Buddhist life and practice Books

Book SynopsisIn Power Objects in Tibetan Buddhism: The Life, Writings, and Legacy of Sokdokpa Lodrö Gyeltsen, James Duncan Gentry explores how objects of power figure in Tibetan religion, society, and polity through a study of the life of the Tibetan Buddhist ritual specialist Sokdokpa Lodrö Gyeltsen (1552–1624) within the broader context of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Tibet. In presenting Sokdokpa’s career and legacy, Gentry traces the theme of power objects across a wide spectrum of genres to show how Tibetan Buddhists themselves have theorized about objects of power and implemented them in practice. This study therefore provides a lens into how power objects serve as points of convergence for elite doctrinal discourses, socio-political dynamics, and popular religious practices in Tibetan Buddhist societies.

Read more less

Book SynopsisContextualizing the sutra within a milieu of intense religious and cultural experimentation, this volume unravels the sudden rise of Diamond Sutra devotion in the Tang dynasty against the backdrop of a range of social, political, and literary activities. Through the translation and exploration of a substantial body of narratives extolling the efficacy of the sutra, it explores the complex social history of lay Buddhism by focusing on how the laity might have conceived of the sutra and devoted themselves to it. Corroborated by various sources, it reveals the cult’s effect on medieval Chinese religiosity in the activities of an empowered laity, who modified and produced parasutraic texts, prompting the monastic establishment to accommodate to the changes they brought about.Trade Review"Ho has produced an exemplary piece of research that deserves to be widely read and appreciated. This is a substantial work and the writing is dense, detailed, and nuanced. [...] Reading it forced me to rethink some of my approaches to and understandings of Buddhist narrative materials from premodern China. [...] I think anyone working on Buddhist narrative literature will find this book essential reading. I look forward to spending many more hours with it and discussing it with my graduate students." – James A. Benn, McMaster University, in JAOS 141.3 (2021). "Given that scholarship pertaining to the Diamond Sutra is a vast field, it is rather refreshing to see it examined from the perspective of lay empowerment. Few scholars of religion would dispute the importance of the Diamond Sutra in (and beyond) Chinese Buddhism. What Ho has provided in this volume is a most welcome line of inquiry that will hopefully generate fruitful further dialogue." – Joseph Chadwin, University of Vienna, in Religious Studies Review 47.3 (2021).Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgements List of Illustrations List of Abbreviations Conventions Introduction Part 1: Study 1 Buddhism on the Ground: Parasutraic Narratives and Lay Religiosity 2 Parasutraic Narratives as Collective Memories: Underpinnings and the Rhetoric of Persuasion 3 Parasutraic Representations: The Religiosity of the Diamond Sutra Cult 4 Religious Innovations: Lay Autonomy in Textual Production 5 The Impact of the Cult of the Diamond Sutra and Its Parasutraic Narratives Part 2: Translation 6 A Record of Collected Proofs of the Efficacy of the Diamond Sutra, Jin’gang bore jing jiyanji 金剛般若經集驗記, Composed by Meng Xianzhong 孟獻忠, Adjutant of Zizhou 梓州司馬 7 Collected Marvels of the Diamond Sutra, Jin’gang jing jiuyi 金剛經鳩異, Compiled by Kegu 柯古, Duan Chengshi 段成式of Linzi 臨淄 [Commandery], Junior Chamberlain for Ceremonials, Tang Dynasty 8 A Record of the Proven Efficacy of the Diamond Sutra and the Merit to Be Gained from Upholding and Reciting It, Chisong Jin’gang jing lingyan gongde ji 持誦金剛經靈驗功德記, Compiled by Zhai Fengda 翟奉達 Appendices Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is a study of the formation and the practice of Buddhist canons and an attempt to present as fully as possible the panorama of Chinese Buddhist faith. The book uses textual and archaeological sources, including Dunhuang texts, and adopts multiple perspectives such as textual evidence, historical circumstances, social life, as well as the intellectual background at the time.Trade Review"Although the volume is sometimes too broad due to the impressive scope, Sheng should very much be commended. This volume serves as an excellent historical overview of the nature of Chinese Buddhism." - Joseph Chadwin, University of Vienna, Religious Studies Review 47/2 (2021).Table of ContentsContents List of Figures Introduction: