Featuring the first-ever English translation of the "Splendid
Vision Sutra," a sixth-century Indian Mahayana Buddhist scripture
known for its rich ritual magic and worship of
bodhisattva-goddesses, this volume explicates the text's cultural
significance as a source of extraordinary value, cosmic truth, and
existential meaning.
The ancient author of the "Splendid Vision Sutra" promises every
imaginable reward to those who heed its words and rites, whether
one's desire is to become king, enjoy heavenly pleasures for
thousands of millennia, or attain the spiritual summit of advanced
bodhisattvahood. Richard S. Cohen carefully analyzes this religious
rhetoric, developing a heuristic model of "scripture" that extends
beyond Buddhist literature. In his framework, a text becomes sacred
scripture when a community accepts it as a receptacle of
extraordinary value, an authoritative source of cosmic truth, and a
guide for meaningful action. While clarifying these points, Cohen
untangles the discursive skein through which the "Splendid Vision
Sutra" expresses its authority, inspires readers to accept that
authority, and promises superior power and accomplishments to those
who implement its teachings. Exploring ways of living and reading a
text, Cohen draws on Marcel Duchamp's theory of found art, Jerzy
Grotowski's idealization of the holy actor, and other formulations,
identifying contingencies, uncertainties, and incompleteness in the
lived present and its determination of our reception of the past.
More than a mere introduction to an important work, "The Splendid
Vision" opens a window into religious experience and practice in
contemporary environments as well as in the world of the sutra.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!