The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra

Book Description

Known in Chinese as Hua-yen and in Japanese as Kegon-kyo, the Avatamsaka Sutra, or Flower Ornament Scripture, is held in the highest regard and studied by Buddhists of all traditions. Through its structure and symbolism, as well as through its concisely stated principles, it conveys a vast range of Buddhist teachings. This one-volume edition contains Thomas Cleary's definitive translation of all thirty-nine books of the sutra, along with an introduction, a glossary, and Cleary's translation of Li Tongxuan's seventh-century guide to the final book, the Gandavyuha, "Entry into the Realm of Reality."

Customer Reviews:

Importance of Flower Ornament Sutra & this edition.......2007-05-13

The Flower Ornament Sutra (FOS) is often overlooked because it is not as available (now out of print probably as a result of not being widely used by the laity), but it is a superb Sutra a comprehensive (if any single text can be called truly comprehensive)expression of Buddhist (particularly Mahayanist)Vision. I say "vision" rather than "thought" or "philosophy" because FOS is first and foremost an inducer of meditative trance or vision, rather than a doctrine or treatise. One reads The FOS to experience the Buddha consciousness in a very personal, mystical way, not to "understand" it intellectually.

Thomas Cleary's translation is probably the most accessible to the American mind and heart. I haven't read all other translations, only a few are available here in the USA it seems. One caution: I would beware of "contemporary" or "condensed" versions of FOS, if you find them, because these adaptions to contemporary mind will surely lose the original consciousness, some of which is undoubtedly lost already even in a careful translation like Cleary's. That consciousness is why you would read FOS in the first place.

Better to go to the source, however formal or repetitive and overcome any initial sense of "boredom" you might feel. With FOS you should suspend logical critical mind in favor of an open and receptive heart. The deeper you go in this way the more vivid and profound the "vision" becomes.

Ultimately it is like a spark. At some point the spark jumps to you and lives in you independently of the text - or it doesn't. FOS is an instrument to self-discovery not a "reality" to cling to. Any Buddhist knows this, but FOS is a very valuable, effective and precious instrument of delight and enlightenment if you are open to it.

The hardback version I got published by Shambala is beautiful, as good a copy as you could hope to find these days. Highly, highly recommended.

An Achievement of Epic Proportions.......2006-11-01

Thomas Cleary is one of the best all-round translators of East Asian and Sanskrit literature, as well as Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian writings. If I have the option of purchasing a work I have never read before in various translations, I will gladly go with Cleary. Some of his works, such as the astonishing edition of the Art of War and his beautifully poetic rendering of the Zhuangzi are the best of their kind, while others (particularly his translations of Zen literature) are rather lacking and weak. This mammoth translation of the Buddhavatamsaka-sutra, however, represents the best (in my opinion) in Sanskrit Buddhist translation. All English speaking Mahayana Buddhists owe a debt of gratitude to Mr. Clearly, for rendering one of the largest, most elaborate, and most important Buddhist scriptures into English, with a flair of style and poetic imagery that surpasses almost anything else I've read in Buddhist sutra translations. The Avatamsaka Sutra, or the Flower Garland (Flower Ornament) Sutra is the earliest sutra spoken by the Buddha. It is, along with the Lotus Sutra and the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, one of the most important teachings of the Buddha. The Chinese Huayan (Jap. Kegon) School (Huayan/Kegon: Avatamsaka), one of the most prominent and influential schools in the history of Chinese and Japanese Buddhism, is based on this scripture, which emphasizes the mutually unobstructed interpenetration the Dharma realm, the interactions between principle and phenomenal worlds. The Avatamsaka Sutra is one of the Vaipulya Sutras, meaning that it is, in effect, an incredibly large sutra comprised of several smaller sutras (other Vaipulya Sutras include: the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra, the Jewel Heap Sutra, and the Nirvana Sutra). Because of its incredible length, many of the English translations are available only as partial translations, or translations of particularly important sections. Here, however, Cleary has translated the entire sutra, which takes up almost 1500 pages. However, it is a must-have for any English Mahayana scholars. Readers may be amazed at the vast range displayed throughout the sutra. Some chapters are elaborate, miraculous, and joyful in nature (as is much of the Lotus Sutra), while others are strongly philosophical in a style reminiscent of the Hinayana or Perfection of Wisdom Sutras. Especially important are the chapters concerning the Ten Stages (Dashabhumika-sutra) of the Bodhisattva Path, the Ten Devotions, the Ten Practices, the Ten Concentrations, the Ten Acceptances, and the Ten Abodes. The second-to-last chapter is a magnificent summation of Mahayana doctrine and the practice of the Buddhas. The final chapter (which takes up 400 pages by itself) is the "Entry Into the Realm of Reality" (GAnda-vyuha), which is the most famous section of the book. It describes the pilgrimage of the young Sudhana, guided by Manjushri, as he requests the teachings of 53 masters, including the future Buddha. The final section of the Ganda-vyuha occurs when Sudhana meets Samantabhadra (Universally Good), and concerns the Ten Vows of Samantabhadra, which is, by itself, probably the most important and available part of the book (numerous translations of this one section exist on the internet). All in all, I thank Thomas Cleary for finally allowing me to read the complete Flower Garland Sutra (a task which I have been unable to accomplish for years, due to the lack of availability of complete translations). Stunning.

