The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
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Importance of Flower Ornament Sutra & this edition
I ornament Sutra (fos) of the flower is often neglected because he is
not like available (hour from the press probably like consequence wide
of not being used from the laity), but it is a Sutra superb a suit (if
of the single text can be called to align comprehensive)expression of
the Buddhist (especially Mahayanist)Vision. I say "the vision" rather
than "thought" or "philosophy" because the fos it is in the first
place a meditative inducer of the trance or the vision, rather than
one doctrine or a treaty. The fos is read in order to perceive the
conscience of the Buddha in a sense much staff and mystical, "it does
not understand" intellectual to it. The translation of the Thomas
Cleary is probably the most accessible to the mind and the heart
Americans. I have not read to all the other translations, solo some
are available here in the S.U.A. that seem. An attention: I would
watch myself give "of the contemporary" or "it has condensed" the
versions of fos, if found, because these adaptations to the
contemporary mind sure will lose acquaintance originate them, some of
which already also is undoubtedly lost in one careful translation like
Cleary. That the conscience is why you would read the fos in the first
place. Better in order to go to the source, however conventional or
repeated and sormontato all the sense it begins them "of the trouble"
you could think. With fos you would have to suspend logical the
critical mind for an open and receptive heart. More deeply gone in
this way and the more clearly deep "vision" become. Finally it is like
one spark. To a sure point the spark jumps you and lives independently
in you from the text - or not. The fos a truth is an instrument to the
car-discovery "" not to join to Affatto the Buddhist knows this, but
the fos a lot important is an instrument, effective and precious of it
appeal to and the clarification if you are opened to it. The version
that of the hardback I have obtained published from Shambala is
beautiful, good a copy as you could hope to find currently. Highly,
highly suggested.
An Achievement of Epic Proportions
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!
But you could wish to simply smoke sure erbaccia a really pleasant one
when you have read I ornament it Scripture of the flower, because it
is, like alluded from some critics us, a text hypnotic that it is
enough dissimilar qualche.cosa that had been published or was probable
to obtain published in the immediate future. That is really more close
that you can obtain to a species of the alive potter in of Harry the
magic book... is something nearly threatening to this purpose here is
frontpiece, jeeze, 1643 pages, I supposes that it is enough
threatening, but... not to play Jungian equally, TFOS is really
transport-Tantra, that is, the species of the metabolic changes of
wierd experienced in the buddhism of Tibetian can quickly be obtained
reasonably reading some pages of the Bible of Yen di Hua. So as to to
render the pleasant travel and from student, the search "holographic
universe" and the net of Indra, posterior being "a famous" device has
used to teach the gist of Yen di Hua, that it is, in a nutshell, the
infinitude of the multidimensionality. Left over!
Wow!
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
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.
Must Read
This book is "must read" to the book for all the serious buddhist
professionals. This Sutra gives all the kinds to you of understandings
that lead to the distance of the clarification. If one knows to read
this Sutra and understands the relative one to satisfy, one can catch
up the joy and the happiness boundless. Avatamsaka has place for all
and daily life. Ve the tests, is not nothing here to lose but all to
earn.
A priceless treasure
Although I'm sure I'm quite ignorant of the larger context of this book, if I could only take one book into a cell for the remainder of my life, I would choose this. At the rate of a few pages most evenings (aloud) I'm half way through and looking forward to beginning again, more slowly next time. They say that if you study Lam-rim, it helps you with any Buddhist teachings you might come across. For this reason, I find every page filled with gems. I had owned it for two years before I returned from a Tibetan Buddhist retreat and discovered that the final pages are "The Noble King of Vows of the Conduct of Samantabhadra".
A massive, massively influential sutra, expertly translated
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.
Read aloud
This translation is a explication of expansion of spirit and mind of
the world of buddhism. My council to that they have the good great
fortune for having the occasion to have this book is immediately buy
it. My part of the secong of council must read it to high voice. More
definitively it changes yours it declares and it expands your mind. I
have possessed if for 10 years and have given via three copies to the
friends. Nobody has been never disappointed. The introduction alone is
worth the price of the book.
A beautiful masterpiece.
A book translate from Thomas Cleary is worth the relative weight in
gold... and then in some. The Avatamsaka Sutra is deep a powerful part
and of worthy job the investment of time of ponder and meditated on. I
have seated down an evening of summer, in order to begin the travel
and after the first pages they have been transformed from the beauty
and the wisdom that I have found woven to the inside of the words of
the sig.. Absorbent translation of the Cleary. In my opinion: that is
the apex of ALL the buddhist text.
Absolutely beautiful. A remarkable translation.
For anyone interested in the highest, most lucid and profound written teachings of the Mahayana, Cleary's translation of the Avatamsaka-sutra is essential reading. Every line is beautifully rendered, and the only problem I have with it is the translation of "bodhisattva" to "enlightening being," which is accurate but not usually done. Aside from that petty qualm, however, this book is perfect. Even the physical design is very well crafted and aesthetically pleasing. This is surely Shambhala's and Tom Cleary's masterpiece.
The only complete translation, Cleary's masterpiece
Following the translations of Thomas Cleary for many years, I must say
that this is by far its the better thing. Every word has relati to you
the feeding and profundity it originates them that they can only
survive in English from the careful touch of the Thomas Cleary. This
sutra is essential reading for all the students of buddhism of
Mahayana.
The ultimate Mahayana sutra
The sig. Cleary has made the humanity a great service translate this
wonderful text. The Buddhists of Mahayana to consider this book like
"the king of all the king." The Buddha has spoken this sutra during
the first 21 day after its clarification. It has spoken for the
bodhisattvas, as an increasing sun can be only seen from high
mountains. After this, the Buddha "has hidden real and the detector
the provisonal." The history of as this sutra in the first place it
has come to the human beings is fascinating. Presumed, Nagajuna,
during its meditation, rivisitato the library of the king of dredges.
Here, it has seen three versions of Avatamsaka-along, short mean and.
Nagajuna has read the abbreviated version and memorizzata it. When it
has exited from its meditation, the sutra has written from the memory,
that it has become more or less the sutra than Avatamsaka has
translate here. It must read for all practioner or the serious
buddhist erudite. This sutra has it all.
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--end of The Flower Ornament Scripture: A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra