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Rating: 
Summary: A demanding Masterpiece
Review: The Cental Philosophy of Tibet by Robert A. F. Thurman (Princeton) is by far the most innovative and key texts to Tsong-kha-pa's teachings and life experience as it purports to reveal Tsong-kha-pa's own account of his experience of Enlightenment and his answer to many of the intellectual muddles, hyperintllectualisms, antirationalisms that befuddled and continues to perplex many contemporary monks and Buddhist practitioners. It is a demanding read but well worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: A demanding Masterpiece
Review: The Cental Philosophy of Tibet by Robert A. F. Thurman (Princeton) is by far the most innovative and key texts to Tsong-kha-pa's teachings and life experience as it purports to reveal Tsong-kha-pa's own account of his experience of Enlightenment and his answer to many of the intellectual muddles, hyperintllectualisms, antirationalisms that befuddled and continues to perplex many contemporary monks and Buddhist practitioners. It is a demanding read but well worth the effort.
Rating:
Summary: Relieves Suffering
Review: The context of the book is the thesis that belief in inherent existence (meaning, roughly, "permanent, absolute, not-depending-on-anything-else" existence") is the source of all suffering. People hold this belief in many forms, applied to many things, at many levels. Detailed analysis of each instance and/or category of this belief can undermine and weaken that particular belief, and finally shatter it. This relieves the suffering associated with that instance or category. A simple experiment with everyday beliefs and suffering can illustrate the veracity of this thesis and approach. Identify something that causes you worry or stress. Tell yourself repeatedly that the situation may not actually exist exactly the way you think it does. Review your level of stress and worry. Tsong-Ka-Pah's Essence of Eloquence is aimed at analyzing and shattering a form of the belief in inherent existence that operates at a very deep psychological level, and yet which can still be accessed through conscious examination and logic. In fact, Tsong-Ka-Pah's claim is that this is the deepest such level of belief and corresponding analysis. Yes, it's very difficult reading, and yes, the writing might be improved. But where else are you going to get it?
Rating: 
Summary: A Feast -- But Bring Your Alka-Seltzer®
Review: This book is a classic in the field of Indo-Tibetan philosophy. The subject, the Essence of Eloquence, is surely one of the most difficult of all indigenous Tibetan philosophical treatises -- to understand, let alone translate. So for for translating this text we applaud Thurman, and also for his inspired introduction. But we tap our feet apprehensively at some of his polemical connivings, and we wish very much he would re-edit the translation for readability, by working more flexibly and thoroughly with good English sentences. As it stands, there is a distinct redolence about it of "I've been typing all night, the kids are up already, and the tip of my tie is in my coffee cup." The translation must be judged a great but unfinished work. QUOD EST DETERMINATUS, VIRTUTE ET NON VI!
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