The Buddha's Law among the birds

By trans. Conze, Edward and Edward Conze

In the Buddhist religion, the Dharma concept of the Buddha is not confined to men, but is taught to all kinds of beings, including ghosts and animals. According to a legend Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of mercy, had taken among the birds the form of a cuckoo, an animal which recommends itself to the Buddhist mind by its attitude to family life. The present book constitutes an English translation of the Tibetan original. In his introduction, Dr. Conze not only sketches the background of the story, but gives extracts from another tibetan work, originating from the Kagyudpa school of Milarepa, which describes the spiritual antecedents of the cuckoo. The book in spite of its deep content makes a pleasent and easy reading. As a work of popular interest, it should be welcomed by scholars as well as by general readers interest in Buddhist literature.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 8120801989
• ISBN13: 9788120801981
• Release Date: February 2002
• Publisher: Motilal Banarsidass Publications
• Length: 68 Pages
• Weight: 0.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.3" x 5.5" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

The Precious Garland of the Dharma of the Birds

This lovely book contains the English translation of a 300 years old Tibetan text, The Precious Garland of the Dharma of the Birds. This piece of Tibetan folk literature tells us about the Buddha of Compassion taking the form of a cuckoo to teach the birds the Dharma. The book has been reprinted in India by Motilal Banarsidass Publishers, including Chinese illustrations of birds. Just search ISBN 8120801989.