Table of Contents
- NEW BOOK> The Genesis of Yogācāra-Vijñānavāda: Responses and Reflections, by Lambert Schmithausen
- NEW BOOK> Garbhāvakrāntisūtra: The Sūtra on Entry into the Womb, by Robert Kritzer
- SUMMER PROGRAM> Reminder: Summer School Colloquial Tibetan
NEW BOOK> The Genesis of Yogācāra-Vijñānavāda: Responses and Reflections, by Lambert Schmithausen
The International Institute for Buddhist Studies (Tokyo) is pleased to announce the publication of the following title:Lambert Schmithausen, The Genesis of Yogācāra-Vijñānavāda: Responses and Reflections. Kasuga Lectures Series I. Tokyo: The International Institute for Buddhist Studies, 2014 (740 pages)
Coming from the pen of one of the doyens of the field, this monumental monograph defends and refines some of the author’s theories related to the origin and early history of the Yogācāra-Vijñānavāda school.
Part I is a carefully argued refutation of the criticism expressed by Sh. Matsumoto and H. Buescher concerning Schmithausen’s thesis on the origin of ālayavijñāna (formulated in his 1987 monograph). In this context (Part I, § 8), the author also discusses N. Yamabe’s new theory on the birth of this key concept, which he considers ‘a serious alternative to my hypothesis, though not without problems either’ (p. 6).
Part II, also formulated as a critical reply to Matsumoto’s and Buescher’s views, offers further philological and historical evidence to what Schmithausen considers the first documented occurrence of the representation-only (vijñāptimātra) doctrine in the Saṃdhinirmocanasūtra VIII.7. Closely related to this problem is the meticulous examination of the controversial expression prabhāvita, which represents the central topic of Part III.
Finally, Part IV looks at the origin of the Yogācāra-Vijñānavāda ‘idealism’ in the larger context of the relation between philosophical theory and spiritual practice in Buddhism. While critically responding to some of the opposing views advocated over the years, Schmithausen also reformulates and elaborates upon his earlier model.
Accompanied by detailed indexes and an impressive critical apparatus, which has become the hallmark of Schmithausen’s scholarship, the opus explores some of the fundamental doctrines as well as a variety of related facets of the early Yogācāra tradition in particular and Buddhist philosophy in general.
Florin Deleanu
International College for Postgraduate Buddhist Studies
NEW BOOK> Garbhāvakrāntisūtra: The Sūtra on Entry into the Womb, by Robert Kritzer
The International Institute for Buddhist Studies (Tokyo) is pleased to announce the publication of the following title:Robert Kritzer, Garbhāvakrāntisūtra: The Sūtra on Entry into the Womb. Studia Philologica Buddhica, Monograph Series XXXI. Tokyo: The International Institute for Buddhist Studies, 2014 (438 pages)
A critical edition and annotated translation of ‘a sūtra centered on a description of conception, the thirty-eight weeks of gestation, birth, and the suffering that afflict all beings after birth’ (p. 3). The scripture has survived in Tibetan and Chinese translations, the earliest one going back to 281 or 303. The author analyses in great detail the textual and historical aspects of these translations carefully pointing out the differences exiting between various versions (pp. 109-199).
The introductory chapter (pp. 3-35) examines the Garbhāvakrāntisūtra in the broader context of Indian mythology, classical medical literature, ‘ascetic misogyny’ (a term borrowed from Alan Sponberg), and the Buddhist contemplative tradition of meditation on the impure as well as the ubiquitous stress on the suffering inherent in all conditioned existence.
The Tibetan version of the Garbhāvakrāntisūtra in the Vinaya Kṣudrakavastu (Tōhoku 6) is critically edited, on the basis of a meticulous collation of ten textual witnesses (pp. 201-416), and faithfully rendered into English (pp. 37-108), with copious annotations which highlight important philological differences and gloss obscure terms and phrases.
Though little known outside academic circles, the sutra no doubt represents a very important source for our understanding of the way Buddhist contemplatives and scholars conceived the mechanism and physiology of (re-)birth. Robert Kritizer does a great service to any modern reader interested in the subject by providing a wonderful critical edition, reliable translation, and illuminating analysis.
Florin Deleanu
International College for Postgraduate Buddhist Studies
SUMMER PROGRAM> Reminder: Summer School Colloquial Tibetan
Dear colleagues,(with apologies for cross-posting)
This is just a short reminder about the approaching deadline for sending applications to the following language course, organized by the Chair of Buddhist Studies (Prof. Dr. Birgit Kellner), Cluster of Excellence “Asia & Europe in a Global Context, Heidelberg University.”
Summer School Colloquial Tibetan
With Jonathan Samuels (Sherab Gyatso) & Lobsang Chodak
August 04-27, 2014
All-day intensive course, introducing students to the Central Tibetan dialect
Textbook: Colloquial Tibetan (by Jonathan Samuels, Routledge Colloquial Series)
Course fee: 450 EUR
Accommodation (on request): 250 EUR
Application deadline: May 15, 2014
For further information and to download application forms, please visit: tibetan-summerschool.uni-hd.de
With kind regards,
Markus Viehbeck
Dr. Markus Viehbeck
Assistant Professor | Buddhist Studies
Cluster of Excellence "Asia and Europe in a Global Context"
Heidelberg University
Karl Jaspers Centre
Vossstrasse 2, Building 4400
D-69115 Heidelberg
viehbeck@asia-europe.uni-heidelberg.de
