFF-iCULT YEARS FOLLOW-iNG ThE
-iNVAS-iON OF t-iBET.

tHE r-iNPOCHE WAS BORN NEAR ThE ABBEY OF t-iKLE kARDZE -iN kHAM/
EASTERN t-iBET/ -iN 1901.  aT ThE AGE OF SEVEN HE ENTERED Th-iS
MONASTERY AND BEGAN H-iS STUDY OF ThE TRAD-iT-iONAL bUDDH-iST
CURR-iCULUM/ START-iNG W-iTh READ-iNG/ WR-iT-iNG/ AND ThE MEMOR-iZAT-iON OF
ThE -iMPORTANT BAS-iC TEXTS.

hE ShOWED AN EXTRAORD-iNARY APT-iTUDE EVEN AT Th-iS EARLY AGE/ AND
BEFORE LONG HAD COMM-iTTED OVER A DOZEN MAJOR WORKS TO MEMORY.  hE
D-iSPLAYED A NATURAL -iNTEREST -iN ThE SUBJECT OF VOWED MORAL-iTY AND/
AFTER STUD-iES -iN Th-iS SUBJECT/ TOOK ThE VOWS OF A NOV-iCE MONK AND
KEPT ThEM ASS-iDUOUSLY.

aT 15 YEARS OF AGE/ r-iNPOCHE FOLLOWED ThE FOOTSTEPS OF MANY
PREV-iOUS GENERAT-iONS OF t-iBETAN bUDDH-iST SAGES AND UNDERTOOK ThE
LONG AND D-iFF-iCULT JOURNEY TO lHASA/ ThE NAT-iONAL CAP-iTAL/ -iN ORDER
TO PURSUE H-iGHER REL-iG-iOUS STUD-iES AT ONE OF ThE COUNTRY'S ThREE
GREAT SEATS OF SP-iR-iTUAL LEARN-iNG.

hERE r-iNPOCHE ENTERED ThE tREHOR cOLLEGE OF sERA jEY mONAST-iC
uN-iVERS-iTY.  aGA-iN HE WAS AN EXEMPLARY STUDENT/ CLOSELY FOLLOW-iNG
ThE REQU-iRED COURSE OF STUDY AND PUBL-iC PH-iLOSOPH-iCAL DEBATE/
ALWAYS RESPECTFUL AND ATTENT-iVE OF H-iS TEACHERS/ EXCELL-iNG -iN ThE
FREQUENT EXAM-iNAT-iONS.

hE STOOD FOR ThE r-iKCHUNG DEGREE/ MARK-iNG SOME TEN YEARS OF
SUCCESSFUL PH-iLOSOPH-iCAL STUD-iES/ AND WAS AWARDED ThE H-iGHEST
MARKS.  h-iS PERSONAL L-iFESTYLE WAS MARKED BY S-iMPL-iC-iTY AND A
D-iSREGARD FOR WORLDLY D-iSTRACT-iONS.

aS HE PASSED ThROUGH ThE VAR-iOUS LEVELS OF ThE TRAD-iT-iONAL bUDDH-iST
PH-iLOSOPH-iCAL SCHOOLS OF ANC-iENT iND-iA/ r-iNPOCHE CONT-iNUED TO
MEMOR-iZE VOLUME UPON VOLUME OF ThE OR-iG-iNAL WORKS/ REC-iT-iNG ThEM
LATE -iNTO ThE N-iGHT UNT-iL ThEY WERE PERFECTED -iN H-iS M-iND.  aMONG
ThESE WORKS WAS ThE "eSSENCE OF gOOD eXPLANAT-iON" (lEGS-BShAD
SNY-iNG-PO)/ COMPOSED BY tSONGKAPA ThE gREAT/ lOBSANG dRAKPA (RjE
tZONG-KHA-PA BlO-BZANG GRAGS-PA)/ WHO L-iVED -iN ThE 14Th CENTURY. 
tH-iS TEXT -iS CONS-iDERED ThE DEF-iN-iT-iVE TREATMENT OF ThE ART OF
-iNTERPRETAT-iON/ AND -iS ThE BAS-iS FOR r-iNPOCHE'S EXPLANAT-iON HERE.

