Helmut Krasser despite tragically passing away much too early in 2014 left his mark on more
than one generation of scholars of Indian and Buddhist philosophy. An eminent specialist on the
so-called logico-epistemological tradition he devoted his Viennese dissertation and early work
to the Buddhist philosopher Dharmottara before broadening the scope of his research to Dignaga
and Dharmakirti the tradition's historical founders. In particular he examined their ideas on
the relationship between logic and soteriology. He also considered the very nature of their
texts. Should they be understood as authored philosophical works? Or rather as edited lecture
notes of students? Director from 2007 to 2014 of the Institute for the Cultural and
Intellectual History of Asia at the Austrian Academy of Sciences Helmut Krasser left behind a
multi-faceted body of work including editions of ancient Sanskrit manuscripts today found in
the Tibetan Autonomous Region that had never before been published. This commemorative volume
with more than thirty contributions not only reflects the multiplicity of his interests it is
also evidence of the deep impression he left on all those who met him. It is a document to the
faithful friendship and highest respect still held by his friends and colleagues almost ten
years after his death.
