Overview
Early issues of The Eastern Buddhist contain short translations from various Buddhist texts, some of them quite important and all of considerable interest. Since they are set unobtrusively between modern statements and arguments about the nature of Buddhism, and in any case are difficult to locate, they have often gone unnoticed by students. Assembled here is a selection of those texts which have stood the test of time. Derived from Sanskrit, Chinese and Japanese originals, they illustrate the importance of lay spirituality for Japanese Buddhists, both in the nenbutsu tradition and in the wider context of Mahayana Buddhism. Drawing them together into one volume brings out the fact that these varied Buddhist traditions are intricately related to each other. The result is an unusual and fascinating reader which would grace many a course in Buddhist studies.
Full Product Details
Author: Michael Pye
Publisher: Equinox Publishing Ltd
Imprint: Equinox Publishing Ltd
Dimensions:
Width: 15.60cm
, Height: 2.50cm
, Length: 23.40cm
Weight: 0.658kg
ISBN: 9781908049148
ISBN 10: 1908049146
Pages: 356
Publication Date: 15 July 2014
Audience:
College/higher education
,
Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: Available To Order
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.
Reviews
"The most important contribution in this volume is probably an English translation (from the Chinese version) of the Vimalakīrti-nirdeśa by Izumi Hokei (1884-1947) which is assembled from different issues of The Eastern Buddhist. It supplements various other translations of this important text which exist already. Other contributions provide translations of the Heart Sutra or short texts related to the Bodhisattva Samantabhadra (Fugen 普賢). In addition to these valuable translations there are a couple of interesting contributions by various authors focusing on diverse aspects of ""lay spirituality"" and sometimes giving insight into the diversified interest of Japanese Zen or Shin Buddhists. The volume includes a valuable synoptic list of texts which are directly referred to in the volume and an excellent index which helps to explore its rich content. Religious Studies Review"
The most important contribution in this volume is probably an English translation (from the Chinese version) of the Vimalakirti-nirdesa by Izumi Hokei (1884-1947) which is assembled from different issues of The Eastern Buddhist. It supplements various other translations of this important text which exist already. [...] In addition to these valuable translations there are a couple of interesting contributions by various authors focusing on diverse aspects of 'lay spirituality' and sometimes giving insight into the diversified interest of Japanese Zen or Shin Buddhists. The volume includes a valuable synoptic list of texts which are directly referred to in the volume and an excellent index which helps to explore its rich content. --Franz Winter, University of Graz, Religious Studies Review 44.1 (March 2018)
Author Information
Michael Pye is Professor (emeritus) at Marburg University and a visiting Research Associate of Otani University in Kyoto. His writings have ranged widely over problems in the study of religions, studies in Buddhist thought and many aspects of contemporary Japanese religion. His major publications include Skilful Means and Emerging from Meditation.