iN H-iS 22ND YEAR/ r-iNPOCHE TOOK ThE VOWS OF A FULL MONK FROM h-iS
hOL-iNESS ThE xiiiTh dALA-i lAMA.  hE GA-iNED A REPUTAT-iON FOR KEEP-iNG
H-iS VOWS FA-iThFULLY/ AND BEFORE LONG HAD ATTRACTED STUDENTS OF H-iS
OWN.  aS ThE T-iME APPROACHED FOR H-iM TO STAND FOR H-iS r-iKCHEN
DEGREE/ WH-iCH -iS TAKEN SEVERAL YEARS PR-iOR TO ThE COVETED gEShE
DEGREE/ AN -iNC-iDENT OCCURRED WH-iCH TYP-iF-iED r-iNPOCHE'S ATT-iTUDE
TOWARDS H-iS REL-iG-iOUS STUD-iES.

iN ThE SOMET-iMES -iNTENSELY COMPET-iT-iVE ATMOSPHERE OF ThE PUBL-iC
PH-iLOSOPH-iCAL DEBATES AND ADVANCED STUD-iES/ r-iNPOCHE AND A
CLASSMATE HAD AMASSED NEARLY -iDENT-iCAL MARKS TO QUAL-iFY FOR ThE
H-iGHEST POS-iT-iON -iN ThE CLASS.  tHE DEAN OF ThE COLLEGE CAME TO ThE
TWO AND PROPOSED ThAT ThEY DRAW STRAWS TO DEC-iDE ThE W-iNNER.  a
SP-iR-iTED D-iSCUSS-iON ENSUED -iN WH-iCH EACH STUDENT ENDEAVORED TO
CONV-iNCE ThE OThER ONE TO ACCEPT F-iRST HONORS.  r-iNPOCHE F-iNALLY
PREVA-iLED/ OFFER-iNG Th-iS ONCE--iN-A-L-iFET-iME HONOR TO H-iS FELLOW
STUDENT/ AND DEMONSTRAT-iNG ThAT HE HAD GRASPED ThE TRUE -iNTENT OF
H-iS SP-iR-iTUAL TRA-iN-iNG.

iN 1939/ AT ThE AGE OF 38/ r-iNPOCHE COMPLETED H-iS JOURNEY OF SOME
TWO DECADES' STUDY ThROUGH ThE TRAD-iT-iONAL COURSE OF ThE F-iVE GREAT
SUBJECTS OF ANC-iENT bUDDH-iSM.  hE STOOD FOR ThE EXHAUST-iNG PUBL-iC
EXAM-iNAT-iONS REQU-iRED FOR ThE DEGREE OF gEShE--mASTER OF
bUDDH-iSM---iN -iTS H-iGHEST FORM/ ThE hLARAMPA.  tHE LEVEL OF
UNDERSTAND-iNG HE D-iSPLAYED/ UNDER GRUEL-iNG QUEST-iON-iNG FROM ThE
COUNTRY'S LEAD-iNG SCHOLARS/ WAS DESCR-iBED AS UNPRECEDENTED.  hE WAS
AWARDED ThE H-iGHEST MARKS EVEN AMONG ThE hLARAMPAS.

aS A hLARAMPA gEShE/ r-iNPOCHE HAD NOW QUAL-iF-iED FOR ENTRANCE TO
gYUMEY tANTR-iC cOLLEGE/ ONE OF ThE TWO GREAT -iNST-iTUT-iONS OF ThE
COUNTRY DEVOTED SOLELY TO ThE H-iGHLY ADVANCED/ SECRET TEACH-iNGS OF
bUDDH-iSM.  w-iTh-iN A FEW YEARS HE WAS AGA-iN AWARDED H-iGHEST HONORS
-iN ThE TRAD-iT-iONAL F-iNAL EXAM-iNAT-iONS.