Expression and Transformation of Chinese Buddhist Faith: Perspectives of Institutional History, Social History, Cultural History, and Scholarship History  1 “Entire Buddhism” and the Sinicization of Buddhism  2 The Perspective of Institutional History in Chinese Buddhist Faith  3 The Perspective of Social History in Chinese Buddhist Faith  4 The Perspective of Cultural History in Chinese Buddhist Faith 1 The Faith and Lifestyles of Buddhists during the Northern and Southern Dynasties  1 The Formation of Buddhist Repentance 1.1 Daoan’s Regulations for Monks and Nuns and Confession of Transgressions 1.2 Preaching in the Northern and Southern Dynasties 1.3 Purification Gathering (Zhaihui齋會) and Repenting Transgressions (Huiguo悔過) 1.4 The Formation of Repentance Rites in the Six Dynasties Period (222-589) 1.5 Zhenguan真觀 (538-611) and the Formation of the Lianghuang Chan梁皇懺  2 The Formation of the Tradition of Buddhist Vegetarianism 2.1 The Scriptural Basis of Vegetarianism 2.2 The Tradition of Monastic Vegetarianism before Liang Wudi 2.3 Vegetarianism of Zhou Yong周顒 (?-493) and Shen Yue沈約 (441-513) 2.4 The Thought of Liang Wudi in the “Duan Jiurou Wen”  3 Buddhist Societies in the Northern and Southern Dynasties and Philanthropy 3.1 Buddhist Societies of the Northern and Southern Dynasties 3.2 Buddhist Merit Making in the Northern and Southern Dynasties 98 3.3 Buddhist Philanthropy in the Northern and Southern Dynasties 101  4 The Cult of the Fahua jing in the Northern and Southern Dynasties  114 4.1 The Idea of Samādhi in the Fahua Jing 4.2 The Contemplative Method of “Lotus Samādhi” in the Siwei Lüeyao Fa思惟略要法 4.3 Idea of Repentance in the Puxian Guanjing普賢觀經 4.4 The Popularity of the Cult of the Fahua Jing 4.5 Huisi’s Fahua Jing Anlexing Yi 法華經安樂行義  5 Cults of Bhaiṣajyaguru, Avalokiteśvara and Relics in the Northern and Southern Dynasties 5.1 The Cult of Bhaiṣajyaguru in the Northern and Southern Dynasties 143 5.2 The Cult of Avalokiteśvara in the Northern and Southern Dynasties 148 5.3 The Cult of Relics during the Northern and Southern Dynasties 152  6 Concluding Remarks   Appendix 1.1: The Translation of Avalokiteśvara’s Name and the Transmission of Related Scriptures 2 Faith and Lifestyle of Buddhists in the Sui, Tang and Five Dynasties  1 Buddhist Faith and Rituals in the Sui and Tang 1.1 Zhiyi and the Compilation of Repentance Rites 1.2 Zongmi and the Yuanjue Jing Daochang Xiuzheng Yi圓覺經道場修證儀 1.3 Repentance Ritual of Chan Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty 1.4 Daoxuan and the Repentance Ritual of the Vinaya School 1.5 Shandao and Pure Land Rites of Worship and Praise 1.6 Sui and Tang Medicine Buddha Altars and the Repentance Ritual of Worshiping the Medicine Buddha 1.7 Maitreya Faith and Ritual of Maitreya Worship and Repentance  2 Neidaochang 內道場 and Śarīra Worship in the Sui and Tang 2.1 Origins of the Neidaochang內道場 2.2 Yang Guang’s Huiri Daochang and Riyan Monastery 2.3 Neidaochang in the Tang Dynasty 2.4 Śarīra Worship of Emperor Wen of Sui 2.5 Śarīra Worship of the Emperors in the Tang Dynasty  3 Buddhist Social Philanthropy in the Sui and Tang Periods 3.1 Buddhist Philanthropy in the Sui Dynasty 3.2 Compassion-Field Infirmaries in the Tang Dynasty 3.3 Monastery Boarding Houses in the Tang Dynasty  4 Public Lectures and Illustrative Narrative in the Tang and Five Dynasties 4.1 Ritual Procedures for Lecturing on Sūtras in the Tang and Five Dynasties 4.2 Public Lectures in the Tang and Five Dynasties 4.3 Illustrative Lecture and Illustrative Narrative in the Tang and Five Dynasties Period  5 Conclusion Appendix 2.1: An English Translation of the Yaoshi Daochang Wen  藥師道場文 (Text of the Medicine Buddha Altar; B. 8719V), Based on Li Xiaorong’s Critical Edition   Appendix 2.2: 34 Monastics Affiliated with Yang Guang’s Palace Chapels   Appendix 2.3: Monastics Involved in the Construction of Stūpas During the Renshou Era (601-604)   Appendix 2.4: A Comparison of Descriptions of the Sūtra Lecturing by Ennin and Other Sources 3 Buddhist Faith and Activities in the Song and Yuan Dynasties (960–1368)  1 Buddhist Faith and Rituals in the Song and Yuan Periods 1.1 The Creation and Practice of Tiantai Repentance Rituals in the Song Dynasty 1.2 The Practice of Repentance in the Song Huayan School 1.3 Buddhist and Pure Land Communes in the Song-Yuan Periods 1.4 Niepan Hui涅槃會 (Nirvāṇa Gatherings) and the Niepan Lizan Wen 涅槃禮贊文 (Veneration Verses of the Nirvāṇa) 1.5 The Development of the ‘Water and Land Rite’  2 Buddhist Philanthropy in the Song and Yuan Periods 2.1 Buddhist Social Programs during the Song