The Perfection of Wisdom: Extracts from the Astasahasrikaprajnaparamita

by Craig Jamieson and Unknown

Book Overview

A scripture that distills the essence of Buddhism, handsomely illustrated with ancient Sanskrit manuscripts, relates its philosophy to everyday lifeBuddhists of all traditions...mystics, ascetics,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670889342
• ISBN13: 9780670889341
• Release Date: April 2000
• Publisher: Viking Penguin
• Length: 109 Pages
• Weight: 1.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 7.1" x 8.7"

Customer Reviews

Telling Them About Buddha

Deep among the treasures of Cambridge University Library, England are to be found two Sanskrit palm-leaf manuscripts which illustrate, through text and pictures, the life and philosophy of Gautama the Buddha in especially moving and powerful form. Both are about a thousand years old, and one is thought to be the oldest dated Indian illustrated manuscript extant anywhere in the world (997 CE); both share the title 'Astasahasrikaprajnaparamita', or 'The Perfection of Wisdom in 8000 Lines'. They were probably produced during the reign of Mahipala I (992-1042 CE) over a territory approximately including parts of present-day northern India and Nepal.Craig Jamieson's new volume is not a complete English translation of 'The Perfection of Wisdom' (that has already been done by other hands), but an attempt to bring this remarkable material to a wider audience through a judicious selection of text - newly translated - and pictures. As such, it succeeds admirably.The volume begins with a foreword by no less an authority than H.H. the Dalai Lama, who tells us that 'in ancient India and later in Tibet, it was considered an act of virtue to honour the practice of "The Perfection of Wisdom" by creating or sponsoring the creation of elaborate and illustrated editions'. Craig Jamieson contributes a brief but informative introduction; the illustrations are explained in detail at the end, and a glossary and bibliography are provided. All the necessary apparatus is there for the reader to approach the tenets of Buddhism through the vehicle of the mind; meantime, the body of the book sets brief text extracts against full-colour pictures in such a way that those who choose may simply feel their way towards enlightenment instead.It would be presumptuous for the non-initiate to attempt a commentary on the ideas, intuitions and paradoxes that leap to the eyes from the perusal of these pages. I shall therefore let a few of those thoughts speak for themselves:'The perfection of wisdom is neither form nor other than form.''Where there is no consciousness, no names, no words, no designations, that is called the perfection of wisdom.''A mass of words, a mass of sentences, a mass of syllables, Ananda, that is bound by a limit, but this perfection of wisdom is bound by no limit.'The illustrations are all taken from the two manuscripts; indeed, in the case of the older manuscript every illustration is reproduced. The technical quality of the reproductions is excellent. Red and gold tints gleam richly in the artists' hieratic visions of Bodhisattvas and Taras (male and female characters seeking enlightenment), lions, elephants or lotuses. Text and illustrations complement each other admirably.The millennium-old Buddhist world of these manuscripts might seem alien or impenetrable to many English-speaking readers today; the days of instant enlightenment for Westerners, of what the writer Gita Mehta calls 'karma cola', have receded into the past. However, anyone with a serious inter

Buy this book! It's going to be a collectors item!

Now I know that I should write a review illustrating how good this book is, and how practical its advice is, and how lucid the prose is, (all of which is true), but the thing that made me buy this book was 10 little words:"Introduction by His Holiness the Dalai Lama" and "Printed in China."Yep. *That* China. I don't know how long this edition of the book will be in print, but it's definitely unique.Having bought the book I would agree that of all the Mahayana texts I've read, this is quite accessible, with beautiful illustrations, and should be read by anyone who wants to seriously study Buddhism. Of course, the tale told is mythical/metaphorical, but the logic and wisdom is profound.One minor quibble: I'd have appreciated a bit more of a scholarly preface and historical background.

Beautiful And Intelligent

This is a wonderful book. It drew me in with wonderfully reproduced graphics taken from the collection of Cambridge University. However, while browsing the pictures I found myself reading, and entranced by, the text. The translation and explanatory notes by Mr. Jamieson take this far beyond being a mere coffee-table book. It is a book which can please both visually and intellectually.

Clearly Perfection

The most understandable and beautiful version I've yet seen. This is not a review, only a comment. In my opinion we need more books like this that relate to the average reader. It seems clear to me that this book was not written for the scholar, but the beginner; easily read, understandable and beautifully illustrated. R.C. Jamieson seems to have an ability to relate to this audience in a remarkable way!

Best Buddhist book in print?

This book is for Buddhism what Harry Potter was for children. Jamieson, like Stephen Hawking (another Cambridge academic, he made cosmology attractive to the general reader) has the knack of grabbing your attention and never letting go. Stunning pictures. Great choices of text, real and authentic, but not the dire long-winded wooden translating of most current Buddhist scholars. Detailed explanations of the manuscript illustrations from the time when in Europe the Vikings demanded Danegeld protection money from England. A very different world in India then. The earliest dated illustrated manuscript from India to survive. Fascinating. Irresistable. Not too expensive, for an art book. Less than his Nagarjuna book, and that one has no pictures! The Dalai Lama's intro is great too, very moving, not perfunctory. A powerful book. Definitely a fabulous jewel for us folks on Earth!Rate it 5 stars as a translation of scripture (any religion!) *AND* 5 stars as an art book. The Dalai Lama's intro is pure gravy and easily worth another 5 stars! 15 stars!