Suramgamasamadhisutra : The Concentration of

The Suramgamasamadhisutra is an early Mahayana Buddhist scripture. Within a narrative framework provided by a dialogue between the Buddha and the bodhisattva Drdhamati, it airs central issues of Mahayana Buddhism by means of philosophical discussion, edifying anecdote, marvelous feat, and drama. At its core is a description of the seeming conversion of Mara, the embodiment of all malign tendencies that obstruct advancement, and the prediction that he too will become a Buddha. Samadhi (concentration) is understood to denote the altered mental states attainable through Buddhist meditation techniques, in particular that in which discursive thought is allayed and the mind is calm and capable of sustained awareness of a single object. The present volume comprises the first full English translation of Kumarajiva¿s Chinese translation of the Suramgamasamadhisutra, with an extensive explanatory introduction and annotations. Etienne Lamotte¿s French version appeared in 1965 and now Sara Boin-Webb¿s English rendering of this work gives the English-speaking world access both to an important Buddhist scripture and a classic work of Buddhist studies scholarship.

tienne Lamotte's French version appeared in 1965 and now Sara Boin-Webb's English rendering of this work gives the English-speaking-world access both to an important Buddhist scripture and a classic work of Buddhist studies scholarship.

Introduction from the Technical Editor	p. viii
Preface to the original French edition	p. x
Foreword to the English edition	p. xi
Note from the English Translator	p. xvii
Acknowledgements	p. xviii
Abbreviations and Bibliography	p. xix
Introduction
The Suramgamasamadhisutra	p. 1
The text	p. 1
Setting and persons	p. 3
The subject: Concentration	p. 11
Samadhi in the Sravaka or Small Vehicle	p. 11
Samadhi in the Great Vehicle	p. 22
Historical background of the Sutra	p. 39
Sources of the Sutra	p. 53
The Chinese and Tibetan Versions	p. 56
Translation	p. 59
Translations	p. 65
Translation	p. 66
Translation	p. 72
Translation	p. 74
Commentary	p. 80
Translation	p. 81
Combined edition	p. 85
Commentary	p. 90
Translation	p. 90
Translation	p. 94
Commentary	p. 97
Additional Note	p. 98
Tibetan translation	p. 99
Concordance of the translations of the Suramgamasamadhisutra	p. l04
Suramgamasamadhisutra
Introduction	p. 107
The Most Excellent Concentration	p. 109
The Heroic Progress	p. 113
The Offering of a Throne	p. 114
The Multiplication of the Buddhas	p. 116
Unreality and Identity of the Tathagatas	p. 117
The Hundred Aspects of the Heroic Progress	p. 119
The Heroic Progress and Good Dharmas	p. 127
The Heroic Progress and the Perfections	p. 128
Danaparamita	p. 128
Silaparamita	p. 128
Ksantiparamita	p. 129
Viryaparamita	p. 130
Dhyanaparamita	p. 131
Prajñaparamita	p. 133
Liberating Action of the Heroic Progress	p. 135
Instantaneous and Simultaneous Practice of the Perfections	p. 137
Gradual Training in the Heroic Progress	p. 138
Secrets and Mysteries of Merusikharadhara	p. 150
Gopaka's Devotion and Change of Sex	p. 154
Multiple Appearance of a Bodhisattva in the Heroic Progress	p. 159
Various Transformations of the Assembly	p. 161
Necessity of Acquiring the Heroic Progress	p. 162
Philosophical Discussion	p. 164
The Practice of the Heroic Progress	p. 164
The End Result of the Heroic Progress	p. 164
The Nirvana of the Buddhas	p. 165
The Absence of a Base	p. 166
The Bodhisattva's Eloquence	p. 167
Revelations Concerning the Devaputra ^*Matyabhimukha	p. 168
Mara Tied with the Five Bonds	p. 172
The Twelve Bonds of False Views	p. 173
The Virtue of the Name	p. 174
Bondage and Deliverance	p. 174
Conversion of the Daughters of the Gods	p. 175
Self-interested Conversion of Mara	p. 176
Conversion of the Lustful Devakanyas	p. 177
Further Guile of Mara	p. 178
Prediction to Mara	p. 179
The Four Kinds of Prediction	p. 179
Anutpaditabodhicittavyakarana	p. 182
Utpaditabodhicittavyakarana	p. 184
Rahovyakarana	p. 187
Anutpattikadharmaksantilabdhasammukhavyakarana	p. 188
Bodhisattvas Having Received the Prediction	p. 189
Prediction Conferred on the Daughters of the Gods	p. 191
Fallacious Departure of Mara	p. 192
Respective Value of Offerings to the Buddha	p. 193
Exploits of Maragocaranupalipta in the Heroic Progress	p. 196
Exploits of the Buddha in the Heroic Progress	p. 197
Extension of the Heroic Progress to Other World Systems	p. 198
Faith in the Heroic Progress	p. 200
The Field of Merit	p. 204
The Truly Learned	p. 208
Prediction to Vimalacandragarbha	p. 211
Provisional Nature of Pratyekabodhi	p. 212
Mañjusri's Fictitious Nirvana	p. 214
Exploits of the Bodhisattvas in the Heroic Progress	p. 216
Superiority of the Offender over the Holy One	p. 222
Two Hundred Discouraged Bodhisattvas Obtain the Ten Powers	p. 223
Why and How to Practise the Heroic Progress	p. 225
Maitreya in the Heroic Progress	p. 227
Mañjusri Identical to the Buddha Nagavamsagra	p. 229
Appearance of the Buddhas of the Ten Regions	p. 232
Protection Assured to the Heroic Progress	p. 233
Identity of the Buddhas Sakyamuni and Vairocana	p. 235
The Wonderful Effects of the Heroic Progress	p. 238
Longevity and Security	p. 238
Twenty Inconceivable Virtues	p. 239
Reaching Enlightenment	p. 239
Confident Faith	p. 240
Final Conversions	p. 241
Synopsis of formulas and stock phrases	p. 243
Index	p. 245
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.

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Suramgamasamadhisutra : The Concentration of Heroic Progress

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