Dharmakirti. “Pramana-viniścaya” (“Ascertainment of the instruments of valid cognition”). Chapter 1. Pratyaksha (perception). Karikas 1–25

Abstract

This is the the first translation from Sanskrit into Russian and also the first translation into a
European language of a fragment from “Pramānaviniśaya” («Ascertainment of the instruments
of valid cognition») – one of the most important works of the Buddhist philosopher Dharmakīrti
(VII century). In this text, the concept of Buddhist epistemology according to which the direct
perception is devoid of mental constructions (nirvikalpaka pratyakṣa) being justified against the
teachings of Indian religious and philosophical schools pertaining to a realist movement (Vaiśeṣika,
Nyāya and Mīmāṃsā) in which it is held that until the contact of the senses with their objects persists
a perception may include mental constructions (savikalpaka pratyakṣa).