Nature is a topic in many Indian and Tibetan philosophical texts, although its
meaning varies considerably in both Hindu and Buddhist scriptures. The
discussion of nature pursued in this book begins with Nagarjuna (first century),
founder of the Middle Way School, who refuted a fabricated nature in his
"Treatise on the Middle." In that seminal text, he puts forth the three basic
criteria for nature: it must be something that is non-fabricated, independent,
and immutable.
This book presents Dzong-ka-ba's discussion of the overly narrow object in his
"Great Exposition" and relates that discussion to Nagarjuna's verses in
"Treatise on the Middle." When combined with an understanding of