The Awakening of Faith: Attributed to Asvaghosha (Translations from the Asian Classics (Paperback))

'Whenever I have questions on Mahayana Buddhist doctrine, I return to this text and Professor Hakeda's interpretation of it. I wonder if I will ever encounter a work that is at once more profound, attractive, and mysterious than the "Awakening of Faith"' - Ryuichi Abe, from the introduction First published in 1967, Yoshito S. Hakeda's critical interpretation of the "Awakening of Faith" has become a classic. This edition, which includes a new introduction by Ryuichi Abe, presents a beautiful and accessible translation of one of the most influential works in Mahayana Buddhism."The Awakening of Faith" explores the path leading to enlightenment and teaches the principles and methods of meditation. However, the text does not advocate a passive retreat into the quietude of meditation; instead it calls for dynamic social engagement based on compassion and wisdom. Philosophical and religious in its approach, the "Awakening of Faith" provides a comprehensive summary of the essentials of Mahayana Buddhism."The Awakening of Faith", commonly attributed to Asvaghosha, has been read and studied for more than a thousand years. Hakeda's interpretive comments, which have influenced a generation of scholars and readers, illuminate and explain the work and its more esoteric elements. Ryuichi Abe's introduction examines the importance of Hakeda's translation as well as the place of the Awakening of Faith within Buddhism. In this reprint edition, Chinese terms are rendered in Pinyin romanization. Also new to this edition are a Chinese character glossary and a vastly expanded index, which identify and cross-reference both major and minor theoretical terms and concepts throughout the work. Cover 1 Title Page 4 Copyright Page 5 Contents 6 Foreword 10 Preface 12 Introduction 14 Introduction to the Reprint Edition 30 The Awakening of Faith 42 Invocation 44 The Contents of the Discourse 45 Part 1 The Reasons for Writing 46 Part 2 Outline 48 Part 3 Interpretation 51 Chapter One: Revelation of True Meaning 51 I. One Mind and Its Two Aspects 51 A. The Mind in Terms of the Absolute 52 1. Truly Empty 54 2. Truly Nonempty 55 B. The Mind in Terms of Phenomena 56 1. The Storehouse Consciousness 56 A. The Aspect of Enlightenment 56 (1) Original Enlightenment 56 (2) The Process of Actualization of Enlightenment 57 (a) Purity of Wisdom 59 (b) Suprarational Functions 60 (3) The Characteristics of the Essence of Enlightenment 60 B. The Aspect of Nonenlightenment 61 C. The Relationships Between Enlightenment and Nonenlightenment 63 (1) Identity 63 (2) Nonidentity 63 2. The Cause and Conditions of Man’s Being in Samsara 64 A. Mind 65 B. Consciousness 66 C. Defiled States of Mind 68 D. Comments on the Terms Used in the Foregoing Discussion 69 3. The Characteristics of Beings in Samsara 70 A. Permeation of Ignorance 72 B. Permeation of Suchness 73 (1) Permeation Through Manifestation of the Essence of Suchness 75 (2) Permeation Through Influences 76 (a) The Specific Coordinating Causes 76 (b) The General Coordinating Causes 77 II. The Essence Itself and the Attributes of Suchness, or The Meanings of Maha 79 A. The Greatness of the Essence of Suchness 79 B. The Greatness of the Attributes of Suchness 79 C. The Greatness of the Influences of Suchness 81 III. From Samsara to Nirvana 85 Chapter Two: The Correction of Evil Attachments 86 I. The Biased Views Held by Ordinary Men 87 II. The Biased Views Held by the Hinayanists 90 Chapter Three: Analysis of the Types of Aspiration for Enlightenment, or The Meanings of Yana 92 I. The Aspiration for Enlightenment Through the Perfection of Faith 92 II. The Aspiration for Enlightenment Through Understanding and Deeds 96 III. The Aspiration for Enlightenment Through Insight 97 Part 4 On Faith and Practice 101 On Four Faiths 101 On Five Practices 102 The Practice of Cessation 104 The Practice of Clear Observation 107 Part 5 Encouragement of Practice and the Benefits Thereof 109 Notes 112 Chinese Character Glossary 118 Selected Bibliography 120 Index 124 Known As The Garbo Of Chinese Letters For Her Elegance And The Aura Of Mystery That Surrounded Her, Eileen Chang Is Regarded As One Of The Greatest And Most Influential Modern Chinese Novelists And Cultural Critics Of The Twentieth Century. In Written On Water, First Published In 1945 And Now Available For The First Time In English, Chang Offers Essays On Art, Literature, War, And Urban Life, As Well As Autobiographical Reflections. Chang Takes In The Sights And Sounds Of Wartime Shanghai And Hong Kong, With The Tremors Of National Upheaval And The Drone Of Warplanes In The Background, And Inventively Fuses Explorations Of Urban Life, Literary Trends, Domestic Habits, And Historic Events. These Evocative And Moving Firsthand Accounts Examine The Subtle And Not-so-subtle Effects Of The Japanese Bombing And Occupation Of Shanghai And Hong Kong. Eileen Chang Writes Of Friends, Colleagues, And Teachers Turned Soldiers Or Wartime Volunteers, And Her Own Experiences As A Part-time Nurse. Her Nuanced Depictions Range From Observations Of How A Woman's Elegant Dress Affects Morale To Descriptions Of Hospital Life. With A Distinctive Style That Is At Once Meditative, Vibrant, And Humorous, Chang Engages The Reader Through Sly, Ironic Humor; An Occasionally Chatty Tone; And An Intense Fascination With The Subtleties Of Modern Urban Life. The Collection Vividly Captures The Sights And Sounds Of Shanghai, A City Defined By Its Mix Of Tradition And Modernity. Chang Explores The City's Food, Fashions, Shops, Cultural Life, And Social Mores; She Reveals And Upends Prevalent Attitudes Toward Women And In The Process Presents A Portrait Of A Liberated, Cosmopolitan Woman, Enjoying The Opportunities, Freedoms, And Pleasures Offered By Urban Life. In Addition To Her Descriptions Of Daily Life, Chang Also Reflects On A Variety Of Artistic And Literary Issues, Including Contemporary Films, The Aims Of The Writer, The Popularity Of The Peking Opera, Dance, And Painting.

"whenever I Have Questions On Mahayana Buddhist Doctrine, I Return To This Text And Professor Hakeda's Interpretation Of It. I Wonder If I Will Ever Encounter A Work That Is At Once More Profound, Attractive, And Mysterious Than The awakening Of Faith." -- Ryuichi Abé, From The Introduction

first Published In 1967, Yoshito S. Hakeda's Critical Interpretation Of The awakening Of Faith Has Become A Classic. This Edition, Which Includes A New Introduction By Ryuichi Abé, Presents A Beautiful And Accessible Translation Of One Of The Most Influential Works In Mahayana Buddhism. The awakening Of Faith Explores The Path Leading To Enlightenment And Teaches The Principles And Methods Of Meditation. However, The Text Does Not Advocate A Passive Retreat Into The Quietude Of Meditation; Instead It Calls For Dynamic Social Engagement Based On Compassion And Wisdom. Philosophical And Religious In Its Approach, The awakening Of Faith Provides A Comprehensive Summary Of The Essentials Of Mahayana Buddhism.

the awakening Of Faith, Commonly Attributed To Asvaghosha, Has Been Read And Studied For More Than A Thousand Years. Hakeda's Interpretive Comments, Which Have Influenced A Generation Of Scholars And Readers, Illuminate And Explain The Work And Its More Esoteric Elements. Ryuichi Abé's Introduction Examines The Importance Of Hakeda's Translation As Well As The Place Of The awakening Of Faith Within Buddhism. In This Reprint Edition, Chinese Terms Are Rendered In Pinyin Romanization. Also New To This Edition Are A Chinese Character Glossary And A Vastly Expanded Index, Which Identify And Cross-reference Both Major And Minortheoretical Terms And Concepts Throughout The Work.

The text known as the Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana (Ta-ch'eng ch'i-hsin lun) is a short treatise occupying only nine pages in the Taisho edition of the Chinese Tripitaka. Originally published: New York : Columbia University Press, 1967.