If Religion Is the Opiate Of The People, This Is China White!.......2006-05-09

But you might want to smoke some really nice weed when you read The Flower Ornament Scripture, simply because it is, as alluded to by a few reviewers, a hypnotic text that is quite unlike anything that has been published or is likely to get published in the near future. This is really the closest you can get to a sort of real-life Harry Potter book of magic... there's something almost menacing about it's frontpiece, jeeze, 1643 pages, I suppose that's menacing enough, but... not to sound too Jungian, TFOS is actually trans-Tantra, that is, the sort of wierd metabolic changes you experience in Tibetian Buddhism can be gotten fairly quickly by reading a few pages of the Hua Yen bible. So as to make the trip nice and scholarly, research "holographic universe" and the Net Of Indra, the latter being a "famous" device used to teach the gist of Hua Yen, which is, in a nutshell, the infinitude of multidimensionality. Party on!

Wow!.......2005-06-12

This is one of my favorite books of all time. Show it to your friends who think the New Testament is something special.

not for the beginner.......2004-01-28

They say this is a great book. That's probably true for some but I have most of Dr. Cleary's books; read them many times, benefited immensely, but this book is not easily comprehensible to me and I would think to any casual reader. As in his other books there is no real and ready quick tips for handling everyday life. So, unless you are well versed in Buddhist scripture save your money and apply yourself to the dharma as taught in simpler texts.

Scripture, Logic, Language: Volume I: Essays on Dharmakirti and His Tibetan Successors Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism

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Scripture, Logic, Language: Volume I: Essays on Dharmakirti and His Tibetan Successors Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism
Tom J.F. Tillemans
Manufacturer: Wisdom Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Tibet | Asia | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0861711564

Book Description

Dharmakirti, an Indian Buddhist philosopher of the 7th century, explored the nature, limits and justifications of rationality within the context of Buddhist religious and metaphysical concerns. While Dharmakirti is widely recognized for his crucial innovations in Indian logic and semantic theory, his notoriously difficult thought nonetheless remains poorly understood. In this volume from Wisdom's acclaimed Studies in Indian and Tibetan Buddhism series, one of the world's leading scholars of Buddhist philosophy sheds light on the interrelated topics of scripture, logic and language in the works of Dharmakirti and his philosophical heirs, both Indian and Tibetan. Professor Tillemans's knowledgeable explanations of such technical subjects as the apoha theory of reference and the problem of entailment (vy…pti) are coupled throughout with insightful reflections on how best to evaluate Dharmakirti's theories in light of contemporary philosophical thought.

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The Finger Pointing At the Moon
Excellent

Buddhist Scriptures (Penguin Classics)

Manufacturer: Penguin Classics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to its History & Teachings

ASIN: 014044758X
Release Date: 2004-08-31

Book Description

While Buddhism has no central text comparable to the Bible or Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of the Buddha. In this rich anthology, eminent scholar Donald S. Lopez, Jr., brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range, and from such languages as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha's past lives, a discussion of qualities and qualifications for a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast and profound nature of the Buddhist tradition.

