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Published by Wisdom Publications
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
Table of Contents
About the Book
A comprehensive and masterful exposition on the twelve links of dependent arising as it is understood in the four schools of Indian Buddhism.
Buddhism teaches that every phenomenon exists due to dependent arising: one event leads to another in an interconnected chain of causes and effects. At the beginning of the chain responsible for our present samsaric existence is ignorance. The Buddha described how all our current sufferings, including aging and death, can be traced back to our common fundamental ignorance about the true nature of our existence. By understanding this unfolding process of dependent origination—and its dissolution—we gain the knowledge necessary to chart a path toward liberation from suffering. We become empowered to interrupt the cycle of uncontrolled birth and death, much like breaking a chain to prevent a domino effect from toppling completely. Illuminating Samsara and Nirvana explores the twelve links of dependent arising in depth, which lie at the heart of Buddhist philosophy.
Written by the fifteenth-century scholar Gorampa Sonam Senge and with commentary by the late contemporary teacher Khenpo Appey, this book is organized around the ways in which the major tenet systems of Buddhist philosophy—the Vaibhasika, Sautrantika, Cittamatra, and, finally, Madhyamaka schools—each present dependent arising. Through their lucid explanation of the viewpoint of the Madhyamaka school, considered supreme, we come to understand that all imputed conventional phenomena are dependently arisen, and in turn, are introduced to the profound truth that dependent arising and emptiness are of the same meaning.
These teachings have been clearly and expertly translated and introduced by Szegee Toh, and are accompanied by illustrations of the wheel of life as a visual learning aid as well as informative tables to support your exploration of this remarkable subject
Buddhism teaches that every phenomenon exists due to dependent arising: one event leads to another in an interconnected chain of causes and effects. At the beginning of the chain responsible for our present samsaric existence is ignorance. The Buddha described how all our current sufferings, including aging and death, can be traced back to our common fundamental ignorance about the true nature of our existence. By understanding this unfolding process of dependent origination—and its dissolution—we gain the knowledge necessary to chart a path toward liberation from suffering. We become empowered to interrupt the cycle of uncontrolled birth and death, much like breaking a chain to prevent a domino effect from toppling completely. Illuminating Samsara and Nirvana explores the twelve links of dependent arising in depth, which lie at the heart of Buddhist philosophy.
Written by the fifteenth-century scholar Gorampa Sonam Senge and with commentary by the late contemporary teacher Khenpo Appey, this book is organized around the ways in which the major tenet systems of Buddhist philosophy—the Vaibhasika, Sautrantika, Cittamatra, and, finally, Madhyamaka schools—each present dependent arising. Through their lucid explanation of the viewpoint of the Madhyamaka school, considered supreme, we come to understand that all imputed conventional phenomena are dependently arisen, and in turn, are introduced to the profound truth that dependent arising and emptiness are of the same meaning.
These teachings have been clearly and expertly translated and introduced by Szegee Toh, and are accompanied by illustrations of the wheel of life as a visual learning aid as well as informative tables to support your exploration of this remarkable subject
Product Details
- Publisher: Wisdom Publications (December 1, 2026)
- Length: 264 pages
- ISBN13: 9798890700681
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Raves and Reviews
“I am delighted that Gorampa Sönam Sengé’s work on the twelve links, Illuminating Samsara and Nirvana, is now accessible to English-speaking readers as the second volume in the Khenpo Appey Collection of Sakya Classics. Gorampa occupies a pivotal position within the Sakya tradition, and his writings have shaped its philosophical discourse for centuries, continuing to the present day.”
– from the foreword by His Holiness the 43rd Sakya Trizin, Gyana Vajra Sakya
“The twelve links of dependent arising describe the architecture of our existence: how we enter samsara and how we might leave it. Yet for all its centrality to Buddhist thought, this teaching is rarely encountered in full depth. In Illuminating Samsara and Nirvana, Gorampa’s penetrating analysis is brought to life and skillfully translated into English through the most respected Khenchen Appey Rinpoche’s precious guidance. This volume traces the twelve links across all four classical tenet systems, revealing the workings of cyclic existence and the path toward its transcendence. Both scholars and serious practitioners will find it indispensable.”
– Khenpo Jorden, principal, International Buddhist Academy
“I rejoice in the publication of Illuminating Samsara and Nirvana. By bringing together the profound wisdom of Gorampa Sönam Sengé, the illuminating commentary of the late Khenchen Appey Rinpoche, and the excellent translation of Szegee Toh, this volume offers an authoritative and accessible exposition of dependent arising and emptiness. It will undoubtedly become an invaluable resource for students, scholars, and practitioners of the Buddhadharma and will benefit readers for generations to come.”
– Khenpo Kunga Sherab, president, Sakya Choekhorling, Toronto, Canada
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