The Holy Teaching of Vimalakä«rti by Vimalakirti

The Holy Teaching of Vimalakä«rti

A Mahāyāna Scripture

Vimalakirti, Robert A. F. Thurman

Penn State University Press · Print & ebook · April 15, 2001

This book presents the major teachings of Mahāyāna Buddhism in a precise, dramatic, and even humorous form.

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Who it’s for
A key Mahāyāna scripture pairs philosophical precision with a dramatic, sometimes humorous voice.
Genres
Buddhist Sacred Writings, Buddhist Thought, Tibetan Buddhism
Published
Penn State University Press, April 15, 2001

About this book

This book presents the major teachings of Mahāyāna Buddhism in a precise, dramatic, and even humorous form. For two millennia this sūtra, called the “jewel of the Mahāyāna Sūtras,” has enjoyed immense popularity among Mahāyāna Buddhists in India, central and southeast Asia, Japan, and especially China, where its incidents were the basis for a style in art and literature prevalent during several centuries.

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Robert Thurman’s translation makes available, in relatively nontechnical English, the Tibetan version of this key Buddhist scripture, previously known to the English-speaking world only through translations from Chinese texts. The Tibetan version is generally conceded to be more faithful to the original Sanskrit than are the Chinese texts. The Tibetan version also is clearer, richer, and more precise in its philosophical and psychological expression. The books of the sūtra are accompanied by an introduction by Dr. Thurman and by three glossaries: Sanskrit terms, numerical categories, and technical terms. Read more

A Lively Scripture

A key Mahāyāna scripture pairs philosophical precision with a dramatic, sometimes humorous voice.

Come here for

  • Mahāyāna teachings in precise, dramatic, sometimes humorous form
  • A relatively nontechnical English translation of a key scripture

Expect

  • Tibetan text translated into accessible English
  • An introduction and three glossaries for navigating its terms

Where it sits

Buddhist Sacred Writings82%
Tibetan Buddhism43%
Buddhist Thought41%

Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.

Publisher categories

  • Buddhist Thought
  • Buddhism - General
  • Buddhist History
  • Buddhist Practice & Ritual
Show all 5 publisher categories
  • Buddhist Sacred Writings
Authors
Vimalakirti, Robert A. F. Thurman
Publisher
Penn State University Press
Published
April 15, 2001
Format
Print & ebook
Reading lane
Buddhist Thought