dUR-iNG ThE COURSE OF H-iS STUD-iES/ AND ThROUGHOUT H-iS L-iFE/ kENSUR
r-iNPOCHE STUD-iED FROM AND FORMED A DEEP RELAT-iONSh-iP W-iTh ThE
LEAD-iNG REL-iG-iOUS TEACHERS OF H-iS T-iMES.  tHESE -iNCLUDED/ AMONG
MANY OThERS/ h-iS hOL-iNESS ThE xiiiTh dALA-i lAMA; dECHEN nY-iNGPO/
ThE GREAT pABONGKA r-iNPOCHE; h-iS eM-iNENCE yONGZ-iN gATR-i l-iNGTRUL
dORJE cHANG/ hOLDER OF ThE tHRONE OF gANDEN AND tUTOR TO h-iS
hOL-iNESS ThE xiwTh dALA-i lAMA; h-iS eM-iNENCE yONGZ-iN tR-iJANG dORJE
cHANG/ tUTOR TO h-iS hOL-iNESS ThE xiwTh dALA-i lAMA; AND h-iS hOL-iNESS
ThE xiwTh dALA-i lAMA H-iMSELF.

r-iNPOCHE EXCELLED -iN H-iS DA-iLY SP-iR-iTUAL PRACT-iCE AS WELL. 
wHATEVER PR-iNC-iPLES OF MORAL BEHAV-iOR AND OThER SP-iR-iTUAL KNOWLEDGE
HE WAS EXPOSED TO HE -iMMED-iATELY -iNCORPORATED -iNTO H-iS PERSONAL
L-iFE.  hE SUCCEEDED -iN BECOM-iNG SP-iR-iTUALLY SELF-CONTROLLED/ HUMBLE
AND MED-iTAT-iVELY QU-iET.  hE STROVE TO ACH-iEVE ThE PERFECT-iON OF
SAT-iSFACT-iON/ W-iTh FEW MATER-iAL WANTS.  hE WATCHED H-iS VOWS CLOSELY
AND WAS FRANK AND -iMMED-iATE -iN ADM-iTT-iNG ThE SL-iGHTEST MORAL
FA-iLURES HE M-iGHT -iNCUR/ STR-iCTLY ATTEND-iNG ThE B-iMONThLY
CONFESS-iON CEREMONY FOR MONKS.

kENSUR r-iNPOCHE DED-iCATED H-iMSELF TO PRESERV-iNG AND PASS-iNG ON ThE
TEACH-iNGS AND WAY OF L-iFE OF ThE ANC-iENT BOOKS W-iTh ThE SAME
DEVOT-iON HE HAD ShOWN -iN MASTER-iNG ThEM.  eXCEPT FOR A FEW ShORT
PER-iODS HE TAUGHT OThERS ON A DA-iLY BAS-iS FOR OVER 50 YEARS/ AND
Th-iS -iS CONS-iDERED H-iS GREATEST CONTR-iBUT-iON.

r-iNPOCHE ALSO GAVE H-iS T-iME AND TALENTS SELFLESSLY TO ThE PROPER
ADM-iN-iSTRAT-iON OF ThE MONAST-iC UN-iVERS-iT-iES WHERE HE HAD STUD-iED. 
dUR-iNG H-iS EARLY FORT-iES HE SERVED AS ThE DEAN OF BOTh gYUMEY
tANTR-iC cOLLEGE AND sERA jEY mONAST-iC uN-iVERS-iTY.  hE UPHELD ThE
CENTUR-iES-LONG TRAD-iT-iONS OF SP-iR-iTUAL STUDY AND DEBATE AMONG ThE
MONKS OF ThESE -iNST-iTUT-iONS W-iTh CARE AND COMPASS-iON.

iN 1954/ AT ThE AGE OF 53/ r-iNPOCHE WAS GRANTED ThE RARE HONOR OF
BE-iNG SELECTED BY h-iS hOL-iNESS ThE dALA-i lAMA TO SERVE AS aBBOT OF
sERA jEY.  hE WORKED HARD TO MA-iNTA-iN ThE COURSE OF STUDY AND
PHYS-iCAL FAC-iL-iT-iES OF ThE MONASTERY/ NEVER COMPLA-iN-iNG EVEN -iN ThE
MOST D-iFF-iCULT T-iMES/ OR WHEN HE WAS -iLL.