Customer Reviews:

The Finger Pointing At the Moon.......2007-09-29

According to many scholars, the amount of Buddhist literature is vast. It would be impossible to present all of it in one volume. But Dr. Lopez has presented a plausibly representative sample of Buddhist literature, with very helpful commentaries preceding each selection. The collection is quite revealing to a Western reader like myself, in that it shows the implausible, supernaturalistic nature of much Buddhist literature. Nevertheless it is good background information for anyone who wants to study more modern or Western-friendly Buddhism, like Zen. It is not surprising that Zen practitioners dismiss many Buddhist writings as irrelevant or unimportant. Zen considers lengthy, repetative sutras and philosophical treatises to be merely fingers pointing at the moon, which should not be mistaken for the moon itself.

Excellent.......2006-06-29

This is a very useful anthology for students of Buddhism. In addition to highly readable translations of selected ancient texts filled with descriptions and advice; it also includes many instructive fables and tales, including "Maitreya describes the Future" and "A King gives away his Head."
Of particular note is the predecessor to the biblical story of the loaves and fishes -- it is the story of how a single portion of alms fed 84,000 sravakas and 12,000 bodhisattvas, and still the food did not run out. hmmmm, sound familiar?

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Every Fall Of A Drop Of Water
wonderful read
Condensed Buddhist Scriptures
Excellent overview
A solid introduction

Buddhist Scriptures
Author Anonymous
Manufacturer: Penguin Global
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0670028924

Book Description

Striving to understand the truth of the human condition and determining the path to spiritual enlightenment is the fundamental nature of Buddhism. Lighting this path is the Buddha, committed to guiding human beings to pure and happy lives. This beautiful hardcover gift book is the ideal introduction to the amazing ideals and beliefs of Buddhism. Containing dozens of selected Buddhist teachings, quotes and commentaries, this book offers guiding words of wisdom on how to find peace, harmony and happiness within yourself. Discover the meaning of truth, love and hate, and learn to find tranquility and contentment in your everyday life. With messages of inspiration and insight from canonical Buddhist texts on every page, Buddhist Scriptures is your first step on the road to spiritual enlightenment.

Customer Reviews:

Every Fall Of A Drop Of Water.......2007-03-09

"Striving to understand the truth of the human condition and following the path of spiritual enlightenment is the fundamental nature of Buddhism."

The above quote is the first sentence in the introduction to the book, "Buddhist Scriptures". It sums up quite nicely the reason and basis of the chosen material on all of the subsequent pages. Each page contains a brief passage from a Buddhist text or the writings of a person significant within the history of Buddhism and encompasses both major streams of the religion: Theravada and Mahayana. The brief, three-page introduction of the book explains that Buddhism as a religion is not really limited to a single deity, "but rather a representation of a lineage of exemplars, or enlightened disciples..." who follow the teachings of the original Buddha (Siddhartha Gautama). According to the unlisted author of this book, the teachings of Buddha, or dhamma [or dharma in Sanskrit], are to identify and explore the nature of human suffering and escape from it, and is, "the ultimate journey to enlightenment."

"Buddhist Scriptures" is by no means a comprehensive or scholarly collection but it is a worthwhile and enjoyable book. The brief passages cover a wide variety of topics such as karma, attachment, wisdom, emptiness, and even moral ideas. Serious students of Buddhism will find the references under each passage a treasure trove pointing to further study. The casual reader can simply take pleasure in the insights and will find that each selected piece has meaning and value, such as this one from the 14th Dalai Lama [the current Dalai Lama]:

"As human beings we all want to be happy and free from misery.... we have learned that the key to happiness is inner peace. The greatest obstacles to inner peace are disturbing emotions such as anger and attachment, fear and suspicion, while love, compassion and a sense of universal responsibility are the sources of peace and happiness." (Page 34)

And from much older Buddhist texts, like this one from the Samyutta Nikaya [Connected Discourses]:

"The fool believes the battle is won with harsh speech, but finding forbearance alone brings one victory." (Page 19)

This would be a good book to use for daily meditations and spiritual support, even for non-Buddhists. Anyone on a spiritual path will be able to appreciate the immense importance of the words within this book. Additionally, "Buddhist Scriptures" would make an excellent gift. It has a beautiful cover and each page is bordered to match the cover, and the page numbers surrounded by what appears to be a lotus flower.

