Illumination of the Thought

In his final work, lluminating the Intent: An Exposition of Chandrakirti’s “Entering the Middle Way,“ Lama Tsongkhapa (1357–1419) presents his mature and final views on Middle Way philosophy. His philosophical analysis, linking wisdom and great compassion, remains an authoritative text for the study of Madhyamaka thought.

Teachings highlighted in bold are listed at the bottom of the page.

Who it's for

For those wishing to understand the connection between teachings on emptiness and the development of great compassion according to the stages of the bodhisattva path.

About the text

Illuminating the Intent: An Exposition of Chandrakirti’s “Entering the Middle Way” was written at the end of his life in the 14th century by Lama Tsongkhapa as a supplement to Chandrakirti’s commentary on Nagarjuna’s Fundamental Treatise on the Middle Way Called “Wisdom.”

Recently translated by Thubten Jinpa, this text examines Nagarjuna’s views on emptiness and connects them with the Mahayana framework of the ten levels of the bodhisattva. Learn more about Thubten Jinpa’s translation here.

Geshe Yeshi Lhundup

Geshe Yeshi Lhundup is a senior Dharma teacher at Drepung Loseling Monastery. In the years 2019-2020, he taught extensively on this text at Sravasti Abbey: Illumination of the Thought with Geshe Yeshi Lhundup (2019–present).

His teachings include the following points:

• Madhyamaka and mind-only tenets
• Using reasoning to meditate on emptiness
• Exploring compassion and great resolve
• Bodhisattva paths and grounds
• Identifying the root of samsara