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Title: The Flower Ornament Scripture : A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra by Thomas Cleary ISBN: 0-87773-940-4 Publisher: Shambhala Pub. Date: 12 October, 1993 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $100.00 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.8 (10 reviews)
Rating: 5
Summary: A massive, massively influential sutra, expertly translated
Comment: The Avatamsaka Sutra (The Sutra of the Garland of Flowers) is among the largest and greatest of the scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism. It is 12 volumes in Chinese, and 1600 pages in this English edition published by Shambhala. As with most Mahayana scriptures, it treats Buddha not as merely a man of ancient India, but as a cosmic principle. Differing from the austere and non-theist Theravada scriptures, it is full of gods and goddesses, heavens, jewelled trees and imaginary beings. The Avatamsaka Sutra became very influential in Chinese Buddhism, and was responsible for the creation of the Hua-Yen school.
This edition by Thomas Cleary, THE FLOWER ORNAMENT SCRIPTURE, is excellent. It includes not only his translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra, but also a book subsequently pinned onto it (the 400-page Gandhavyuha, or "Entry into the Realm of Reality"), the Chinese mystic Li Tongxuan's seventh-century commentary on the Gandhavyuha, a glossary of difficult Mahayana concepts, and an incredibly helpful translator's introduction.
Dr. Cleary ranks among the foremost translators of Asian religious literature and always succeeds in translating works clearly and precisely. In THE FLOWER ORNAMENT SCRIPTURE, his years of experience have enabled him to produce a stunning translation, and I can only admire his persistence in translating such a massive work.
This edition is really a treasure for Buddhist students. Or, should I say, serious students and scholars. At 1600 pages and a high cost (though much more inexpensive than several years ago), this tome is for the dedicated. THE FLOWER ORNAMENT SCRIPTURE, however, is an excellent translation. Dr. Cleary has benefitted Westerners greatly through his singular translation.
Rating: 5
Summary: The ultimate Mahayana sutra
Comment: Mr. Cleary has done humanity a great service by translating this wonderful text. Mahayana buddhists regard this book as the "king of all kings." The Buddha spoke this sutra during the first 21 days after his enlightenment. He spoke it for bodhisattvas, as a rising sun can only be seen by high mountains. After this, the Buddha "hid the actual and revealed the provisonal." The story of how this sutra first came to the humans is fascinating. Supposedly, Nagajuna, during his meditation, revisited the dragon king's library. There, he saw three versions of the Avatamsaka-long, medium, and short. Nagajuna read the short version and memorized it. When he came out of his meditation, he wrote the sutra from memory, which became more or less the Avatamsaka sutra translated here. Must read for any serious Buddhist practioner or scholar. This sutra has it all.
Rating: 3
Summary: not for the beginner
Comment: 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.
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Title: The Vimalakirti Sutra by Burton Watson ISBN: 0231106572 Publisher: Columbia University Press Pub. Date: 15 August, 2000 List Price(USD): $17.00 |
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Title: The Diamond Sutra: The Perfection of Wisdom by Red Pine, Sanskrit ISBN: 1582432562 Publisher: Counterpoint Press Pub. Date: 17 December, 2002 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines & Its Verse Summary (Wheel Series, 1) by Edward Conze ISBN: 0877040494 Publisher: Four Seasons Foundation Pub. Date: April, 1984 List Price(USD): $20.00 |
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Title: The Lotus Sutra by Burton Watson ISBN: 0231081618 Publisher: Columbia University Press Pub. Date: 15 April, 1993 List Price(USD): $22.00 |
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Title: The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way: Nagarjuna's Mulamadhyamakakarika by Nagarjuna, Jay L. Garfield ISBN: 0195093364 Publisher: Oxford Press Pub. Date: November, 1995 List Price(USD): $17.95 |
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