Luminous bliss : a religious history of Pure Land literature in Tibet : with an annotated English translation and critical analysis of the Orgyan-gling gold manuscript of the short Sukhāvatīvȳuha-sūtra

With an annotated English translation and critical analysis of the Orgyan-gling gold manuscript of the short __Sukhāvativyūha-sūtra__ Pure Land Buddhism as a whole has received comparatively little attention in Western studies on Buddhism despite the importance of “buddha-fields” (pure lands) for the growth and expression of Mahāyāna Buddhism. In this first religious history of Tibetan Pure Land literature, Georgios Halkias delves into a rich collection of literary, historical, and archaeological sources to highlight important aspects of this neglected pan-Asian Buddhist tradition. He clarifies many of the misconceptions concerning the interpretation of “other-world” soteriology in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and provides translations of original Tibetan sources from the ninth century to the present that represent exoteric and esoteric doctrines that continue to be cherished by Tibetan Buddhists for their joyful descriptions of the Buddhist path. The book is informed by interviews with Tibetan scholars and Buddhist practitioners and by Halkias’ own participant-observation in Tibetan Pure Land rituals and teachings conducted in Europe and the Indian subcontinent. Divided into three sections, __Luminous Bliss__ shows that Tibetan Pure Land literature exemplifies a synthesis of Mahāyāna sutra-based conceptions with a Vajrayana world-view that fits progressive and sudden approaches to the realization of Pure Land teachings. Part I covers the origins and development of Pure Land in India and the historical circumstances of its adaptation in Tibet and Central Asia. Part II offers an English translation of the short __Sukhāvatīvyūha-sūtra__ (imported from India during the Tibetan Empire) and contains a survey of original Tibetan Pure Land scriptures and meditative techniques from the dGe-lugs-pa, bKa’-brgyud, rNying-ma, and Sa-skya schools of Tibetan Buddhism. Part III introduces some of the most innovative and popular mortuary cycles and practices related to the Tantric cult of Buddha Amitābha and his Pure Land from the Treasure traditions in the bKa’-brgyud and rNying-ma schools. __Luminous Bliss__ locates Pure Land Buddhism at the core of Tibet’s religious heritage and demonstrates how this tradition constitutes an integral part of both Tibetan and East Asian Buddhism.

Pure Land Buddhism as a whole has received comparatively little attention in Western studies on Buddhism despite the importance of "buddha-fields" (pure lands) for the growth and expression of Mahāyāna Buddhism. In this first religious history of Tibetan Pure Land literature, Georgios Halkias delves into a rich collection of literary, historical, and archaeological sources to highlight important aspects of this neglected pan-Asian Buddhist tradition. He clarifies many of the misconceptions concerning the interpretation of "other-world" soteriology in Indo-Tibetan Buddhism and provides translations of original Tibetan sources from the ninth century to the present that represent exoteric and esoteric doctrines that continue to be cherished by Tibetan Buddhists for their joyful descriptions of the Buddhist path. The book is informed by interviews with Tibetan scholars and Buddhist practitioners and by Halkias' own participant-observation in Tibetan Pure Land rituals and teachings conducted in Europe and the Indian subcontinent.

Divided into three sections, Luminous Bliss shows that Tibetan Pure Land literature exemplifies a synthesis of Mahāyāna sutra-based conceptions with a Vajrayana world-view that fits progressive and sudden approaches to the realization of Pure Land teachings.

• Part I: the origins and development of Pure Land in India and the historical circumstances of its adaptation in Tibet and Central Asia.
• Part II: an English translation of the short Sukhāvatīvyūha-sūtra (imported from India during the Tibetan Empire) and contains a survey of original Tibetan Pure Land scriptures and meditative techniques from the dGe-lugs-pa, bKa'-brgyud, rNying-ma, and Sa-skya schools of Tibetan Buddhism.
• Part III: some of the most innovative and popular mortuary cycles and practices related to the Tantric cult of Buddha Amitābha and his Pure Land from the Treasure traditions in the bKa'-brgyud and rNying-ma schools.

Contents Preface Acknowledgments Buddhisms and Other Conventions Abbreviations Preface Introduction Part I. Early Pure Land Traditions in India, Tibet, and Central Asia Chapter One: Indian Mahayana Origins and Departures Chapter Two: Pure Lands and the Tibetan Empire Part II. Pure Land Texts in Tibetan Contexts Chapter Three: The Dharma that Goes Against the Ways of the World: The Short Sukhāvatīvyūha-Sūtra with an English Translation from Tibetan Chapter Four: Tibetan Pure Land Commentaries Part III. Pure Lands and Pure Visions Chapter Five: Tantric Transfer in Sukhāvatī Chapter Six: The Celestial Treasures of Buddha Amitābha Epilogue: From Sukhāvatī to Tibet and Back Appendix I: A Critical Analysis of the Orgyan-Gling Gold Bde-Mdo Appendix II: The Means of Attaining the Sukhāvatī Kṣetra: Editions and Liturgical Texts Appendix III: An Anthology of Pure Land Texts from the Treasure Tradition Notes References Index Pure Land Buddhism as a whole has received comparatively little attention in Western studies on Buddhism, despite the importance of 'buddha-fields' (pure lands) for the growth and expression of Mahayana Buddhism. In this religious history of Tibetan Pure Land literature, the author delves into a rich collection of literary, historical, and archaeological sources to highlight important aspects of this neglected pan-Asian Buddhist tradition.