Many Buddhas, One Buddha

A Study and Translation of Avadānaśataka 1-40

by Naomi Appleton

Book cover: Many Buddhas, One Buddha

Extent: 256 pages

Publisher: Equinox Publishing

Subjects: Asian/Pacific Studies & Religions, Buddhist Studies

Language: English

Paperback (Published)

(March 2020)

ISBN: 9781781798973

6.1 x 9.17 inches

Price: $34.00

On back order

Hardback (Published)

(March 2020)

ISBN: 9781781798966

6.1 x 9.17 inches

Price: $100.00

In stock

This text introduces and provides a translation of a significant section of the important early Indian Buddhist text, the Avadānaśataka, or “One Hundred Stories”, and explores some of its perspectives on buddhahood and awakening.


Many Buddhas, One Buddha introduces a significant section of the important early Indian Buddhist text known as the Avad ānaśataka, or “One Hundred Stories”, and explores some of its perspectives on buddhahood. This text, composed in Sanskrit and dating to perhaps the third to fifth centuries of the Common Era, is affiliated with the Sarvāstivāda or Mūlasarvāstivāda, and thus provides important evidence of the ideas and literatures of lost non-Mahāyāna schools of Indian Buddhism. The text is a rich literary composition, in mixed prose and verse, and includes some elaborate devotional passages that illuminate early Indian perspectives on the Buddha and on the role of avadāna texts. The book introduces the first four chapters of the Avad ānaśataka through key themes of these stories, such as predictions and vows, preparations for buddhahood, the relationship between Śākyamuni and other buddhas, and the relationship between full buddhahood and pratyekabuddhahood. The study of these stories closes with an argument about the structural design of the text, and what this tells us about attitudes towards different forms of awakening. The second part of the book then presents a full English translation of stories 1-40.

Preface Note on the translation Part A: Study Crossing the flood of rebirth The Avadā
naś
ataka Many buddhas Ś
ā
kyamuni's past lives Independent buddhahood Miracles, offerings, aspirations and predictions And then the Buddha smiled Structure of the Avadā
naś
ataka Many buddhas, many Buddhisms One Buddha, many lessons Part B: Translation First decade (stories 1-10) Second decade (stories 11-20) Third decade (stories 21-30) Fourth decade (stories 31-40) Glossary,

Table of Contents
Preface vii-x
Part A: Study
1. Crossing the Flood of Rebirth 2-4
2. The Avadānaśataka 5-9
3. Many Buddhas 10-21
4. Śākyamuni’s Past Lives 21-29
5. Independent Buddhahood 29-37
6. Miracles, Offerings, Aspirations and Predictions 37-41
7. And Then the Buddha Smiled 41-45
8. Structure of the Avadānaśataka 45-51
9. Many Buddhas, Many Buddhisms 52-53
10. One Buddha, Many Lessons 54
Part A Notes 55-62
Part B: Translation
Note on the translation 64-65
First Decade (Stories 1-10) 66-96
Second Decade (Stories 11-20) 97-142
Third Decade (Stories 21-30) 143-166
Fourth Decade (Stories 31-40) 167-215
Part B Notes 216-222
End Matter
Glossary 223-234
Bibliography 235-238
Index 239-24

 
  • By (author) Naomi Appleton

Join the ISD Mailing List

Sign-up for title announcements and special offers in your fields of interest.

Join the Mailing List