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The Perfection of Wisdom (Wheel Series,)

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Edward Conze has published at least 3 translations of the Prajnaparamita or Perfection of Wisdom texts. These are attributed to Gautama Siddhartha, the historical Buddha. Numerous versions of various lengths of these sutras exist. The first of Conze's translations that I read was a collection of the shorter versions of the sutra. The present volume is a single, middle length version. It is often referenced or quoted or included in Bibliographies of Tibetan Buddhist works--which utilize or build upon its wisdom (especially the "emptiness" or dependent-arising nature of perceived reality). While I value the shorter version book, I consider this one vastly superior. It seems to be the version most referenced too. Dr. Conze also published a much longer version (25,000 lines) entitled, "The Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom" which I own but have yet to read. These texts are not simple, easy reading, but they are profound, high philosophy and/or metaphysics concerning the nature of reality and the universe and humanity's place therein or relation thereto. They tend to link the so-called Mahayana (Great Vehicle) of Northern Buddhism to Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism). They are also a wonderful (and, perhaps essential) precursor for ventures into Kagyu Mahamudra and/or Nyingma Dzogchen teachings as well as the Tantric Buddhism or all 4 schools (these 2 plus Sakya and Gelugpa). I plan to keep them in my library.

Edward Conze's translation of the Prajnaparamita Sutra in 8000 lines and of the even earlier verse form is still the only English translation of this beautiful and profound Buddhist text. It's a great gift that the scholar Conze devoted his life to the study of Prajnaparamita and made these texts available. For a more poetic and inspiring version of the Prajnaparamita Sutra I recommend Lex Hixon's "Mother of the Buddhas, Meditations on the Prajna Paramita Sutra."

For those interested in the Mahayana this is the book! Webinger's review and advice say it well, if you find this translation to be difficult take a look at the Hixon 'translation'. Also, for the independent minded (some of the reviewers were tepid in this regard,) there are two Sutras, that are considered 'condensed' versions of the Prajnaparamita doctrines, which are very interesting and helpful. For those take a look at Red Pine's excellent translations of the Diamond Sutra and the Heart Sutra, both of which include selections from the commentaries of the Ancients. Good stuff!

The Prajnaparamita sutras are exceptionally profound Mahayana Buddhist texts that are by no means easy to understand. In attempting to read them it soon becomes apparent that the author or authors of these texts were scholastics who were thoroughly schooled in the intricacies of Indian Buddhist thought.

It also becomes clear that they must have been spiritual aristocrats, persons who had in fact achieved Enlightenment and who, though scholars, were writing from the point-of-view of the Enlightened. Given this, these texts present us with certain problems.

Edward Conze (1904-1979) has been called "the foremost Western scholar of the Prajnaparamita literature" and it seems to me that he has in his various works (such as, for example, his Buddhist Wisdom Books and to a lesser extent in the present book) gone as far as it is possible for a scholar to go in explaining these difficult sutras to a modern audience. I also feel that his many translations of the Prajnaparamita far surpass most others in their clarity and beauty.

Conze, however, although a brilliant translator and scholar and one who had actually practiced meditation, tells us himself that he was never able to reach Enlightenment. In his various editions, although he has certainly been able to give us accurate translations that bring out the literal meaning of the Prajnaparamita sutras, their deep spiritual significance that only a truly Enlightened one could make us powerfully feel had to be left to another to convey.

I first acquired Conze's 'The Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines & Its Verse Summary' many years ago, have always loved it, and have often returned to it. It is a magical book, but to fully bring out its magic requires a different kind of teacher, one who could breathe life into it simply because it reflected his own experience. Happily just such a teacher appeared recently.

I would strongly urge readers of these texts to watch Steven Norquist's SIG 2010 Conference Video Presentation on Enlightenment (stevennorquist.com). Norquist, who is the author of Haunted Universe: The True Knowledge of Enlightenment, nowhere mentions the Prajnaparamita sutras in his talk. He doesn't need to since he has experienced their truths for himself. But despite never once referring to them, the story he recounts of his own experience adds a new and startling dimension of significance to them.

The sutras and Norquist are in fact complementary. Whereas the sutras will help you to better understand Norquist as a true Master, Norquist himself serves, albeit perhaps unwittingly, to open up the sutras for us in a way that a literal translation alone could never do. Personally I was blown away by how beautifully these sutras and Norquist dovetail and thereby serve to mutually illuminate each other. I think you may be blown away too.