<p>I suppose it depends on which lineage you draw your water from. Ocean of Reasoning is a Gelug text, as is Ornament of Reason (I think?), while in Kagyu they study Madhyamakavatara, a relatively early commentary by Candrakirti, with subcommentary by Jamgon Mipham.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T12:37:40.073Z
Interesting point. I honestly have a really hard time keeping track of names of things in general let alone which lineage believes this or that. I kind of just soak in as much as I can from anywhere I can. Are you aware of an English translation of the Madhyamakavatara? I believe I looked for one and could only find a German translation or something like that.
Joe McDonagh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T15:11:49.657Z
@JoeMcDonagh, http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Middle-Way-Chandrakirtis-Madhyamakavatara/dp/1590300092/
Andriy Volkov
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-28T18:42:49.327Z
11 bucks for a used hardcover, on its way now. I guess for that reason I will read this one first. Still curious if there is a clear progression in traditional teaching. Thanks!!!!
Joe McDonagh
CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-27T11:48:55.787Z
2014-10-27T11:48:55.787Z
Andriy Volkov
<p>I am currently casually reading various things, and Ocean of Reasoning is one of those things. I've began to feel that I should pick a challenging reading to focus on, but I'm thinking I might want to read Ornament of Reason before Ocean of Reasoning.</p>

<p>Is one or the other traditionally studied first? Or is there some other commentary before these that I should study? I am already well acquainted with the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā itself.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-10-27T11:49:26.120Z
may want to spell out MMK?
Andriy Volkov
<nagarjuna>
Which commentary on the MMK should be studied first?
# Which commentary on the MMK should be studied first?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-10-27)

I am currently casually reading various things, and Ocean of Reasoning is one of those things. I've began to feel that I should pick a challenging reading to focus on, but I'm thinking I might want to read Ornament of Reason before Ocean of Reasoning.

Is one or the other traditionally studied first? Or is there some other commentary before these that I should study? I am already well acquainted with the Mūlamadhyamakakārikā itself.

**Tags:** nagarjuna

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: may want to spell out MMK?  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2014-10-27. Score: 1

I suppose it depends on which lineage you draw your water from. Ocean of Reasoning is a Gelug text, as is Ornament of Reason (I think?), while in Kagyu they study Madhyamakavatara, a relatively early commentary by Candrakirti, with subcommentary by Jamgon Mipham.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: Interesting point. I honestly have a really hard time keeping track of names of things in general let alone which lineage believes this or that. I kind of just soak in as much as I can from anywhere I can. Are you aware of an English translation of the Madhyamakavatara? I believe I looked for one and could only find a German translation or something like that.  
> **username_1**: @JoeMcDonagh, http://www.amazon.com/Introduction-Middle-Way-Chandrakirtis-Madhyamakavatara/dp/1590300092/  
> **username_0**: 11 bucks for a used hardcover, on its way now. I guess for that reason I will read this one first. Still curious if there is a clear progression in traditional teaching. Thanks!!!!  

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