The Conventional Status of Reflexive Awareness: What's at Stake in a Tibetan Debate?

rJe Tsong khapa argues that consciousness is not intrinsically reflexive even conventionally, and reads Candrakīrti and Śāntideva as endorsing this view. 'Ju Mipham Rinpoche (1846-1912) criticizes Tsong khapa's argument and his reading of Candrakīrti, arguing that while ultimately consciousness is not intrinsically reflexive, conventionally it is. This article defends Tsong khapa's philosophy of mind and his hermeneutical strategy and shows that this debate is important both philosophically and doxographically.