DHARMAKIRTI'S COMMENTARY ON VALID COGNITION

《釋量論》

Pramānavārttika 

Pramānavārttika (Sanskrit: प्रमाणवार्त्तिक, Tibetan: ཚད་མ་རྣམ་འགྲེལ། Tshad-ma rnam-'grel) is authored by the great Indian logician Dharmakīrti. It is also known as the Extensive Commentary on the Verses of Valid Cognition. Together with Dharmakīrti's six other works on logic, they are collectively known as the "Seven Treatises on Valid Cognition."

This text is a commentary on Dignāga's Pramāṇasamuccaya (Compendium of Valid Cognition), who was the founder of the New School of Buddhist Logic. The work condenses the six chapters of the Pramāṇasamuccaya into four chapters:

1. Svārthānumāna (Self-directed Inference) Chapter: Also known as the Chapter on Inference for Oneself, it explains the conditions required for the generation of inferential cognition by the proponent, such as the "correct reason" (hetu).

2. Pramāṇasiddhi (Establishment of Valid Cognition) Chapter: Also known as the Chapter on Establishing the Authority of Valid Persons, it explains the meaning of the homage verses in the Pramāṇasamuccaya and establishes the Buddha as an authoritative person (pramāṇapuruṣa).

3. Pratyakṣa (Direct Perception) Chapter: Explains the definition and different types of direct perception, as well as pseudo-direct perception.

4. Parārthānumāna (Other-directed Inference) Chapter: Also known as the Chapter on Inference for Others, it extensively explains the successes and failures of logical reasons and clarifies the methods for generating inferential understanding in others.

This text is one of the required courses in the curriculum of the Gelug school (Yellow Hat sect) of Tibetan Buddhism.