Book Overview
The Buddhist monk Ashva·ghosha composed Life of the Buddha in the first or second century CE probably in Ayódhya. This is the earliest surviving text of the Sanskrit literary genre called kavya and probably provided models for Kali·dasa's more famous works. The most poignant scenes on the path to his Awakening are when the young prince Siddhártha, the future Buddha, is confronted by the reality of sickness, old age, and death, while seduced by the charms of the women employed to keep him at home. A poet of the highest order, Ashva·ghosha's aim is not entertainment but instruction, presenting the Buddha's teaching as the culmination of the Brahmanical tradition. His wonderful descriptions of the bodies of courtesans are ultimately meant to show the transience of beauty. Co-published by New York University Press and the JJC Foundation For more on this title and other titles in the Clay Sanskrit series, please visit http://www.claysanskritlibrary.org
Format:Hardcover
Language:English
ISBN:0814762166
ISBN13:9780814762165
Release Date:May 2008
Publisher:Clay Sanskrit
Length:558 Pages
Weight:0.83 lbs.
Dimensions:1.3" x 4.5" x 6.5"
Customer Reviews
3 ratings
EH Johnstone's landmark translation of Ashvaghosha's scintillating retelling of the Buddha's life
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 16 years ago
Recently this translation and edition has been superceded by Olivelle's version of Buddhacarita in the Clay Sanskrit Series, yet Johnstone's landmark translation remains a towering edifice in the corpus of Mahayana Buddhism. The work is deeply and profoundly moving and the spiritual investiture from imbibing the work is inexpressible. A pure treasure of religion and world literature.
A great way to understand The Buddha
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 17 years ago
I ordered this book because it is used as a textbook for my Buddhism class. After reading it, I understand much more about the culture and religion, as well as appreciate the artistic poeticism that is behind the story of the Buddha's life.
Reprint of 1936 edition of Asvaghosa's Buddhacarita
Published by Thriftbooks.com User , 19 years ago
This book is the paperback edition (cloth is ISBN 8120810295) of the reprint of the 1936 Lahore edition of Asvaghosa's Buddhacarita, translated in English by E.H. Johnston. Part I is the complete Sanskrit text of Cantos I to XIV, using as its chief authority a Sanskrit manuscript dating from app. 1300 AD, supplemented by the Tibetan version and a fifth century A.D. Chinese translation. Part I: Sanskrit Text of I-XIV Part II: English translation of I-XIV Part III: English translation of XV-XXVIII Part II includes a lengthy introduction by the translator on Asvaghosa's life and works. The book includes the original Sanskrit text of Sargas I-XIV, but not the original Tibetan and Chinese texts used for part III.
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