Philosophy of the Avatamsaka sutra an analysis

Abstract

The Avataand#7745;saka Sand#363;tra (Chinese: and#33775;and#22196;and#32147;; Huayen Jing; Japanese: Kegon Kyand#333;) in full Mahand#257;vaipulya-buddhand#257;vataand#7745;saka sand#363;tra (The Great and Vast Buddha Garland Sutra) is one of the most influential scriptures in East Asian Buddhism. The Avataand#7745;saka Sand#363;tra is an enormous and fascinating Buddhist scripture depicting the path of the Bodhisattva (or Buddha in training) and the mystical vision of reality that he sees as his mind approaches that of a Buddha. The very first chapter of the thesis delineates the origin and development of the Avataand#7745;saka Sand#363;tra (Huayen Sand#363;tra). The Avataand#7745;saka Sand#363;tra is the second longest sutra in the Mahand#257;yand#257;na canon. It consists of large important, independent sutras, namely: Gaand#7751;and#7693;avyand#363;ha Sand#363;tra, Daand#347;abhand#363;mika Sand#363;tra, Amitand#257;yurdyhand#257;na Sand#363;tra, etc. It records the higher teachings of the Buddha to Bodhisattvas and other high spiritual beings. Chapter two depicts the special feature of the Avataand#7745;saka Sand#363;tra which offers human beings, the way of the life or conception of life. The central teaching of the Huayen Sand#363;tra is the dharmadhand#257;tu doctrine, or more specifically, the dharmadhand#257;tu-pratand#299;tyasamutpand#257;da (fa-chieh yuan-ch i). The Sanskrit term dharmadhand#257;tu1, which is a compound consisting of dharma and dhand#257;tu, has been variously translated as the Element of the Elements, The Realm of All Elements, the Dharma-Element, the Reality or Essence of Dharma-s, the Nominal Ground of Phenomena, the Essence of Reality, the Ultimate Reality, Supreme Reality, Totality, and so on. It is, in