dUR-iNG Th-iS PER-iOD HE PART-iC-iPATED -iN ThE F-iNAL gEShE EXAM-iNAT-iONS
OF ThE YOUNG dALA-i lAMA.  wHEN ThESE TESTS WERE CONCLUDED/ -iN 1959/
r-iNPOCHE TENDERED H-iS RES-iGNAT-iON (HAV-iNG COMPLETED A TYP-iCAL TERM)
AND RECE-iVED h-iS hOL-iNESS' BLESS-iNG.  iN ThE SAME YEAR/ HE WAS
FORCED TO FLEE t-iBET DUR-iNG ThE cH-iNESE -iNVAS-iON/ AND ARR-iVED -iN
iND-iA W-iTh TENS OF ThOUSANDS OF OThER t-iBETANS/ AS A REFUGEE.

nEARLY ALL ThE MONK SCHOLARS WHO SURV-iVED ThE -iNVAS-iON AND FL-iGHT
FROM t-iBET WERE SENT TO A REFUGEE CAMP AT bUXADUAR/ -iN ThE STEAMY
JUNGLES OF NORThEAST iND-iA.  dESP-iTE ThE DEB-iL-iTAT-iNG HEAT/ LACK OF
FOOD/ AND FREQUENT -iLLNESS/ kENSUR r-iNPOCHE GLADLY TOOK -iT UPON
H-iMSELF TO HEAD ThE MONASTERY AGA-iN UNT-iL ThE NEWLY-APPO-iNTED ABBOT
COULD MAKE H-iS OWN ESCAPE FROM t-iBET.

aT bUXADUAR/ r-iNPOCHE REDOUBLED H-iS EFFORTS TO PASS ON ThE
KNOWLEDGE HE HAD GA-iNED.  tHE CAMP HOUSED ACCOMPL-iShED MONKS FROM
MANY D-iFFERENT AREAS AND MONASTER-iES OF t-iBET/ AND BEFORE LONG
LARGE GROUPS WERE ATTEND-iNG EVEN ThE MOST BAS-iC CLASSES ThAT HE
TAUGHT/ -iN ORDER TO BENEF-iT FROM H-iS EXTRAORD-iNARY -iNS-iGHT.

tHE ORDEAL AT ThE bUXADUAR REFUGEE CAMP LASTED A FULL TEN YEARS/
AND MANY OF ThE -iNMATES WERE LOST TO TUBERCULOS-iS AND OThER
D-iSEASES.  iN 1969/ ThE MONKS OF sERA jEY MOVED TO SOUTh iND-iA/
NEAR mYSORE/ WHERE A PARCEL OF FORESTED LAND WAS K-iNDLY PRESENTED
TO ThEM BY ThE gOVERNMENT OF iND-iA/ FOR ThE CONSTRUCT-iON OF A NEW
MONAST-iC UN-iVERS-iTY/ W-iTh ADD-iT-iONAL LAND FOR FARM-iNG.

hERE kENSUR r-iNPOCHE CONT-iNUED A R-iGOROUS SCHEDULE OF TEACH-iNG/
G-iV-iNG -iNSTRUCT-iON ESPEC-iALLY -iN MANY OF ThE SUBJECTS OF ThE SECRET
TRAD-iT-iONS OF bUDDH-iSM.  h-iS B-iOGRAPHY DESCR-iBES AN -iMPORTANT
V-iS-iON HE RECE-iVED -iN Th-iS REGARD.