Dynasty 2.2 Song Dynasty Buddhism and Regional Charity  3 The Practice of Life Release in Buddhism from the Song to Yuan Periods 3.1 The Origins of the Life Release Practice 3.2 Life Release Practices Before the Song Period 3.3 The Popularity of the Life Release Practice in the Song Dynasty 432  4 Conclusion   Appendix 3.1: Three Transgressions (Sampin zui 三品罪) Appendix 3.2: Three Methods of Repentance (Sanzhong Chanmen  三種懺門) 4 Buddhist Faith and Lifestyles in the Ming and Qing Dynasties  1 Mount Jiang Dharma Services and the Consolidation of Yoga Teachings under Emperor Taizu of Ming 1.1 The Creation and Procedures of the Mount Jiang Dharma Service 440 1.2 Ming Taizu’s Religious Views on Spirits and the Demands of “Rites” and “Time” in Sacrifices 1.3 Regulation and Promotion of Buddhist Services by Ming Taizu  2 Buddhist Services and Monastic Regulations under the Ming-Qing Periods 2.1 The Popularity and Disorder of Buddhist Services in the Ming and Qing 2.2 The Production and Perfection of Buddhist Repentance in the Ming and Qing 2.3 The Revisions and Popularity of Morning and Evening Recitations 2.4 Reflection and Criticism of Buddhist Services in the Ming, Qing, and Republican Periods  3 Philanthropy and the Life-Release in Ming and Qing Buddhism 3.1 Buddhist Philanthropy in the Ming and Qing 3.2 The Custom of Life-Releasing in Ming and Qing Buddhism  4 The Formation of the Belief in the Four Buddhist Sacred Mountains in Ming and Qing Periods 4.1 The Time Frame in Which the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains Concept Appeared 4.2 The Significance of Veneration of the Four Great Sacred Peaks 4.3 The Formation of Sacred Mountain Veneration and the Overcoming of the “Borderland Complex”  5 Conclusion   Appendix 4.1: The Times, Locations, Eminent Monks Participating in the Mount Jiang Dharma Service (Hasebe, kyōdanshi, 18-20)   Appendix 4.2: Three Hindrances (Sanzhang 三障)   Appendix 4.3: Morning and Evening Chanting Conclusion: The Characteristics of Chinese Buddhist Faith  1 Spatial Creation for Objects of Chinese Buddhist Faith  2 Rituals of Chinese Buddhist Faith, Politics of Imperial Power and Systems of Ritual  3 Rationalism and Communalism as Chinese Buddhist Expressions of Faith  4 Pragmatism as Chinese Buddhist Expression of Faith Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe first comprehensive study in English of the Japanese hell figure Datsueba explores her evolution since her eleventh-century emergence as a terrifying old woman who strips the clothes of the dead in the afterworld. Drawing widely on literature, art, and worship practices, the author reveals how the creative utilization of Datsueba’s key attributes—including a marker of borders, a keeper of cloth, and an elderly woman—transformed her into a guardian of the human journey through life and death and shaped a figure that is diverse and multifaceted, yet also strikingly recognizable across the centuries.Table of ContentsContents Acknowledgements List of Figures Introduction  1 Toward a More Integrated Picture  2 Theoretical Framework, Methodology, and Primary Sources  3 Structure of the Monograph 1 Conceptions of Hell in Asia: Related Texts and Imagery  1 The Six Realms and Early Representations of Hell  2 Chinese Adaptations and Visions of Hell  3 Female Deities Related to Death: Indian Goddesses, Meng Po, and Datsueba  4 Concluding Remarks 2 Datsueba in Religious and Popular Texts  1 Prototypes for Datsueba  2 Datsueba in Accounts of the Ten Kings of Hell  3 Datsueba-like Figures in Popular Stories  4 Concluding Remarks 3 Visual Representations of Datsueba: From Hell Scenes to the Popular Sphere  1 Pictorial Representations of Hell Prior to Datsueba  2 The Emergence of Datsueba in the Landscape of Hell  3 Standardization and Modification of Datsueba Iconography  4 Concluding Remarks 4 Datsueba in Pilgrimage Mandalas  1 Overview of Pilgrimage Mandalas  2 Datsueba in Ise sankei mandara: Marking the Border between Sacred and Impure  3 Datsueba in the Zenkōji sankei mandara: Bridging the Underworld and Pure Land  4 Datsueba in Tateyama mandara: Manifestation of the Mountain Goddess Ubason and Symbol of the Entrance to Hell  5 Concluding Remarks 5 Venerating Datsueba: Beliefs and Worship Practices  1 Sculptural Images of Datsueba: A Brief Overview  2 Datsueba as a Marker of the Otherworld  3 The Symbolism of Cloth in Worship Practices Devoted to Datsueba  4 Datsueba, Other Old Female Figures, and Buddhist Attitudes toward Women  5 Concluding Remarks Conclusion Chinese and Japanese Character Glossary Bibliography Index

