The 9 Great Ideas of Ancient Indian Buddhism

As taught by Geshe Michael Roach at The Three Jewels, New York City

This article is based entirely on the transcript and official video of Geshe Michael Roach’s talk. Watch the full video.

Introduction

In a profound teaching delivered at The Three Jewels in New York, Geshe Michael Roach shared nine powerful ideas from major schools of ancient Indian Buddhism. Each concept is rooted in a foundational text and reveals a deep dimension of the Buddhist path — from ethics and logic to emptiness and liberation. These insights stem from nearly 2,800 pages of translations produced by Geshe Michael’s team.

1. Abhidharma Kosha – Is There Anything Pure in the World?

Text: Abhidharma Kosha by Vasubandhu (~1700 years ago)
Timecode: 4:54

• All changing things in the world cause suffering — except one: the understanding of Dharma and emptiness.
• Unchanging things that don’t hurt:
  • Space
  • Cessation (the permanent end of anger)
  • Emptiness itself

Attention: At The Three Jewels, the study of Dharma is seen as the only changing activity in New York that does not harm anyone.

2. Vinaya Sutra – Do Not Stand in a Hidden Place

Text: Vinaya Sutra by Gunaprabha (~1400 years ago)
Timecode: 16:51

• Based on a nun’s vow: avoid being alone in secluded places with men.
• Relates to two vital mental qualities:
  • Tellya — concern for how others view your actions
  • Lotsa — internal integrity, even when no one sees

Ethical behavior arises from both external awareness and internal conscience.

3. Pramana Vartika – The Layers of Perception

Text: Pramana Vartika by Dharmakirti (~1350 years ago)
Timecode: 23:50

• Differentiates direct (muu yul) and indirect (shuu yul) perception.
• Emptiness is first grasped intellectually, then perceived directly.
• False perception is common — like believing your car moves when it doesn’t.

Example: The yelling husband doesn’t exist inherently — he appears due to past karmic seeds.

4. Semtsam Kaney – What Happens to the Mind in Nirvana?

Text: Difficult Points in the Mind-Only School by Je Tsongkapa (1357–1419)
Timecode: 36:59

• Introduces two added consciousnesses: kunshi (storehouse) and muni (afflictive).
• The question: must we remove the entire mind to attain Nirvana?
• This school answers: no — only the afflicted parts must be eliminated.

Nirvana is not disappearance of the mind, but purification of it.

5. Abhisamaya Alankara – How Long Does the Wheel of Life Turn?

Text: Abhisamaya Alankara by Asanga (~1700 years ago)
Timecode: 49:58

• Teaches the Twelve Links of Dependent Origination.
• Geshe Michael visualizes them as three interlinked wheels:
  • First: misunderstanding
  • Second: karmic reaction
  • Third: rebirth and death

Without realization, the cycle becomes a deepening spiral of suffering.

6. Yukti Shashtika – Are We Referring to the Same Thing?

Text: Sixty Verses of Reasoning by Nagarjuna (~1800 years ago)
Timecode: 58:50

• Nagarjuna’s core logic: nothing arises from itself, from something else, from both, or from neither.
• Bubba Viveka later adds “from its own side” — preventing misunderstanding.

Even causes and logic themselves are dependent — not independently existing.

7. Tongnyi Tatri – The Impossibility of Borders

Text: Book of Meditations on Emptiness by Choney Lama Drakpa Shedrup (1675–1748)
Timecode: 1:09:58

• Where does anything really begin or end?
• Examines physical and mental boundaries: they can’t be pinpointed.

The concept of separateness is an illusion. Meditate on it to dissolve mistaken perceptions.

8. Siddhanta Hirdaya – The Four Seals of Dharma

Text: The Essence of the Schools of Thought by Choney Lama Drakpa Shedrup (1675–1748)
Timecode: 1:30:39

The Four Seals every Buddhist teaching must contain:

1. All compounded things are impermanent.
2. All emotions are painful.
3. All phenomena are empty and selfless.
4. Nirvana is true peace.

These are the litmus test of authenticity for any Dharma teaching.

9. Lojong Tsunjay Korlo – Go Beyond Blame

Text: The Crown of Knives by Dharmarakshita (~1000 years ago)
Timecode: 1:39:42

• Understanding karma is not enough — we must go beyond blame.
• The final step is releasing all resentment and ownership of suffering.

True mind training culminates in radical responsibility and freedom from blame.

Conclusion: The Relevance of These Teachings Today

Geshe Michael Roach underscores that these ideas are not abstract theory — they are living Buddhism. Through the dedicated work of translators and teachers at The Three Jewels and beyond, these insights are made available globally.

They continue to illuminate minds, challenge assumptions, and offer a path of clarity and transformation.

“You are Buddhism. This is Buddhism.” — Geshe Michael Roach

Geshe Michael Roach: Important Ideas from the Ancient Schools of Buddhism (2019, New York)