An excellent introduction to Madhyamika, Master of Wisdom greatly expands the range of Nagarjuna's works available
to the general reader: Translations by Christian Lindtner include two hymns to the Inconceivable Buddha, the Lokatitastava
and Acintyastava; two treatises on Shunyata, the Shunyatasaptati and the Yuktishashtika; and two works that clarify the
connection of analysis, meditation, and moral conduct, the Bodhichittavivarana and the Bodhisambharaka. Part I has clear,
readable English facing the Tibetan verses in transliteration; Part II presents critical editions of extant Sanskrit; Part
III offers masterful studies of thirteen of Nagarjuna's works and his place in the Buddhist tradition. From the "Bodhisambharaka," by Nagarjuna: Initiating action not for oneself but only to benefit and please living beings -
this will place enlightenment close at hand. Wisdom without conceptualization, zeal without sloth, unstinting generosity -
this places enlightenment close at hand. Being independent, by thoughts not obsessed, having perfect morality, complete and
unstained, accepting (that things) are unborn - this places enlightenment close at hand… Develop carefully the three doors
to liberation: sunyata, the markless, and the wishless. Since dharmas lack own-being, they are empty (shunya). Being empty,
how can they have marks? All marks being extinguished, how can the wise wish (for anything)? While the Bodhisattva is
cultivating and contemplating these (three and) traversing the path to nirvana, he must not think that the Buddhakaya does
not exist. Do not relax your efforts on this score! As for nirvana, he will not realize it at once, but must produce this
thought: We must ripen the Prajnaparamita. A master archer releases his arrows so that each of them is aimed one at the
other; each supporting the one before it, they do not fall. The great Bodhisattva is like that. Carefully he aims the arrow
of the mind at the door to liberation called 'empty'. The arrows of (skill in means) act together to support it, so that (
his prajna) is not allowed to fall into nirvana. Let us not desert living beings! In order to benefit living beings, first
generate this attitude and then come to possess the practice of the doors to liberation. There are living beings whose
attachments persist a long time, and who cultivate misconceptions and (wrong) notions. All this is due to delusion. Those
who are addicted to (wrong) notions (and) misconceptions can abandon them by proclaiming the Dharma. First one focuses the
mind on reality, and then on comes to possess the practice of the doors to liberation.
