Wisdom of Buddha: The Samdhinirmochana Sutra (Buddhism)

If you are a Mahayana Buddhist who is practicing yoga in the form of body postures, breath control, or sitting in meditation to deepen your tranquility of mind and clarify your insight into Wisdom - you are on a path that leads to this foundational Yogacara (Master of Yoga) text, which has been translated three times - once by Thomas Cleary as [a course in] Buddhist Yoga and John Powers as The Wisdom of the Buddha, and finally by Keenan in The Scripture on the Explication of Underlaying Meaning.The Cleary text is aimed at being very simple and straightforward, an effort to make it easy to assimilate text.The Power's book is lovely having facing pages of Tibetan and English text and a full set of notes. In a review of John Powers book that you can find on the Internet by Tom Graham you can get the background picture of just how frustrating it is that a text this important as a background to both the Yogacara School and the view of the Tantras is almost completely overlooked by American Buddhists.Both the Powers and the newest, excellent, translation by Keenan offer a both a crystal clarity of translation and insightful footnotes that make for a compact commentary on the text all by themselves.Key to Coordinating the available english translations:I. The Samdhinirmochana Sutra as translated from The Tibetan of the sDe-dge bKa'-`gur:1.) Powers, John. Wisdom of Buddha: The Samdhinirmochana Sutra. Dharma Publishing, 1995II. The Samdhinirmochana Sutra as translated from The Chinese of Hsuan-tsang (Taisho Vol. 16, Number 676):2a.) Cleary, Thomas. Buddhist Yoga: A Comprehensive Course. 1st ed. Shambhala, 1995. the same text republished in2b.) Cleary, Classics of Buddhism and Zen, Shambhalla, 20023.) Keenan, John P.. The Scripture on the Explication of Underlying Meaning. Numata Center for Buddhist Translation & Research, 2000.------------A Student's Guide to Using their version to Study the Samdhinirmochana SutraKeenan Chapter One Page 7Cleary Chapter One Page 1 [ Classics Vol. 5 - p. 753]"Introduction"[Powers Chapter One] Gambhirarrthasamdhinirmocana p.5Keenan Chapter One Page 11Cleary Chapter Two Page 5 [ Classics Vol. 5 - p. 755]"Characteristics of Ultimate Truth"[Powers Chapter Two] Dahrmodgata p. 25[Powers Chapter Three] Suvisuddhamati p.35[Powers Chapter Four] Subhuti p. 53The first four chapters in Powers version focus on a discussion of the ultimate truth (paramartha).------------Keenan Chapter Three Page 27Cleary Chapter Three Page 19 [ Classics Vol. 5 - p. 766]"Characteristics of Mind, Intellect, and Consciousness"[Powers Chapter Five] Visalamati p.69Keenan Chapter Four Page 31Cleary Chapter Four p. 23 [ Classics Vol. 5 - p. 769]"Characteristics of All Phenomena"[Powers Chapter Six] Gunakara p.82The fifth and sixth chapters discuss the concept of alayavijñana or "storehouse consciousness" and the three characteristics of phenomena (trilak'a'a), which refer to the incomplete and absolute truth of various phenomena.------------Keenan Chapter Five Page 35Cleary Chapter Five Page 27 [ Classics Vol. 5 - p. 772]"Essencelessness"[Powers Chapter Seven] Paramarthasamudgata p.95The seventh chapter is mainly concerned with outlining principles of Buddhist HERMENEUTICS------------Keenan Chapter Six Page 51Cleary Chapter Six Page 43 [ Classics Vol. 5 - p. 784]"Analyzing Yoga"[Powers Chapter Eight] Maitreya p. 151The eighth chapter focuses on MEDITATION theory, (Yoga) and practice.------------Keenan Chapter Seven Page 51Cleary Chapter Seven Page 69 [ Classics Vol. 5 - p. 805][Chapter Nine] Avalokite'vara p. 221"The Transcendent Way of the Sages"The ninth chapter describes the Bodhisattva PATH (Marga).------------Keenan Chapter Eight Page 99Cleary Chapter Eight - Page 91 [ Classics Vol. 5 - p. 822]"Deeds of the Enlightened "Powers [Chapter Ten] Mañju'r' page 275The final chapter is concerned with the characteristics of Buddhahood, the culmination of the practices the text describes.------------

the book came in near-perfect condition. they also included a beautiful bookmark :)nothing else to say. excellent for the price, quick shipping, and the text itself is remarkable. completely satisfied and very grateful that this book was offered at such a great price in such good condition.

Mostly in the title. There's bigger books that contain the same plus more for the same price. Also the comments saying this is only for scholars well... They must not read many buddhist texts because this is one of the easier to comprehend texts especially for mahayana concepts.Anyway.. I bought it as the Flower Ornament Scripture compares itself to 6 different books. This being one. All of which I'll read before finishing it. Since mahayana books insist on calling themselves better than all others, I must read 6 books to decide. Thankfully this mahayana book did not open bragging itself to be better than 6 other books as many so often do ...Be ready for much bragging in mahayana. Be ready for many people to say it's harder than it is. Read the Pali Canon and interpret that. It's basic. Take basic and apply it to the complex.This book is straight forward to anyone that understands buddhism. If you don't understand buddhism, you shouldn't be buying this book yet. For anyone on the Bodhisattva path regardless of your 'school', it's worth taking a look at these sutras especially so you can gain perspective since they all like to compare themselves to eachother.This book honestly stands out in no way compared to any others. So far, the Flower Ornament Scripture remains ahead.

Did not know what to expect and when I received it I was extremely impressed. I would recommend it to all seekers of knowledge.

$26.00 brand new at dharmapublishing.com

product as specified. a difficult read. some interesting points.