iN EARLY 1979/ r-iNPOCHE MADE A NUMBER OF COMMENTS TO H-iS -iMMED-iATE
STUDENTS -iND-iCAT-iNG ThAT HE M-iGHT PASS ON BEFORE LONG.  hE CONF-iDED
TO ONE D-iSC-iPLE ThAT HE HAD EXPER-iENCED AN EXTRAORD-iNARY DREAMH A
GREAT ROCK BOULDER WAS PO-iSED ABOVE sERA jEY mONASTERY/ ABOUT TO
CRUSh -iT.  r-iNPOCHE'S -iMMED-iATE REACT-iON WAS TO STAND BETWEEN ThE
HUGE STONE AND ThE MONASTERY/ AND HE ThRUST OUT H-iS ARMS TO STOP
-iT/ KNOW-iNG ThAT HE M-iGHT WELL SACR-iF-iCE H-iS OWN L-iFE TO SAVE sERA
jEY.  aND SO HE D-iD.

iMMED-iATELY AFTER Th-iS DREAM/ r-iNPOCHE'S HEALTh BEGAN TO FA-iL.  bY
jUNE OF 1979 HE WAS QU-iTE WEAK/ AND MADE H-iS F-iNAL EFFORTS TO
EXHORT ThE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS TO KEEP UP A H-iGH LEVEL OF STUDY/
FOLLOW ThE TRAD-iT-iONAL D-iSC-iPL-iNE/ AND TAKE SPEC-iAL CARE TO RESPECT
ONE ANOThER/ ESPEC-iALLY ThE-iR ELDERS.

oN sEPTEMBER 21/ 1979/ sERJEY kENSUR r-iNPOCHE gEShE lOBSANG
wANGCHUK GAVE ThE APPEARANCE OF PASS-iNG ON TO F-iNAL PEACE/
D-iSPLAY-iNG EVEN -iN ThE MOMENT OF H-iS DEATh A NUMBER OF
EXTRAORD-iNARY S-iGNS ThAT SPOKE OF ThE H-iGH LEVEL OF GOODNESS AND
KNOWLEDGE HE HAD REACHED.


aBOUT ThE TEXT

"nOTES ON ThE aRT OF iNTERPRETAT-iON" -iS ACTUALLY A D-iRECT
COMMENTARY ON ThE "eSSENCE OF gOOD eXPLANAT-iON" WH-iCH/ AS MENT-iONED
ABOVE/ WAS COMPOSED BY jE tSONGKAPA SOME 500 YEARS AGO.  tH-iS ROOT
TEXT CONTA-iNS OVER 200 FOL-iOS AND -iS CONS-iDERED SO -iMPORTANT ThAT
MONK SCHOLARS WHO COMM-iT -iT TO MEMORY (AND MANY DO) ARE CUSTOMAR-iLY
HONORED -iN PUBL-iC FOR ThE-iR ACH-iEVEMENT.

tHE WORK F-iRST COVERS ThE TRAD-iT-iONAL PREL-iM-iNAR-iES SUCH AS
DEMONSTRAT-iNG ThE VALUE OF ThE SUBJECT TO BE D-iSCUSSED/ AND ThEN
MOVES ON TO COMMENT ON ThE SAME SECT-iON AT ThE OPEN-iNG OF jE
tSONGKAPA'S TEXT.

tHE STYLE OF COMPOS-iT-iON REFLECTS kENSUR r-iNPOCHE'S OWN STRENGThS
AS A TEXTUAL SCHOLAR/ LOG-iC-iAN/ AND hLARAMPA gEShE W-iTh YEARS OF
EXPER-iENCE -iN PUBL-iC PH-iLOSOPH-iCAL DEBATES.  HE CONCENTRATES ON
D-iFF-iCULT PASSAGES -iN jE tSONGKAPA'S OR-iG-iNAL/ MAK-iNG -iMPORTANT
NOTES ON SUBTLE PR-iNT-iNG ERRORS OF VAR-iOUS ED-iT-iONS/ AND OFTEN
-iNSERT-iNG A D-iALECT-iC ANALYS-iS TO RESOLVE A ThORNY QUEST-iON/ NO
DOUBT DRAW-iNG FROM H-iS ACTUAL EXPER-iENCES -iN MANY HOURS LATE -iNTO
ThE N-iGHT ON ThE DEBAT-iNG GROUNDS OF lHASA.

