Palden Sherab Rangtong and Shentong Views (PDF)

Palden Sherab Rinpoche and his brother Khenpo Tsewang Dongyal Rinpoche have produced a series of very readable books taking on many major Buddhist Topics. If you were able to attend any of their teachings you would see Palden Sherab teaching in Tibetan and his brother translating. This team which took on both elementary and very advanced topics--many, but not all from the Nyingma prospective--to give their students a well-rounded set of teachings on Buddhism. We have had to shorten the title of this book and the names of the "two khenpos" as they are often called but these teachings are a collaboration of both brothers.

This book is on a controversy that developed in Tibet concerning the exact meaning and qualities of emptiness. The Rangtong view, often referred to as the second turning of the wheel of Dharma, takes the stand that the teachings, particularly those of Nagaruna, that everything is empty. The Shentong view, often referred to as the third turning of the wheel of Dharma takes the position that on the relative level of reality everything in deed is empty, but on the absolute level of reality this emptiness also has the quality of buddha nature which is present in every sentient being.