Chandragomin


Chandragomin was an Indian Buddhist lay scholar who the Tibetan tradition believes challenged Chandrakirti. According to the Nepalese tradition, Chandragomin's student was Ratnakirti. Chandragomin was a teacher at Nalanda Monastic University during the 7th century. It is unclear when Chandragomin lived, with estimates ranging between 5th to 7th-century CE, but his position at Nalanda signifies he lived during the 7th century.
In the Buddhist records, Chandragomin is described as the one who debated Candrakīrti the Arya Tripitaka Master Shramana who was the Khenpo at Nalanda Mahāvihāra Monastery. Their debate was said to have continued for many years. Chandragomin held the Chittamatra view, and Chandrakirti gave his interpretation of Nāgārjuna's view, eventually creating a new school of Madhyamaka known as Prasangika. This Nalanda tradition school is known as Prasangika| or rendered in English as the "Consequentialist" or "Dialecticist" school.
According to Thrangu Rinpoche, Chandragomin was slow in the debate but always had the right answers because each time a question was posed by Chandrakirti, Chandragomin would insist on giving the answer the next day after praying to Avalokiteshvara who would tell him the right answer.

Major works

Praise in Confession