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe BuddhistRoad project has been creating a new framework to understand the dynamics of cultural encounter and religious transfer across premodern Eastern Central Asia. This framework includes a new focus on the complex interactions between Buddhism and non-Buddhist traditions and a deepening of the traditional focus on Buddhist doctrines between the 6th and 14th centuries, as Buddhism continued to spread along an ancient, local political-economic-cultural system of exchange, often referred to as the Silk Roads. This volume brings together world renowned experts to discuss these issues including Buddhism and Christianity, Islam, Daoism, Manichaeism, local indigenous traditions, Tantra etc. Contributors include: Daniel Berounský, Michal Biran, Max Deeg, Lewis Doney, Mélodie Doumy, Meghan Howard Masang, Yukiyo Kasai, Diego Loukota, Carmen Meinert, Sam van Schaik, Henrik H. Sørensen, and Jens Wilkens.

Read more less

Book SynopsisGe bcags (Gebchak) dgon pa, founded in 1892 in Nang chen, Khams (Qinghai Province, PRC), is still active today with around 250 nuns practising intensive Vajrayāna rituals, yogas and meditation. The nuns’ knowledge goal is embodied, nonconceptual awareness, yet they spend many hours daily reading texts as part of their training. By investigating the whole context of the nuns’ lifeworld and ways of learning, this ethnography questions the role of reading in Ge bcags’ tacit knowledge tradition. At a time when Tibetan learning practices are quickly modernising, this book demonstrates a Buddhist tradition whose textual knowledge is not exactly literal, but cultivated through continuous, whole person learning.Trade Review'Brill’s Tibetan Studies Library has firmly established itself as a pacesetter in the field and this volume enhances that status even further.' David Templeman, Monash University, Australia, Himalaya, XXXII (2012)

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less