(2 credits)  This course will lay the groundwork for the study of the Madhyamaka Buddhist philosophy of the Tibetans through exploring its origins and development in the Indian philosophical tradition and proceed into an introductory exploration of Madhyamaka as it was developed, taught, and practiced in Tibet. This course will examine not only Nāgārjuna’s philosophy as propounded by his commentators but also the differing understandings of the philosophical tools that are appropriate to its exploration, and how this eventually took shape in the “consequentialism” of Tibet.