Visions of the Buddha: Creative Dimensions of Early Buddhist Scripture

Visions of the Buddha: Creative Dimensions of Early Buddhist Scripture – Ebook Instant Download/Delivery ISBN(s): 9780197587867,9780197587874,9780197587881,0197587860

Product details:

• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0197587887
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 9780197587881
• Author: Eviatar Shulman

Visions of the Buddha offers a ground-breaking approach to the nature of the early discourses of the Buddha, the most foundational scriptures of Buddhist religion. Although the early discourses are commonly considered to be attempts to preserve the Buddha’s teachings, Shulman demonstrates that these texts are full of creativity, and that their main aim is to beautify the image of the wonderous Buddha. While the texts surely care for the early teachings and for the Buddha’s philosophy or his guidelines for meditation, and while at times they may relate real historical events, they are no less interested in telling good stories, in re-working folkloric materials, and in the visionary contemplation of the Buddha in order to sense his unique presence. The texts can thus be, at times, a type of meditation.

Table contents:

1. Introduction: Rereading the Udumbarika-sutta

2. Literary Design in the Early Discourses

3. Mindfulness of the Buddha in the Mahāparinibbāna-sutta

4. The Folklore of Sutta: Performance in the Early Discourses, and Texts as Versions

5. The Play of Formulas: Toward a Theory of Composition for the Early Discourses

6. Retelling the Buddha’s Enlightenment in the Majjhima Nikāya

7. Conclusion: The Play of Formulas and Meditative Practice

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