Rating: 
Summary: A beautiful masterpiece.
Review: A book translated by Thomas Cleary is worth its weight in gold... and then some. The Avatamsaka Sutra is a powerful and profound piece of work worth the investment of time to ponder, and meditate upon. I sat down one summer evening, to begin the journey, and after the first few pages I was transformed by the beauty and wisdom I found woven within the words of Mr. Cleary's absorbing translation. In my opinion: this is the apex of ALL Buddhist text.
Rating:
Summary: A priceless treasure
Review: Although I'm sure I'm quite ignorant of the larger context of this book, if I could only take one book into a cell for the remainder of my life, I would choose this. At the rate of a few pages most evenings (aloud) I'm half way through and looking forward to beginning again, more slowly next time. They say that if you study Lam-rim, it helps you with any Buddhist teachings you might come across. For this reason, I find every page filled with gems. I had owned it for two years before I returned from a Tibetan Buddhist retreat and discovered that the final pages are "The Noble King of Vows of the Conduct of Samantabhadra".
Rating:
Summary: Absolutely beautiful. A remarkable translation.
Review: For anyone interested in the highest, most lucid and profound written teachings of the Mahayana, Cleary's translation of the Avatamsaka-sutra is essential reading. Every line is beautifully rendered, and the only problem I have with it is the translation of "bodhisattva" to "enlightening being," which is accurate but not usually done. Aside from that petty qualm, however, this book is perfect. Even the physical design is very well crafted and aesthetically pleasing. This is surely Shambhala's and Tom Cleary's masterpiece.
Rating:
Summary: The only complete translation, Cleary's masterpiece
Review: Having followed the translations of Thomas Cleary for many years, I must say that this one is by far his best. Every word has its original power and profundity that can only survive into English from Thomas Cleary's careful touch. This sutra is essential reading for all students of Mahayana Buddhism.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate Mahayana sutra
Review: Mr. Cleary has done humanity a great service by translating this wonderful text. Mahayana buddhists regard this book as the "king of all kings." The Buddha spoke this sutra during the first 21 days after his enlightenment. He spoke it for bodhisattvas, as a rising sun can only be seen by high mountains. After this, the Buddha "hid the actual and revealed the provisonal." The story of how this sutra first came to the humans is fascinating. Supposedly, Nagajuna, during his meditation, revisited the dragon king's library. There, he saw three versions of the Avatamsaka-long, medium, and short. Nagajuna read the short version and memorized it. When he came out of his meditation, he wrote the sutra from memory, which became more or less the Avatamsaka sutra translated here. Must read for any serious Buddhist practioner or scholar. This sutra has it all.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate Mahayana sutra
Review: Mr. Cleary has done humanity a great service by translating this wonderful text. Mahayana buddhists regard this book as the "king of all kings." The Buddha spoke this sutra during the first 21 days after his enlightenment. He spoke it for bodhisattvas, as a rising sun can only be seen by high mountains. After this, the Buddha "hid the actual and revealed the provisonal." The story of how this sutra first came to the humans is fascinating. Supposedly, Nagajuna, during his meditation, revisited the dragon king's library. There, he saw three versions of the Avatamsaka-long, medium, and short. Nagajuna read the short version and memorized it. When he came out of his meditation, he wrote the sutra from memory, which became more or less the Avatamsaka sutra translated here. Must read for any serious Buddhist practioner or scholar. This sutra has it all.
Rating:
Summary: the mother of all sutras
Review: So you are going to tackle this great big masterpiece? Okay, but do yourself a big favor and first read Cleary's "Entry to the Inconceivable" and then Gregory's "Inquiry into the Origin of Humanity". This will get you the whole picture. :) I don't read Chinese or anything like that, but I found Cleary's Introduction to the Avatamsaka to be one of the best pieces of analysis and exposition I have ever seen on this subject. Baby Let Your Mind Roll On.
Rating:
Summary: the mother of all sutras
Review: So you are going to tackle this great big masterpiece? Okay, but do yourself a big favor and first read Cleary's "Entry to the Inconceivable" and then Gregory's "Inquiry into the Origin of Humanity". This will get you the whole picture. :) I don't read Chinese or anything like that, but I found Cleary's Introduction to the Avatamsaka to be one of the best pieces of analysis and exposition I have ever seen on this subject. Baby Let Your Mind Roll On.
Rating:
Summary: A massive, massively influential sutra, expertly translated
Review: The Avatamsaka Sutra (The Sutra of the Garland of Flowers) is among the largest and greatest of the scriptures of Mahayana Buddhism. It is 12 volumes in Chinese, and 1600 pages in this English edition published by Shambhala. As with most Mahayana scriptures, it treats Buddha not as merely a man of ancient India, but as a cosmic principle. Differing from the austere and non-theist Theravada scriptures, it is full of gods and goddesses, heavens, jewelled trees and imaginary beings. The Avatamsaka Sutra became very influential in Chinese Buddhism, and was responsible for the creation of the Hua-Yen school. This edition by Thomas Cleary, THE FLOWER ORNAMENT SCRIPTURE, is excellent. It includes not only his translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra, but also a book subsequently pinned onto it (the 400-page Gandhavyuha, or "Entry into the Realm of Reality"), the Chinese mystic Li Tongxuan's seventh-century commentary on the Gandhavyuha, a glossary of difficult Mahayana concepts, and an incredibly helpful translator's introduction. Dr. Cleary ranks among the foremost translators of Asian religious literature and always succeeds in translating works clearly and precisely. In THE FLOWER ORNAMENT SCRIPTURE, his years of experience have enabled him to produce a stunning translation, and I can only admire his persistence in translating such a massive work. This edition is really a treasure for Buddhist students. Or, should I say, serious students and scholars. At 1600 pages and a high cost (though much more inexpensive than several years ago), this tome is for the dedicated. THE FLOWER ORNAMENT SCRIPTURE, however, is an excellent translation. Dr. Cleary has benefitted Westerners greatly through his singular translation.
Rating: 
Summary: not for the beginner
Review: They say this is a great book. That's probably true for some but I have most of Dr. Cleary's books; read them many times, benefited immensely, but this book is not easily comprehensible to me and I would think to any casual reader. As in his other books there is no real and ready quick tips for handling everyday life. So, unless you are well versed in Buddhist scripture save your money and apply yourself to the dharma as taught in simpler texts.
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