The Enlightenment of Vairocana: Book I, Study of the Vairocanabhisambodhitantra : Book Ii, Study of the Mahavairocana-Sutra (Buddhist Traditon, Vol)

Rating:
Summary: Rare Information
Review: I'm not sure how one would compare it on presentation or translation quality, simply because I can't find another English text with this information. This alone makes it an important work.

Rating:
Summary: The most important text of esoteric Buddhism
Review: The Enlightenment of Vairocana and the Study of the Mahavairocana Sutra constitute probably the most imprtant text in Esoteric Buddhism. It is based on this text that Nagarjuna propagated the doctrine and created the Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas that Kobo Daishi brought back to Japan in the 9th century. It is basically a description of the two mandalas, how they should be set up, which deities should be placed in what position, and what their specific mantras and mudras are, for the purpose of worship, teaching initiates, and identifying with the nature of the buddhas. For the researcher, this is a real find; however, the book could use some illustrations and diagrams (perhaps the inclusion of the matrices) and the cover could be more attractive.

Rating:
Summary: The most important text of esoteric Buddhism
Review: The Enlightenment of Vairocana and the Study of the Mahavairocana Sutra constitute probably the most imprtant text in Esoteric Buddhism. It is based on this text that Nagarjuna propagated the doctrine and created the Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas that Kobo Daishi brought back to Japan in the 9th century. It is basically a description of the two mandalas, how they should be set up, which deities should be placed in what position, and what their specific mantras and mudras are, for the purpose of worship, teaching initiates, and identifying with the nature of the buddhas. For the researcher, this is a real find; however, the book could use some illustrations and diagrams (perhaps the inclusion of the matrices) and the cover could be more attractive.