Although this little book lists a publisher and design credits, there really is no author or name of the compiler that stands out. Perhaps this unknown person wished to share what he or she felt was some of the best of what Buddhism has to offer and at the same time wanted to practice humility and non-attachment. Perhaps too, it was out of great respect for the texts and persons quoted that the compiler chose not to list a name. Whatever the case, anyone possessing this book will probably express some genuine gratitude for the work that this unknown person has put into this.

"Do not think lightly of goodness, thinking it will pass you by. For just as a water pitcher fills up with every fall of a water drop, a wise person accumulates goodness, little by little."
-from the Dhammapada [path of the dhamma] (Page 43)

wonderful read .......2006-07-29

Running a temple is like herding cats.

Americans are very smart, and we even like doing yoga or meditation, healthy things. We're not so good at getting along, being in community.

We're very individualistic. To have a temple, we have to work together, and most people have a really hard time with that.

Most people there love the idea of meditating and having a spiritual director, but the person on the cushion next to them, they feel like they have nothing to do with.

Reconnecting people is difficult.

Buddhist say he and Jesus were the same, and also that Buddha was before Jesus, Buddha was totally 100% against alcohol, even in moderation.

Jesus said drink this wine in rememberance of me ( blood ).

So they cant both be the same when one said drink this and the other said don't drink.

And why is it that I know several middle age women that are really into telling me about Buddism from time to time, and they drive new fancy imports and one has a Mooney Airplane, just for flying to the ocean for a couple days at a time here and there. another smokes cigs and pot and drinks beer daily, and is in early 50's, and NOT dumb at all, has a great job. but when we talk about all men and women are messed up and all our bodies are whicked no matter who we are or what religion, she says no. I dont get it.

yes yes this book is wonderful wonderful.

Condensed Buddhist Scriptures.......2006-04-29

This is a great condesing of Buddhist writings from the huge volume available into a small amount that all schools can agree on. 50% Of this was excellent staying with the true psychcological aspects of Buddhism I enjoy, mixed with 50% mythology of Buddhas past lives and the migration of the soul after death. If you are a beginner I would suggest staying with the Dhammapada, Four Noble Truths, and the eightfold path.That is where enlightenment rests and is all that is needed. Come and see.

Excellent overview.......2005-07-14

I had been looking for a book that would give me a good overview on the Buddhist sutras, and stumbled upon this one. Initially sceptical, Conze's book turned out to be an indispensible companion which I still refer to contrantly. I am reading it through again the second time, as once is never sufficient to grasp the contents.

The strength of this book is that it keeps external commentaries to a minimum and lets the sutras and scriptures speak for themselves. Where Conze interposes is where the book is weakest, eg in his summary of the "Morality" passages where his own moral standards ultimately impinge on the translation.

Conze is also a good guide to some of the main scriptures and his selection covers a sufficiently wide enough array of topics to provide any reader with a good starting point for understanding Buddhist teachings.

What I found most invaluable was the introduction, which mapped out roughly the timeline of the past and future Buddhas. I have not seen this elsewhere, and here Conze does a good job of putting the historical Sakyamuni Buddha in perspective of the buddhas of the past, in particular Dipankara, and the next Buddha Maitreya.

The selections of the Past Lives and Birth Stories also gives a good overview to the historical Buddha Sakyamuni's past incarnations and his life story, which include many fantastical details which the Western writer has often obliterated in order to make the Buddha more believable to readers, at the expense of His true magnificence (sadly, even our Asian writeups on the Buddha Sakyamuni in English often sidestep the more supernatural aspects of the Buddha and in this way has led to much ignorance even amongst Asians of the greatness of the Buddha's powers). Reading these chapters was thus a real eye-opener.

Also very interesting were the chapters on Doctrinal Disputes, which give some perspective into how the differences in schools have been tackled in a positive way.

The sections on Meditation are perhaps a bit too brief, as is the section on Other Worlds, but there is enough here to entice the reader to delve deeper into the scriptures, for which a book such as this will necessarily serve mainly as a taster.

This does not mean, however, that the contents do not have substance. Conze does a good job of extracting the pith from the scriptures he offers, so that the core messages from the scriptures come through pretty complete. And that is why this book is an invaluable companion to anyone interested in Buddhism.