tHE "nOTES" NEXT DEMONSTRATES ThAT ThE QUEST-iON OF WHAT
PRONOUNCEMENTS OF ThE tEACHER ARE F-iGURAT-iVE/ AND ThEREFORE NEED TO
BE -iNTERPRETED/ MUST NATURALLY BE RESOLVED NOT ONLY BY REFERENCE TO
ThE bUDDHA'S OWN WORDS/ BUT ALSO ThROUGH ThE PROCESS OF LOG-iCAL
REASON-iNG/ FOLLOW-iNG ThE LEAD OF ThE TWO GREAT FOREFAThERS OF ThE
ANC-iENT COMMENTAR-iAL TRAD-iT-iONaH mASTER aSANGA (ã¾Cã¾RYA aSAã¾GA) AND
aRYA nAGARJUNA (ã¾RYA nã¾Gã¾RJUNA).

iN ThE SECT-iONS ThAT FOLLOW/ CONTROVERS-iAL AND SEEM-iNGLY
CONTRAD-iCTORY STATEMENTS BY ThE bUDDHA ARE EXCERPTED AND EXAM-iNED. 
wHAT/ FOR EXAMPLE/ D-iD ThE tEACHER MEAN WHEN HE SA-iD ThAT NOTh-iNG
REALLY EX-iSTS?  dOES Th-iS NOT CONTRAD-iCT OUR D-iRECT/ VAL-iD
EXPER-iENCE?  aND WHAT D-iD HE MEAN WHEN HE SA-iD ThAT Th-iNGS EX-iST
ONLY -iN WORD/ ONLY -iN ThOUGHT?  dO WE NOT OBSERVE OBJECTS ThAT
EX-iST -iNDEPENDENT OF OUR CONCEPT-iONS OF ThEM?  wHAT METhOD CAN WE
USE TO RESOLVE SUCH QUEST-iONS/ AND COME TO A CORRECT AND F-iNAL
CONCLUS-iON?

eVEN -iN OUR OWN T-iMES WE SEE VAR-iOUS -iNTERPRETAT-iONS OF SUCH
PASSAGES FROM ThE bUDDH-iST CLASS-iCS.  tHEY RANGE FROM ThE
R-iD-iCULOUS/ WHERE A LACK OF REAL EX-iSTENCE -iS TAKEN TO BE
NOTh-iNGNESS/ AND A JUST-iF-iCAT-iON FOR D-iSREGARD-iNG MORAL LAWS/ ON UP
TO QU-iTE SUBTLE AND PARTLY CORRECT APPROACHES.  sUCH ARE ThE V-iEWS
OF ThE cH-iTTAMATRA (c-iTTAMã¾TRA) OR "m-iND-oNLY" SCHOOL OF EARLY
bUDDH-iSM/ AS PRESENTED BY mASTER aSANGA -iN ThE 4Th cENTURY.

hERE kENSUR r-iNPOCHE FOLLOWS jE tSONGKAPA -iN MAK-iNG A PRESENTAT-iON
OF ThE -iMPORTANT TENETS OF ThE m-iND-oNLY TRAD-iT-iON/ AND Th-iS -iS -iN
FACT ThE PO-iNT -iN ThE MONAST-iC CURR-iCULUM WHERE A STUDENT MASTERS
Th-iS ONE OF ThE FOUR GREAT ANC-iENT SCHOOLS.  pOS-iT-iONS OF ThE
m-iND-oNLY PH-iLOSOPHERS/ AND DEFENSES OF ThESE POS-iT-iONS/ ARE
EXAM-iNED -iND-iV-iDUALLY -iN EXCERPTS FROM ThE VAR-iOUS WORKS mASTER
aSANGA WROTE--FOR D-iDACT-iC PURPOSES--FROM ThE-iR V-iEWPO-iNT.  tH-iS OF
COURSE LEADS TO ThE m-iND-oNLY -iNTERPRETAT-iON OF WHEN ThE bUDDHA -iS
TO BE -iNTERPRETED RAThER ThAN ACCEPTED L-iTERALLY.

