Tattvasangraha

Introduction

Shantarakshita, an Indian abbot who later went to Tibet, composed this vast verse compendium in the eighth century; it survives in Sanskrit together with the commentary (Panjika) of his student Kamalashila. Chapter by chapter it presents and refutes the doctrines of other schools – from the primordial matter of Samkhya and the creator God of Nyaya to the eternal Veda of Mimamsa, the self and universals – and ends with a defence of the Buddha as an omniscient teacher. Its method follows Dharmakirti’s epistemology. Because it quotes and summarises many works now lost, it is an important source for the history of Indian philosophy.

Connections

Builds on

• Pramanavarttikac. 640 · Dharmakirti

Criticizes

• Shlokavarttikac. 640 · Kumarila Bhatta