Meditations on Philosophy of Mind in Tibetan Buddhism. Douglas S. Duckworth (2019). Tibetan Buddhist Philosophy of Mind and Nature. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Sententiae March 31, 2026 Olena Kalantarova
Douglas Duckworth's book examines Tibetan Buddhist philosophy, focusing on the Nyingma and Dge-lugs-pa schools, particularly their views on the nature of mind and reality. The review highlights Duckworth's analysis of the distinction between conventional and ultimate truth, the role of emptiness, and the concept of buddha-nature. It emphasizes how Tibetan thinkers, especially from the Nyingma tradition, articulate a non-dualistic understanding of consciousness and its relationship to the external world, engaging with the hard problem of consciousness through a Buddhist lens. The work situates these philosophical debates within the broader context of Tibetan scholasticism and contemplative practice.