The Voice of the Buddha: The Beauty of Compassion 2 Volume Set (Translation Series) [Illustrated] [Paperback]

Gwendolyn Bays (Translator), Tharthang Tulku (Foreword)

Product Details

• Paperback: 704 pages
• Publisher: Dharma Pub (September 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0913546860
• ISBN-13: 978-0913546864
• Product Dimensions: 10.1 x 7.1 x 2.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,348,473 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A traditional recounting of the life of the Buddha, January 24, 2001

By 

E. Yasi (Waltham, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Voice of the Buddha: The Beauty of Compassion 2 Volume Set (Translation Series) (Paperback)

This is based on the Lalitavistara Sutra, which is a traditional telliing of the Buddha Shakyamuni's lifestory written around 2,000 years ago. It starts with his two previous lifetimes, and ends at the time he delivers his first teachings after attaining enlightenment.

The translation is beautifully done, with some very lyrical passages. Those of you who have read other original Buddhist sutras and scriptures may be surprised to find how 'flowery' this is, but it's a delightful change of pace from some of the more repetitive traditional scriptures.

The book also has some gorgeous full-page full-color images (with tissue paper covers to protect them) between some sections that make it worth the unusually high price.

One caveat: if you don't know anything about Buddhism, you might find the more accessible style of Thich Nhat Hahn's "Old Path White Clouds" a little more comprehensible, but if you already have a basic idea of what Buddhism's all about, then the Lalitavistara would be a great addition to your library.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lalitavistara Sutra, January 24, 2007

By 

Kalden (Amsterdam) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Voice of the Buddha: The Beauty of Compassion 2 Volume Set (Translation Series) (Paperback)

To obtain the full transltaion one has to order both the volumes.
ISBN 0-913546-86-0 paperback volume 1
ISBN 0-913546-87-9 paperback volume 2
The translation has been made from French into English and then checked with the orignal in Tibetan and Sanskrit.