Unlike most sutras, its central figure is not a buddha but a wealthy townsman, who, in his. Download the entire vimalakirti sutra free pdf ebook. The teaching of vimalakirti minnesota zen meditation center. Each of the eight items discussed can be a subject of meditation, and each of these subjects can be further divided.
The vimalakirti sutra translations from the asian classics editorial noun translated by burton watson wm. Vimalakirti the vimalakirti sutra translations from the. For two millennia this sutra, called the jewel of the. The sutra of queen srimala of the lions roar and the vimalakirti sutra pdf. Burton watsons recent translation is better grammatically. An important aspect of this text is that it contains a report of a teaching addressed to both arhats and bodhisattvas by the layman vimalakirti, who. No part of this site or information contained herein may be copied, reproduced, duplicated. There is no mention of him in buddhist texts until after nagarjuna 1st century. This sutra is entirely in accord with both the mahayana and theravada traditions. Esteemed translator burton watson has rendered a beautiful english translation from the popular chinese version produced in 406 c. From the chinese version by kumarajiva kumarajiva, burton watson one of the most popular asian classics for roughly two thousand years, the vimalakirti sutra stands out among the sacred texts of mahayana buddhism for its conciseness, its vivid and humorous episodes, its dramatic narratives, and its eloquent exposition of. An important aspect of this text is that it contains a report of a teaching addressed to both arhats and bodhisattvas by the layman vimalakirti, who expounds the doctrine of sunyata, or. The vimalakirti sutra translations from the asian classics. Vasubandhus commentary to the saddharmapundarikasutra.
It is so insubstantial, perishable, shortlived, painful, filled with. View vimalakirti sutra research papers on academia. The teachings of vimalakirti minnesota zen meditation center. Jan 30, 2017 the vimalakirti sutra, fascicle one, chapter i, buddha land. The content of the vimalakirti sutra there are fourteen chapters in the vimalakirti sutra. Reverence to all buddhas, bodhisattvas, arya sravakas, and pratyekabuddhas, in the past, the present, and the future chapter i. While the licchavi vimalakirti thus taught the dharma to those who had come to inquire about his sickness, many hundreds of thousands of living beings.
Kumarajivas version of the lotus sutra as the basic text, rather than the taisho edition. Up till here, the stage was set for a great discussion at vimalakirtis house. Translated from the chinese taisho volume 14, number 475 by john r. Click download or read online button to get vimalakirti sutra book now. When the buddha had finished preaching this sutra, he sat with his legs crossed in lotus position and entered into the samadhi of the place of immeasurable meanings, his body. The vimalakirti sutra by watson, burton, 1925publication date 1997 publisher new york. The vimalakirti sutra contains more subtle wisdom than can be presented in a short essay, but here is a brief overview of the sutra. You can see all this books content by visiting the pages in the below index. The full text of the vimalakirti sutra in english is available here and publically accesible free to read online. Vimalakirtis story in this allegorical work, vimalakirti is a layman who debates a host of disciples and bodhisattvas and demonstrates his. Originally written in sanskrit, probably in the first century c. The vimalakirti nirdesha sutra is a mayahana buddhist scripture that dates from the second century ce. John mcrae notes that in contrast to india and tibet where the vimalakirti sutra left little discernible impact, the sutra became one of the favorites in east asian buddhism.
A mahayana scripture, motilal banarsidass, 1991, isbn 8120808746 friends, this body is so impermanent, fragile, unworthy of confidence, and feeble. Vimalakirti nirdesa sutra is a mahayana buddhist text which was likely to be composed. Purification of the buddhafield reverence to all buddhas, bodhisattvas, aryasravakas, and pratyekabuddhas, in the past, the present, and the future. Yampolsky columbia university press new york chapter 3 the disciples. The vimalakirti sutra, one of the most influential works of the mahayana buiddhist canon, is of particular importance in the chan or zen sect. This text is a unique development within the buddhist tradition because of its egalitarian and generous view concerning. A mahayana scripture, motilal banarsidass, 1991, isbn 8120808746. Friends, this body is so impermanent, fragile, unworthy of confidence, and feeble. Translator burton watson argues that the vimalakirti nirdesa was likely composed in approximately 100 ce. The lotus sutra translated by burton watson including rev. Burton watson the vimalakirti sutra from the chinese. Vimalakirti, 8th century wall painting, dunhuang vimalakirti sanskrit. Vimalakirti sutra book by burton watson thriftbooks.
