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Mother of the Buddhas: Meditations on the Prajnaparamita Sutra

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The Prajnaparamita sutra is a central text in Mahayana Buddhism and considered by some to be the foundation text.

Lex Hixon has compiled a series of selections based on the 8,000 line version of the Sutra, drawing upon his background as an academic (Ph.D. in Comparative Religions, Columbia) and as a practicing mystic (Shaikh in the Havleti-Jerrahi Sufi order).

The root message of the Sutra is non-duality - that is, there is no "me" and "you", no "object" and "observer", no "known" and no "knower".

This fundamental unity of all being leads to a universal approach to enlightenment - working for the enlightenment of all beings not just one's own.

Understanding this fundamental truth is in effect what enlightenment is about. And thus, the sobriquet, "Mother of the Buddhas" is well deserved.

The text and arguments are dense in parts. This is not a quick read, nor a book for those looking for the sixty-second guide to enlightenment.

It requires work and probably more than one reading.

Is it worth it? Yes.

This is in many ways my favorite of all books. I cannot heap enough praise upon it. Lex Hixon has taken forty of the best segments of the Perfection of Wisdom Sutra in Eight Thousand Lines and translated them into sublime and ecstatic prose, resulting in forty "meditations" that instruct and uplift. This sutra is the seminal work of the Mahayana branch of Buddhism, and is so revered that it is often depicted sitting on a flower by the left ear of some of the Holy Beings associated with wisdom, such as Manjushri, Prajnaparamita (The Mother of the Buddhas of the title, whose picture adorns the cover), and the Tibetan master Je Tsongkhapa. An old translation of the complete sutra by the late scholar Edward Conze is once again in print, but it is very poorly written, and except for its completeness it pales miserably in comparison to Mother of the Buddhas. While I so wish that Lex Hixon had translated the entire sutra, what he has done is just so exquisite that I cannot complain. Sometimes upon reading it I just want to cry, my heart is so filled to overflowing by the shear beauty of these most holy words.

Finding ones way around Buddhist scriptures can be a bit confusing. After much reading of introductions and notes in other books and many Amazon searches, I figured out that the Prajanaparamita Sutra in 8000 Lines is an older, basic precursor to the Heart Sutra. I bought the translation by Conze and began earnestly reading it. However, because of its density and quirky translation of certain terms, it is more academically inspiring than spiritually inspiring! Then I saw this book and splurged for another "translation." Don't be turned off because it is "only" a modern paraphrase. The transparency of modern language lets the true meaning of emptiness shine through and affect the way you see everything. Truly beautiful. Thank you, Bodhisattva Lex Hixon.

This is one of the most poetically beautiful books written on the "Great Matter". The introduction is helpful to those who have not been exposed to the radical nature of these teachings.

Don't be put off by the review that indicates that he got a little tired of hearing it over and over again for 210 pages. Some chapters resonate with such vibrancy that I have read them over and over--just for the beauty of revisiting them.

However, as with most books of this nature, if it doesn't work for you it doesn't. It doesn't do any good to force it.

After 30 years living in México, Roshi Ejo Takata, Rinzai from Kobe, Japan, finally had a book to give to his Zen students. They have repeatedly asked him to give him a text to study, but he haven't found a buddhist text that he considered would really help them, until he found Mother of the Buddhas. Roshi Takata passed away on July of 1997, after meeting the author of Mother of the Buddhas and receiving a copy directly from Dr. Lex Hixon.

This exposition of the Prajnaparamita Sutra, by Lex Hixon, is Enlightening. Never have I experperienced the Dharma expounded so well. This book cultivates true understanding of emptiness, impermanence, and the illusory nature of our perception. This book empowers aspiring Bodhisattvas! And awakens the layperson! If one were to only meditate on the Prajnaparamita Sutra they would be sure to attain enlightenment--from this "Perfect Wisdom" of mother pranjaparamita.

A brilliant presentation of the Perfect Wisdom of Buddhism that lucidly conveys the essenceless essence of the Mahayana. The only book I carry with me on my travels.

I have to tell you - I'm new to Buddhism and new to Lex Hixon, but this book, and Buddhism and Hixon, will be a major part of the rest of my life. I think I will need to read a few pages every day in order to ever fully understand it (I've read it through completely twice already), yet the clarity of the Bodhisattva Ideal shines through, and each page has some clarification on what is reqired of each of us to lead a worthwhile life. I think this is the clearest and most readable translation of the most profound religious and spiritual teaching ever expounded. I am so happy I found this.

I am reading for the 3rd time MOTHER OF THE BUDDHAS, and it feels like the 1st time-- all over again.
The more I sit on the cushion, pray, read, attend to-the-point teachings (from all paths)the more I see how tricky my mind is. Several years ago my spiritual 'friend'/Buddhist lama recommended I read this work by Lex Hixon. There have been other recommendations he has suggested, but I'm particularly thankful for this one. If I'm into my multi-tasking, linear mind then it is impossible to make sense of this poetic, inspirational work. There are other books available which talk about the Heart Sutra and other Lex Hixon books that are easier to read. How wonderful. But this particular book remains one of the most important ones in my life.

Great Book. Just goes to show how white people rob and steal other peoples ideas. Nothing spiritual came out of Europe and the Greeks studied under the Ancient Egyptians who were African. If you don't believe me just read the writings of Homer and Herodotus. The field of psychology is a white wash version of ancient spiritual systems. Sigmund Freud and all the other "European" psychologist studied other indigenous material and came up with their own spin of reality. The bible and the quran and the torah have nothing on this type of material. i studied psychology for years and it is such a left brain field of information with all of it's literal jargon. Great read for anyone who is trying to emancipate their mind from form and attachments.