Adorning Maitreya's Intent: Arriving at the View of Nonduality

“In Adorning Maitreya’s Intent, Christian Bernert presents the first translation and study of a brilliant work by Rongtoen Sheja Kunrig (1367–1449), one of the greatest scholastic masters of the Sakya tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. In this commentary Rongtoen explains Maitreya’s crucial Yogacara treatise of Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes (Madhyantavibhaga). Bernert’s introduction is concise yet very lucid, bringing into sharp focus the history and fundamental concepts of Yogacara philosophy and briefly discussing Rongtoen’s life and works. His fine translation of Rongtoen’s unbiased interpretation of Maitreya’s verses is careful, accurate, and accessible. This is an illuminating book.” –Cyrus Stearns, author of King of the Empty Plain and The Buddha from Doelpo

“Christian Bernert’s translation of the commentary on Maitreya’s Distinguishing the Middle from the Extremes (Madhyantavibhaga) by the famous Sakya scholar Rongtoen Sheja Kunrig (1367-1449) has rendered a valuable service to students of Buddhist philosophy. Maitreya’s text interprets the Prajnaparamita doctrine of emptiness in the light of the often neglected three-nature theory. On this Yogacara interpretation, emptiness is restricted to the imagined nature, of which the dependent and perfect natures are empty. Because this view differed from the prevailing Madhyamaka interpretation, few Tibetan masters wrote commentaries on it. Rongtoen’s commentary stands out for its detailed analysis of the variegated topics of Maitreya’s treatise following the strict logical format of Buddhist syllogisms. By offering a lucid translation and interpretation of the commentary and shedding light on its historical and doctrinal contexts, Bernert’s work makes a notable contribution to the field of Buddhist Studies.”–Klaus-Dieter Mathes, University of Vienna

RONGTIN SHEJA K NRIG, also known as Rontonpa and Shakya Gyaltsen (1367-1449), was one of the greatest scholars of the Sakya school, and indeed in all Tibetan history, who, like his principal teacher Yakton Sangye Pal, is especially renowned for his mastery of the prajnaparamita teachings and the text of the Abhisamayalankara. He taught at the great Sangphu Neuthog, and founded his own monastery of Nalendra in 1436. His most famous disciples were Shakya Chokden and Gorampa Sonam Senge. According to Shakya Chokden, he “had more students who understood philosophical texts than any Tibetan teacher of all time.

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