Buddhism and Language: A Study of Indo-Tibetan Scholasticism

The book begins by defining scholasticism as a comparative philosophical category and then applies this framework to Indo-Tibetan Buddhism. It first examines the relationship between language and scripture, including the nature of doctrine, the Buddha’s word, the interpretation of scripture, the role of commentary, and the authority granted to sacred texts. It then shifts to the relationship between language and philosophy, addressing the validation of language and conceptual thought, the defense of logic, the connection between language and ontology, and the problem of ineffability in Buddhist discourse. Across these discussions, the work shows how dGe lugs pa scholasticism develops a systematic defense of scriptural interpretation, rational inquiry, conceptual analysis, and philosophical argument while maintaining a Buddhist commitment to liberation beyond attachment to language. The concluding discussion returns to the broader question of scholasticism and shows how Indo-Tibetan Buddhist thought can expand comparative philosophy beyond its traditional Eurocentric framework.