Ocean of Nectar

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Ocean of Nectar by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche is the first complete explanation in English of the renowned Indian Buddhist Master, Chandrakirti’s Guide to the Middle Way, a precious Mahayana scripture, which to this day is regarded as the principal presentation of Buddha’s profound view of emptiness, the ultimate nature of reality.

With a definitive translation and verse-by-verse commentary, the author reveals this profound meaning to the modern world with utmost clarity, and guides us along the stages of the Bodhisattva path to full enlightenment.

This book is an indispensable guide for the serious practitioner of Mahayana Buddhism.

Guide to the Middle Way, the root text of Ocean of Nectar, was translated into English under the compassionate guidance of Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. These precious verses are included in the back of Ocean of Nectar.Listening to, contemplating and meditating on the beautiful and profound verses of Chandrakirti can bring joyful and uplifting insight into the true nature of all things.

The Condensed Meaning of Ocean of Nectar was prepared by Venerable Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche, and encapsulates the essence of the entire book.

From Ocean of Nectar

The Madhyamika system arose from the extremely vast and deep ocean of Nagarjuna’s wisdom. Frightened by this vastness and profundity, some beings have kept this excellent system at a great distance. In reality, however, Fundamental Wisdom is like a beautiful kumuta flower that grew from the ocean of Nagarjuna’s wisdom, but because its verses were not understood its petals remained folded keeping the nectar of emptiness within. Through the power of the sunlight of Chandrakirti’s wisdom these petals have now unfolded and the precious nectar of emptiness has flowed forth completely fulfilling the hopes of Madhyamika scholars such as Chandrakirti.

I bow down to that compassion for living beings
Who from first conceiving ‘I’ with respect to the self,
Then thinking, ‘This is mine’ and generating attachment for things,
Are without self-control like the spinning of a well.


Living beings are seen to be transient and empty of inherent existence
Like a moon in rippling water.
The mind of this Conquerors’ Son,
Governed by compassion to liberate living beings completely,


Thoroughly dedicated with Samantabhadra’s prayers
And always abiding in joy is called the ‘first’.
From then on because he has attained this
He is addressed by the very name ‘Bodhisattva’.