The Reason Sixty

"The Reason Sixty" is a significant work that presents the English translations of two central treatises of Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophy. Written by the influential Indian thinker Nāgārjuna in the 2nd century and commented on by his successor Chandrakīrti in the 7th century, this book illuminates the non-fundamentalist arguments characteristic of the Madhyamaka doctrine. In the context of the central Buddhist theme of universal compassion, it sheds light on the non-dual nature of these two fundamental components of Indian Buddhism. The translator Joseph Loizzo, a trained psychiatrist and Buddhist scholar, emphasizes the relevance of these treatises for contemporary philosophy and highlights their practical, therapeutic possibilities. By comparing Chandrakīrti's comments with Wittgenstein's later works, a profound analysis of intercultural thinking is presented, underscoring the transformative potential of philosophy.