Metaphysics and Mysticism in Mahayana Buddhism [UNABRIDGED]

Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications
Author: C.D. Sebastian
Language: English
Edition: 2008
ISBN: 9788170308263
Pages: 338
Cover: Hardcover
Dimensions: 23 cm x 15 cm
Weight: 530 gm

About the Book

This scholarly volume offers a profound exegetical and analytic exploration of Ratnagotravibhago Mahayanottaratantra Sastra, popularly known as the Uttaratantra, a seminal text in the Tathagatagarbha tradition of Mahayana Buddhism. The Uttaratantra stands as the foremost classic of Tathagatagarbha literature, complementing the Prajnaparamita texts and advancing the metaphysical, philosophical, and spiritual foundations of the Mahayana school.

At the heart of the text lies the teaching that all sentient beings inherently possess Buddha-nature (Tathagatagarbha)—a core doctrine that inspires optimism and universal compassion by affirming that everyone is a potential Buddha. The author, Dr. C.D. Sebastian, provides deep insight into this transformative philosophy by examining the seven vajra points of the Uttaratantra: Buddha, Dharma, Sangha, Tathagatagarbha, Bodhi, Guna, and Tathagata’s Krtya-kriya. These points symbolize the indestructible wisdom milestones on the path to enlightenment.

Dr. Sebastian’s work is both exegetical and analytic, offering a careful interpretation of the Uttaratantra's philosophical roots in Madhyamika and Yogacara traditions. He highlights the nuanced interplay between doctrines such as sunyata (emptiness), alayavijnana (storehouse consciousness), and paravrtti (transformation), suggesting that the text represents an era of doctrinal fluidity in early Mahayana thought.

This book is a revised version of the author’s Ph.D. thesis submitted to Banaras Hindu University, and includes extensive discussions on metaphysics and mysticism within Buddhist spiritual discipline. It serves as a valuable resource for scholars and students of Indian philosophy, Buddhism, and comparative religion, and has been widely appreciated by academic authorities, including Professor A.K. Chatterjee, for its clarity and depth.

A part of the Bibliotheca IndoBuddhica Series, this book is an essential read for those seeking a rigorous, philosophical understanding of Mahayana Buddhism’s mystical and metaphysical vision of human potential.