Here is the entire vimalakirti nirdesa sutra ebook in robert a. Vasubandhus commentary to the saddharmapundarika sutra. This translation is from the tibetan canon, but other. It is a teaching with a message of social engagement based on the core buddhist principles of compassion and generosity. This pdf file may be printed and distributed according to the terms of use estab lished on the. The ancient 100page sutra teaches the meaning of nonduality among other themes. Yampolsky columbia university press new york chapter 3 the disciples at that time the. Vimalakirti s story in this allegorical work, vimalakirti is a layman who debates a host of disciples and bodhisattvas and demonstrates his deep enlightenment and understanding. This site is like a library, use search box in the widget to get ebook that you want. Burton watson the vimalakirti sutra from the chinese version by kumarajiva by mystic. Because the teaching of the vimalakirti sutra goes back and forth between two different. From the chinese version by kumarajiva 2nd edition by kumarajiva, burton watson, watson, burton 2008 hardcover hardcover january 1, 1707 4. Publication date 201807 topics buddhism collection opensource language.
Columbia university press 1996 abstract the vimalakirti sutra, one of the most influential works of the mahayana buddhist canon, is of particular importance in the chan or zen sect. Download the bible, the holy quran, the mahabharata, and thousands of free pdf ebooks on buddhism, meditation, etc. With a translation by the noted scholar burton watson, includes an introduction to the philosopher in relation to chinese history and thought. Aug 16, 2018 the vimalakirti sutra contains more subtle wisdom than can be presented in a short essay, but here is a brief overview of the sutra. Numata center for buddhist translation and research. It was originally composed in sanskrit and produced in india, but was later translated into many other languages, including chinese, tibetan, sogdian, khotanese, uighur, mongolian, and manchu. The sutra of queen srimala of the lions roar srimaladevisi. Watson includes a brief history of early buddhism and an introduction to the doctrine of nondualism, a key tenet in mahayana thought.
Buddhism has been characterised as an edifying philosophy watson 1998, 14, and. Watsons illuminating introduction discusses the background of the sutra, its place in the development of buddhist thought, and the profundities of its principal. Doctrinally, the vimalakirti sutra elaborates ideas deriving from the. At one time the lord buddha was in residence in the garden of amrapali, in the city of. Asrecordedinthepalicanon,thebuddhaandhisdisciplesl ivedinan. The vimalakirtia sutra has become widely popular in east asia with the sutra becoming especially popular in the zen school. Images of scroll from the metropolitan museum of art northern song dynasty 9601127 gold and silver on purple silk 11 in. Vimalakirti sutra download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Vimalakirti sutra by buddhism now on 4 july 2014 1. Buy a cheap copy of vimalakirti sutra book by burton watson.
This culminates with the wordless teaching of silence. Quotes vimalakirti sutra robert thurmans translation, 1991 as translated by robert thurman in the holy teaching of vimalakirti. The lord buddha was in residence in the garden of amrapali, in the city of vaisali, attended by a great gathering. Thus have i heard, once upon a time the buddha sojourned in the amra park at vaisali with an assembly of eight thousand great bhiksus. In vimalakirtis house, the discussion centered around the need for a bodhisattva to engage the world in order to attain ultimate wisdom. From kumarajivas chinese and featuring a short introduction thurman, robert 2000. The vimalakirti sutra by burton watson, the journal of asian studies 57 1, 205206 via jstor subscription required vimalakirti nirdesa sutra. The vimalakirti sutra is a brief and popular scripture and is considered one of the most profound and literarily excellent of all the indian mahayana sutras. Translator burton watson says that the vimalakirti nirdesa sutra was. Jun 23, 2010 an important aspect of this scripture is that it contains a report of a teaching addressed to both arhats and bodhisattvas by the layman vimalakirti, who expounds the doctrine of sunyata, or emptiness, to them. Expository commentary on the vimalakirti sutra bdk america. Northern song dynasty 9601127 gold and silver on purple silk 11 in. They were free from impurities and afflictions, and all had attained. This book presents the major teachings of mahayana buddhism in a precise, dramatic, and even humorous form.
One of the most popular asian classics for roughly two thousand years, the vimalakirti sutra stands out among the sacred texts of mahayana buddhism for its conciseness, its vivid and humorous episodes, its dramatic narratives, and its eloquent exposition of the key doctrine of emptiness or nondualism. Of course, i would always recommend buying the book so you get the latest edition. Buy the vimalakirti sutra translations from the asian classics new ed by watson, burton isbn. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Vimalakirti sutra robert thurmans translation, 1991 as translated by robert thurman in the holy teaching of vimalakirti. Up till here, the stage was set for a great discussion at vimalakirti s house. The vimalakirti sutra, fascicle one, chapter i, buddha land. It is so insubstantial, perishable, shortlived, painful, filled with diseases, and subject to changes.