Description
Book SynopsisTrade ReviewRichard S. Cohen provides an elegant and accessible translation of a heretofore unavailable Indian Buddhist Mahayana sutra, along with a highly engaging interpretive essay that illuminates how the sutra functions as 'scripture' and raises issues that extend far beyond Indian Buddhism itself. His book fills an important lacuna in the resources available for teaching Buddhism and makes a significant contribution to the cross-cultural study of sacred texts. -- Reiko Ohnuma, Dartmouth College Cohen has combined a fascinating Buddhist text-a veritable manifesto on the ritual powers of mantra, inscribed word, and sculpted image-with an incisive and lucid essay on the meaning of 'scripture' in religion. In its focus on gestures, practices, and their glorious exemplars in heaven, The Splendid Vision certainly rounds out the popular image of Buddhist texts and will make essential reading for courses on Buddhism, Asian religions, and scripture in world religions. -- David Frankfurter, William Goodwin Aurelio Chair of the Appreciation of Scripture, Boston University
Table of ContentsPreface Introduction to the TranslationTranslationInterpretive Essay Glossary Notes Works Cited Index