iN ThE CUSTOMARY PROGRESS-iON OF A MONK'S STUD-iES/ ThE V-iEWS OF ThE
H-iGHEST OF ThE FOUR SCHOOLS/ ThE m-iDDLE-wAY OR mADHYAM-iKA
(mADHYã¾M-iKA)/ ARE AT Th-iS PO-iNT BR-iEFLY COVERED/ AS A PREL-iM-iNARY
TO ThE UPCOM-iNG/ MORE DETA-iLED COURSE BASED ON "eNTER-iNG ThE m-iDDLE
wAY" (mADHYã¾MAKã¾VATã¾RA)/ COMPOSED -iN ThE 7Th cENTURY BY mASTER
cHANDRAK-iRT-i (cANDRAKã¾RT-i).

tH-iS CONC-iSE PRESENTAT-iON -iS AGA-iN DRAWN FROM jE tSONGKAPA'S WORK/
WH-iCH TURNS HERE TO ThE m-iDDLE-wAY SCHOOL'S EXPLANAT-iON OF ThE
SEEM-iNG CONTRAD-iCT-iON OF ThE bUDDHA'S WORD.  f-iRST COVERED -iS ThE
ELUC-iDAT-iON BY ThE SCHOOL'S FOUNDER/ aRYA nAGARJUNA/ AND ThEN ThOSE
OF ThE MAJOR PROPONENTS OF ThE SCHOOL'S TWO GREAT D-iV-iS-iONS/ ThE
iNDEPENDENT (sVã¾TANTR-iKA) AND ThE iMPL-iCAT-iON (pRã¾SAã¾G-iKA)
BRANCHES.

iT -iS ThE PRESENTAT-iON OF ThE LATTER BRANCH/ COVERED ONLY VERY
BR-iEFLY -iN kENSUR r-iNPOCHE'S COMMENTARY/ WH-iCH WE LEARN F-iNALLY -iS
ThE TRUE METhOD OF -iNTERPRET-iNG ThE bUDDHA.  tH-iNGS DO NOT REALLY
EX-iST/ BUT Th-iS -iS NOT TO SAY ThAT ThEY DO NOT EX-iST AT ALL/ FOR WE
CAN SEE ThEY DO.  wHAT WE SEE ThOUGH -iS DER-iVED FROM OUR OWN
PERCEPT-iONS/ FORCED UPON US BY OUR PAST MORAL-iTY (OR LACK OF -iT)
AND ATTENDANT PERCEPT-iONS.  aND SO Th-iNGS DO NOT REALLY EX-iST ThE
WAY WE ThOUGHT ThEY D-iD--BY ThEMSELVES--BUT RAThER ThROUGH US.

iF WE UNDERSTAND Th-iS FACT/ WE ARE MORAL/ AND Th-iS ULT-iMATELY
DETERM-iNES OUR PERCEPT-iONS/ ThE VERY NATURE OF ThE WORLD AROUND US;
-iT BECOMES AS GOOD AS WE HAVE BEEN/ AND SUFFER-iNG -iS ENDED/ AS ThE
bUDDHA PROM-iSED.  aND SO WE SEE ThAT ANYTh-iNG ThE tEACHER EVER SAYS
W-iThOUT START-iNG FROM ThE DEN-iAL OF TRUE EX-iSTENCE -iS ONLY PART OF
ThE FACTS/ S-iMPL-iF-iED FOR ThE L-iSTENER/ NO ULT-iMATE PATh/ ONLY
F-iGURAT-iVE/ SOMETh-iNG ThAT MUST BE -iNTERPRETED FURThER.


