Divine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 2 (Classics of Indian Buddhism)

Explore this second volume of translations, in vivid prose, from one of the most celebrated collections of ancient Buddhist stories. Actions never come to naught, even after hundreds of millions of years. When the right conditions gather and the time is right, then they will have their effect on embodied beings. Ancient Buddhist literature is filled with tales of past lives. The Buddha, surrounded by his followers, is asked how it came to be that a certain person has met a particular fate. With his omniscience, the Buddha looks into eons past and uncovers the events that led to the present outcome and foretells the future as well. With stories of wicked wives, patricidal princes, and shape-shifting serpents, Divine Stories offers a fascinating illustration of the law of karma—the truth that the power of good and bad deeds is never lost. These are some of the oldest Buddhist tales ever committed to writing, illuminating the culture of northern India in the early centuries of the common era and bringing to life the Buddhist values of generosity and faith. Andy Rotman’s evocative translation combines accuracy with readability, with detailed editorial notes comparing readings in various Sanskrit, Pali, and Tibetan sources. Divine Stories is a major contribution to Indian and Buddhist studies. Review “The Buddha was a skilful and inveterate storyteller who understood the enduring power of narrative to entertain, engage, and enlighten. In his beautiful translation, Andy Rotman ensures the transmission of these divine and very human stories to a new generation of readers.” (Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being) “These stories are vivid reminders that Buddhism is much more than a collection of philosophical abstractions or a bare-bones meditative technique for altering our neurobiology. Here we see the Buddha’s teachings firmly anchored in their natural habitat, shaping lives by opening us up to the sorrows and joys of others. In pondering the depths of the human soul, they invite us to examine our assumptions about the hidden springs of desire and fear, what motivates us to think, speak, and act in the way we do.” (C. W. Huntington Jr., author of Maya) “The Divyavadana interrupts our assumptions that Buddhist literature is technical and devoid of drama. The Divine Stories are full of the big questions—of choice and consequence, love and power, harrowing events, and unexpected turns. These Buddhist texts reveal storytelling and teaching at its narrative best, and in this second volume of the Divine Stories, Andy Rotman has translated them with unparalleled love and dedication.” (Akincano M. Weber, guiding teacher, Atammaya Cologne) “Those who devoured volume one of Divine Stories will delight in this fresh batch of adventures and misadventures, each illustrating the twisting karmic bonds of a host of comic, tragic, evil, mundane, and divine characters throughout the three times. Pairing profundity with playfulness, Rotman’s precise translations of these historically important tales not only captivate, they also remind us of the power of stories to shape humans and the worlds they inhabit. An exhilarating storytelling tour de force!” (Sara McClintock, Associate Professor of Religion, Emory University) About the Author Andy Rotman received his PhD in South Asian languages and civilizations from the University of Chicago. He has taught in the Religion Department at Smith College since 2000. "Ancient Buddhist literature is filled with tales of past lives. The Buddha, surrounded by his followers, is asked how it came to be that a certain person has met a particular fate. With his omniscience, the Buddha looks into eons past and uncovers the events that led to the present outcome and foretells the future as well. With stories of wicked wives, patricidal princes, and shape-shifting serpents, Divine Stories offers a fascinating illustration of the law of karma--the truth that the power of good and bad deeds is never lost. These are some of the oldest Buddhist tales ever committed to writing, illuminating the culture of northern India in the early centuries of the common era and bringing to life the Buddhist values of generosity and faith. Andy Rotman's evocative translation combines accuracy with readability, with detailed editorial notes comparing readings in various Sanskrit, Pali, and Tibetan sources. Divine Stories is a major contribution to Indian and Buddhist studies"--Page 4 of cover Map Of Indian Places In The Divyavadana -- A Summary Of The Stories -- The Divyavadana -- 1. The Story Of Kotikarna -- 2. The Story Of Purna -- 3. The Story Of Maitreya -- 4. The Story Of A Brahman's Daughter -- 5. The Story Of A Brahman's Panegyric -- 6. The Story Of A Brahman Named Indra -- 7. The Story Of A Woman Dependent On A City For Alms -- 8. The Story Of Supriya -- 9. The Chapter On The Great Fortune Of The Householder -- 10. The Story Of Mendhaka -- 11. The Story Of Asokavarna -- 12. The Miracle Sutra -- 13. The Story Of Svagata -- 14. The Story Of A Wretched Pig -- 15. The Story Of One Foretold To Be A Wheel-turning King -- 16. The Story Of Two Parrot Chicks -- 17. The Story Of Mandhata -- 1. Addendum To Mendhakagrhapativibhuti-pariccheda -- 2. The Cosmos According To The Divyavadana -- 3. Divyavadana And Mulasarvastivada-vinaya Concordance. Translated By Andy Rotman. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Translated From Sanskrit. Explore the second of two volumes of translations, in vivid prose, of one of the most celebrated collections of classical Buddhist legends. Actions never come to naught, even after hundreds of millions of years. When the right conditions gather and the time is right, then they will have their effect on embodied beings. Ancient Buddhist literature is filled with tales of past lives. The Buddha, surrounded by his followers, is asked how it came to be that a certain person has met a particular fate. With his omniscience, the Buddha looks into eons past and uncovers the events that led to the present outcome. With stories of wicked wives, patricidal princes, and shape-shifting serpents, Divine Stories is a fascinating expression of how Buddhists have illustrated the law of karma—the truth that the power of good and ill deeds, once created, is never lost. These are some of the oldest Buddhist tales ever committed to writing,... Divine Stories is the inaugural volume in a landmark translation series devoted to making the wealth of classical Indian Buddhism accessible to modern readers. The stories here, among the first texts to be inscribed by Buddhists, highlight the moral economy of karma, illustrating how gestures of faith, especially offerings, can bring the reward of future happiness and ultimate liberation. Originally contained in the Divyavadana , an enormous compendium of Sanskrit Buddhist narratives from the early Common Era, the stories in this collection express the moral and ethical impulses of Indian Buddhist thought and are a testament to the historical and social power of narrative. Long believed by followers to be the actual words of the Buddha himself, these divine stories are without a doubt some of the most influential stories in the history of Buddhism.