/lit/ - Literature

Any of you devoted to the attainment of enlightenment?

>>12385005
>any background required for nagarjuna?

Yes lots lol, at least if you want to decently understand him. You should already have an in-depth understanding of Buddhism and should have read a good amount of the Nikayas and also the various Mahayana Sutras which existed before him that he cites, it would also be good to have a general idea of the doctrinal developments during the several hundred years preceding him. Bhikku Bodhi has published several collections of translated Nikayas of varying lengths which would be good prep material. This internet philosophy encyclopedia entry is a good intro to him:

https://www.iep.utm.edu/nagarjun/

>>12385038
The early Vedanta philosopher Gaudapada posits a refutation of Nagarjuna (not by name as is the standard in classical Sanskrit literature but it's clear he argues against both Yogacara and Madhymaka in places) in his Mandukya Karika, I don't know whether you'd find that any more appealing since he at times agrees with those schools on certain principles and even uses some of the same reducto-ad-absurdem strategems as Nagarjuna but you might find it interesting, you'll want a commentary for sure though if you do check it out.