The only aspect that could do with some improvement is the referencing of sources, which could be more detailed. For example, when Conze tells us that he extracted from Ashvaghosa, there is nothing in the book to tell us which edition, the exact title, bibliography etc, so that hunting down the exact text has been a challenge.

Otherwise, Buddhist Scriptures is both essential reading and a good spiritual companion.

A solid introduction.......2001-07-03

The translator, Edward Conze, in attempting to include what is common to most Buddhists rather than concentrating on what separates them, has made some difficult choices and has made them well. Though readability is not too highly stressed at the expense of accuracy, the resulting work is accessible to readers of varying education and interest levels. (Given the difficulty of the ideas expressed in many of the selections included, this is no small accomplishment.) I would recommend this book as an introduction to Buddhist thought and as an aid to further study (though I would not necessarily recommend it as an end to the matter for one whose interests tend toward the academic). The glossary and the list of sources included at the end are both quite helpful.

The Buddha Speaks - A book of guidance from Buddhist scriptures

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DIRECT FROM THE BUDDHA
Like having the Buddha by your side

The Buddha Speaks - A book of guidance from Buddhist scriptures
Anne Bancroft
Manufacturer: Shambhala
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1570624933
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Amazon.com

If you're looking for an introduction to Buddhism but don't want your information secondhand, The Buddha Speaks is the book for you. Anne Bancroft takes us right into the Buddha's own words, delivering his opinions direct from the sutras on such topics as love, mind, death, wisdom, and society. The words are wise and as relevant today as they were 2,000 years ago. On love: "A mother, even at the risk of her own life, protects her child.... In the same way should you cultivate love without measure toward all beings." On the mind: "This mind is like a fish out of water that thrashes and throws itself about, its thoughts following each of its cravings.... How good it is to control it and know the happiness of freedom." On society: "Hatred does not come to an end through hatred but can only cease through generosity." The Buddha's teachings are considered a refuge by Buddhists around the world, and The Buddha Speaks reconstructs this sanctuary wherever you are. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

Here is the core of the Buddha's teachings in his own words, as it was memorized word-for-word by his disciples and written down two hundred years after his death. These selections from the Buddhist scriptures deal with the search for truth, the way of contemplation, life, and death, living in community, and many other topics, serving as an excellent introduction to the Buddha's teaching. Whether addressed to monks and nuns, householders, outcastes, or thieves, the Buddha's teachings are characterized by one main concern: conveying the reality of our bondage to suffering—and the supremely good news that liberation is possible. It is a concern as relevant for people today as it was for the people of north India a millenium and a half ago.

Customer Reviews:

DIRECT FROM THE BUDDHA.......2001-03-20

Anne Bancroft does a wonderful job of giving us the ACTUAL words of the Buddha and only the Buddha. She selflessly steps aside and let's Buddha's words speak for themselves. Many introductory books on Buddhism or Buddha's teaching are filled with miles and miles and miles and miles of commentary and interpretation by the editors as if they themselves were the enlightened one and Buddha is just an afterthought. They go on and on about what they think Buddhism is and what they think Buddha means and what we should think about what the Buddha said. Occasionally we'll get a snippet of what Buddha actually said, usually only to support the author's interpretation. In many of these books I wondered when if ever I would ever read what Buddha actually said. Buddha was a very literate and lucid speaker. I think most anyone can understand his words if you can just get your hands on what he actually said. We don't need miles of interpretation, commentary and present day scenarios. Buddha's words are as valid today as they were 2500+ years ago. Anyone can understand them if you could just read them in a simple and comfortably arranged fashion like this book. With only a wonderfully brief 2-1/2 page preface, we get right into what Buddha actually said. What a concept! Kudos to Anne Bancroft. Anne does a great job of culling out great gems from the vast Buddhist texts. It's an introductory book, so the deepest teachings are only hinted at here and there but they're there. You begin feeling calm and well as the the Buddha was supremely calm and well in mind, body and soul. Books of commentary probably have there place somewhere but it is really nice to have an editor just let the words speak for themselves. If you want the truth, plain and simple, with a book that you can read again and again even ten years from now, get this book. Thank You Anne Bancroft.

