Analyzes a seventh-century ritual manual that provides both a rich source of information of medieval Buddhist life and addresses the ongoing concern of how an adherent can encounter the power of a buddha.Mediating the Power of Buddhas offers a fascinating analysis of the seventh-century ritual manual; the Mañjusrimulakalpa. This medieval text is intended to reveal the path into a ritual universe where the power of a buddha abides. Author Glenn Wallis traces the strategies of the Mañjusrimulakalpa to enable its committed reader to perfect the promised ritual; uncovering what conditions must be met for ritual practice to succeed and what personal characteristics practitioners must possess in order to realize the ritual intentions of the Buddhist community. The manual itself was written at a key point in Buddhist history; one when Hindu forms of practice were still imitated and on the cusp of the shift from Mahayana to Vajrayana (or Tantric) Buddhism. In addition; the Mañjusrimulakalpa presents a rich compendium of Buddhist life in an earlier era; containing information on a variety of its readers' concerns: astrology; astronomy; medicine and healing; ritual practice; iconography; devotion; and meditation.“Wallis sheds much new light on the transition between 'sutra' and 'tantra' literature of Buddhist India.†— John J. Makransky; author of Buddhahood Embodied: Sources of Controversy in India and Tibet“Wallis brings alive the world of the Mañjusrimulakalpa and its ritual practitioner; and he draws on a variety of medieval and modern sources to illuminate the text. The Mañjusrimulakalpa is a crucial text for understanding medieval Indian Buddhism; yet; because of its immensity; it has been studied rather sparingly and incompletely—and never before with the particular ritual studies-cum-comparative-Indological perspective that Wallis brings to bear.†— Roger Jackson; coeditor of Buddhist Theology: Critical Reflections by Contemporary Buddhist Scholars
#485792 in Books DK ADULT 2001-08-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 11.28 x .98 x 10.04l; #File Name: 0789478307240 pages
Review
5 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Beautifully written overview; some omissions; etc.By Not a ClueThe first clue that this is not a reliable reference was that it has no publication date. The printing technology indicates it was published within the past 20 years; and the cover refers to a book that has not yet been published in 2001; but I found nothing else.Omission is also the most common defect inside. Regarding the sudden appearance of agriculture in Japan (500 BCE); there is no mention of the modern Japanese from Korea displacing the older civilization that was probably related to the Ainu. The fine chronology in front mentions independent early development of agriculture in New Guinea; but it does not appear in the text. The idea that evidence of the caste system has been found by Indus archeology is important enough to warrant a little information about the evidence; but none is provided; it should appear in "A Peaceful Realm"; whenever that is published. I think they are trying to avoid any possible controversy; but of course that endeavour always fails. I could have used a map showing the land with the sea level at 10000 BCE level; when Japan was connected to Asia; England and Ireland to Europe; and the Black Sea wasn't.I was looking for something about India from 1500 to 600 BCE; since Jane McIntosh seems to have expertise in the Indus civilization; but found nothing. That; however; may simply indicate there is no archeological evidence. (Hindu nationalist "archeology" notwithstanding.) Some details seem at odds with other recent mainstream sources. I would not really trust any single item in this book without checking another source. Perhaps that is an inevitable result of squeezing world history into a short book; probably on a tight schedule; but it is why I gave it four stars instead of five. The larger matters; meriting two or more sentences; are probably accurate within the limit of current knowledge.The Eurocentric viewpoint is evident; but somewhat muted compared to other world histories. That too is probably inevitable because history is determined by the available evidence even when it is not dictated by the winners. This is an excellent and beautiful short overview; contains superb maps; and includes many fascinating insightful sidebars. Just remember to write in the year of publication.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Nice bookBy CESI bought this for a friend who is impossible to buy for it truly is a nice book - full of facts; pictures theories. It is a coffee table book which you can endlessly pick up; read pick up again.7 of 14 people found the following review helpful. Smooth!By Mayuresh KelkarThe Indological spinning machine just never stops. The book perpetuates the same old Eurocentric cliche by presenting these people as invaders even though no hard evidence exists. Ashoka is fashioned as at least part Greek!A couple of quotes for illustration purposes (page numbers pertain to the hardcover edition):"As the Indus citites disappeared around 1800 BC horse ridingIndo-Aryan nomads; keeping cattle and worshipping warlike gods;infiltrated the northwest and swelled the ranks of the rice farmers who were beginning to penetrate the forest of the Ganges (sic!) valley and that of its great tributary; the Yamuna (p.133).""The Indus script will probably never be deciphered-the texts thatsurvive are too short; giving little to work on. In addition we do not know what language the Indus people spoke-although most scholars think it was an early form of Dravidian languages now spoken in southern India (p. 66)."The Nordic super race of Aryans are now called the Indo-Aryans.However; they are still riding horses and worshipping "warlike" gods. Referring to Vedic Gods as "warlike" is mischievous and motivated. Indra; Agni; Soma; Varuna; Marut were invoked to ensure peace and prosperity. Only some hymns to Indra and Agni mention conflict situations; many times with a mythicaldemon Vrata; and some real enemies; the Dasa/Dasyus. Putting the two quoted paragraphs together; the reader is compelled to deduce a scenerio of violent invasion.Very smooth indeed! Read this book if you are a British high school kid at the bottom of your class.