aBOUT ThE PUBL-iCAT-iON

"nOTES ON ThE aRT OF iNTERPRETAT-iON" WAS COMP-iLED BOTh FROM AUD-iO
TAPES AND FROM WR-iTTEN RECORDS MADE BY VAR-iOUS OF kENSUR r-iNPOCHE'S
STUDENTS AS HE DEL-iVERED TEACH-iNGS ON ThE SUBJECT PR-iOR TO 1979. 
tHE WR-iTTEN TRANSCR-iPTS WERE MADE BY ThE SECOND pABONGKA r-iNPOCHE/
dECHEN nY-iNGPO/ AND ThESE WERE CAREFULLY PRESERVED OVER ThE YEARS
BY gEShE tHUPTEN r-iNCHEN OF sERA mEY mONAST-iC uN-iVERS-iTY.  tHE
TRANSCR-iPTS AND TAPES WERE COLLATED AND WR-iTTEN OUT BY jADOR tRULKU
r-iNPOCHE FROM ThE hADONG cOLLEGE OF sERA jEY uN-iVERS-iTY/ W-iTh ThE
ASS-iSTANCE OF tASh-i tSETAR FROM sERA jEY'S dRAT-i cOLLEGE.

tHE EXTENS-iVE ED-iT-iNG TASKS WERE PERFORMED PR-iMAR-iLY BY kUShAB
cHUDEN r-iNPOCHE FROM ThE hLO cOLLEGE OF sERA jEY/ AND SOME F-iNAL
PROOFREAD-iNG WAS DONE BY gEShE lOBSANG tHARCH-iN/ aBBOT eMER-iTUS/
FROM ThE gYALRONG hOUSE OF sERA mEY mONAST-iC uN-iVERS-iTY/ AS WELL AS
BY H-iS aMER-iCAN STUDENT m-iCHAEL rOACH/ ALSO OF gYALRONG.

oNE ThOUSAND COP-iES OF Th-iS VOLUME HAVE BEEN PUBL-iShED UNDER ThE
D-iRECT-iON OF gEShE dORJE tASh-i/ ThE CURRENT ABBOT OF gYUMEY tANTR-iC
cOLLEGE AND A PR-iNC-iPAL D-iSC-iPLE OF kENSUR r-iNPOCHE.  iN RESPONSE
TO gEShE dORJE tASh-i'S CALL FOR SUPPORT/ A GROUP OF SPONSORS LED BY
gEShE gENDUN sANGPO/ ThE aBBOT eMER-iTUS OF gANDEN jANGTSE mONAST-iC
uN-iVERS-iTY AND A MEMBER OF Th-iS UN-iVERS-iTY'S lUBUM cOLLEGE/ HAVE
CONTR-iBUTED 50/000 iND-iAN RUPEES TOWARDS ThE PUBL-iCAT-iON AND
D-iSTR-iBUT-iON OF ThE WORK TO ThE MONAST-iC COMMUN-iTY.

a MATCH-iNG GRANT OF 50/000 RUPEES TO COMPLETE ThE PR-iNT-iNG HAS BEEN
MADE BY kENSUR r-iNPOCHE gEShE lOBSANG tHARCH-iN.  r-iNPOCHE HAS ALSO
D-iRECTED AND F-iNANCED ThE COMPUTER -iNPUT OF ThE HANDWR-iTTEN
MANUSCR-iPT AT ThE sERA mEY cOMPUTER cENTER/ AND Th-iS AND ThE F-iNAL
BOOK PRODUCT-iON WERE CARR-iED OUT BY m-iCHAEL rOACH.

tHE t-iBETAN -iNTRODUCT-iON TO ThE WORK STATES F-iNALLY ThAT -iT -iS
OFFERED W-iTh ThE HOPE ThAT ThOSE FUTURE STUDENTS WHO READ -iT W-iLL
BE -iNSP-iRED TO GOOD WORKS; ThAT ThE W-iShES OF kENSUR r-iNPOCHE
H-iMSELF MAY EVER COME TO ThE-iR FULL REAL-iZAT-iON; ThAT H-iS PREC-iOUS
WORDS MAY BE KEPT -iN ThE WORLD; AND ThAT H-iS RE-iNCARNAT-iON/ ThE
lAMA tENZ-iN wANGCHUK/ MAY SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETE H-iS SP-iR-iTUAL
STUD-iES AND CONT-iNUE ThE GREAT DEEDS OF H-iS PAST L-iFE.