Like having the Buddha by your side.......2000-07-30

This will be a welcome addition to your Buddhist book collection. Anne Bancroft has done a wonderful job of collecting and arranging some of the Buddha's most enlightening sayings. I must say that I enjoyed reading this more thna any other book on the topic in recent memory. I promise you that you will want to buy more than one copy of this book, as you will find your self handing it out to everyone of your friends and family who ask the question, "Say what is that Buddhism all about?" Enjoy. . .

The Sutra on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings: A Buddhist Scripture on Simplicity, Genrosity and Compassion

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The Sutra on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings: A Buddhist Scripture on Simplicity, Genrosity and Compassion
Thich Nhat Hanh
Manufacturer: Parallax Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Sutra on the Eight Realizations of the Great Beings explains the virtues of simplicity, generosity, and compassion.

Buddhism--a non-theistic religion;: With a selection from Buddhist scriptures,

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Buddhism--a non-theistic religion;: With a selection from Buddhist scriptures,
Helmuth von Glasenapp
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ASIN: 0042940621

Apocryphal Scriptures (Bdk English Tripitaka Translation Series)

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Apocryphal Scriptures (Bdk English Tripitaka Translation Series)
Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research , and Numata Center for Buddhist Translation A
Manufacturer: Numata Center for Buddhist Translation & Research
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 188643929X

Product Description

This volume contains ﬁve scriptural texts that have been especially important and inﬂuential in the East Asian Buddhist tradition. The Bequeathed Teaching Sutra, purportedly the last teaching given by the Buddha to the monks, emphasizes the practice of monastic discipline through observance of the pratimoksa, rules of conduct. This text was inﬂuential to Chinese Buddhists of the Tang, Song, and Ming dynasties and considered a basic reference for the Chan (Zen) school in particular. In The Ullambana Sutra, the Buddha instructs the monk Mahmaudgalyyana on how to obtain liberation for his mother, who had been reborn into a lower realm, by making food offerings to the sangha on the ﬁfteenth day of the seventh month. This practice is the basis of the Obon ceremony in honor of ones ancestors that is still observed widely in Japan. The Sutra of Forty-two Sections is a compilation of brief passages drawn from many Buddhist sutras, includin! g Pli and Chinese Buddhist sources, particularly the gamas (canonical texts). Each section presents an ethical teaching intended for practice by Buddhist followers, and because of its practical relevance to moral behavior, the text has remained a popular general text among Chinese Buddhists up to the present day. The Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment, especially important in the Chan and Huayan traditions in China, deals with teaching of intrinsic enlightenmentthe potentiality for Buddhahood shared by all sentient beingsthat became a fundamental axiom on which uniquely East Asian forms of Buddhist belief and practice developed. The Sutra on the Profundity of Filial Love, known as the Buddhist book of ﬁlial piety, reveals the synthesis of native Chinese Confucian ideals with Buddhist teachings. Believed to have been produced by Chinese Buddhist monks in imitation of the Confucian Classic of Filial Piety, the text shows that Buddhism also teaches the idea of ﬁli! al piety, though it is to be based on the aspiration to attain enlightenment, and how best to repay ones indebtedness to ones parents.

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Buddhist Scriptures
Edward Conze
Manufacturer: Penguin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000B7OZKI

The Scripture on the Explication of Underlying Meaning (Bdk English Tripitaka Translation Series)

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Samdhinirmocana Sutra

The Scripture on the Explication of Underlying Meaning (Bdk English Tripitaka Translation Series)
Numata Center for Buddhist Translation and Research , and Numata Center for Buddhist Translation A
Manufacturer: Numata Center for Buddhist Translation & Rese
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 1886439109

Book Description

This text is a new translation by Prof. John P. Keenan of the second century Samdhinirmocana Sutra, a foundational Yogacara (Consciousness Only) text, which is also the basic sutra of the Fa-hsiang School. (Taisho #676) [Ch: Chieh-shen-mi-ching] [Jp: Gejinmikkyo]

Customer Reviews:

Samdhinirmocana Sutra.......2001-04-16

This translation, according to my opinion is quite good, because the language to be used here is quite simple ( English is not my mother language). This Sutra give me the new point of view in the meaning of words. Budha spoke this Sutra in the immeasurable place adorned by seven precious jewels, that illuminate the world realms in ten directions. He taught us not to cling to the language/words, because the reality is apart from words, and also we must avoid dualism. For further discussion and information you could send e-mail to dh4rm4id@yahoo.com

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