Customer Reviews

The Enlightenment of Vairocana: Book I, Study of the Vairocanabhisambodhitantra : Book Ii, Study of the Mahavairocana-Sutra (Buddhist Traditon, Vol)

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I'm not sure how one would compare it on presentation or translation quality, simply because I can't find another English text with this information. This alone makes it an important work.

The Enlightenment of Vairocana and the Study of the Mahavairocana Sutra constitute probably the most imprtant text in Esoteric Buddhism. It is based on this text that Nagarjuna propagated the doctrine and created the Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas that Kobo Daishi brought back to Japan in the 9th century. It is basically a description of the two mandalas, how they should be set up, which deities should be placed in what position, and what their specific mantras and mudras are, for the purpose of worship, teaching initiates, and identifying with the nature of the buddhas. For the researcher, this is a real find; however, the book could use some illustrations and diagrams (perhaps the inclusion of the matrices) and the cover could be more attractive.

This book has two parts: one original half by Alex Wayman, one a translation of the French study from the beginning of the 20th century by Tajima. Neither is of great use or contemporary scholarly quality.

The first half is devoted to the Mahavairocana Tantra (as it is known in Tibet and later India). The perennially confused and confusing Wayman does little to illuminate the interpretation of this text or its traditions.

The latter was a groundbreaking study of the Mahavairocana Sutra (as it is known in Japan), by Tajima. Its scholarship is highly dated and the quality of the translation, filtered as it is through Chinese, Japanese, and then French into English, leaves much to be desired.

Try Stephen Hodge's recent translation of the Mahavairocanatantra with Buddhaguhya's commentary if you are seeking a translation. Or Chikyo Yamamoto's translation from the Sino-Japanese side.