As the most important canonical treatise on Buddha-nature, the Ratnagotravibhaga (also known as Uttaratantrasastra, Tib. rgyud bla ma) established the doctrinal foundations for the Mahayana philosophy of tathagatagarbha, the doctrine according to which all sentient beings are either inherently buddhas or endowed with the potential for awakening. Among the most prominent Tibetan commentaries on this text figures that of the Sakya master Rongton Sheja Kunrig, a prolific writer who was active during the golden age of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy. Refuting on one hand the notion that Buddha-nature is synonymous with mere emptiness, and on the other that the mind is inherently endowed with the Buddha qualities, Rongton argues for an understanding of Buddha-nature that embraces both aspects of the nature of mind: cognizance and emptiness.

Perfect or Perfected? Rongton on Buddha-Nature : A Commentary on the fourth chapter of the Ratnagotravibhaga, Rongton Sheja Kunrig, Christian Bernert (Translator) Vajra Books, Paperback, 147 pages, $19.95

Rongton Sheja Kunrik is the second in the line of great Sakya masters known as the Six Ornaments of Tibet. Among these teachers he is particularly revered for his mastery of the Buddhist sutras. Rongton studied and taught at Sangpu Neutok Monastery. He founded Penpo Nalendra Monastery in 1436.
Christian Bernert (MA) comes from Austria where he studied Tibetology at the University of Vienna until 2009. He embarked on the Buddhist path in 1999 under the guidance of Khenchen Amipa Rinpoche. Since 2001 he has been studying at IBA, where he currently works as language program coordinator and translator. Christian is a founding member of the Ch�dung Karmo Translation Group. (Source Accessed Jul 20, 2020) His dissertation was published as a book-length translation: Perfect or Perfected? Rongt�n on Buddha-Nature: A Commentary on the Fourth Chapter of the Ratnagotravibhaga (v v.1.27-95[a]). Kathmandu: Vajra Books, 2018.