Customer Reviews

The Maha-Vairocana-Abhisambodhi Tantra: With Buddhaguhya's Commentary (Curzon Studies in Tantric Traditions)

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Drawing from the extant Tibetan and Chinese translations of the lost Sanskrit original Hodge has produced an amazing rendition of the Maha-Vairocana Sutra. His introduction is thorough and his outline of its major themes makes the reading thereof more than intelligible. His method of translation is also to be praised, for instead of sticking unnecessarily close to the literal method or, the other too common error of translations of Buddhist texts, mixing in philosophical terminologies of post-renaissance Western thought, he has instead left all key terminologies untranslated; their various meanings explored in Buddhaguyha's commentray and in the very welcome glossary. All-in-all this is a great starting point in the study of the Maha-Vairocana Sutra, itself one of the most important text of Vajrayana/Mantrayana Buddhism.

If I had to compare this work with Christian texts, it would have to be put into the Gnostic category. It is a truly remarkable translation giving the reader access into the so-called Buddhist mysteries. Above all this Tantra is about Mind, the absolute substance of reality, and how to enter into communion with it. For mystical types out there, break your piggy bank and buy it.

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