Perfection of Wisdom in Eight Thousand Lines & Its Verse Summary (Wheel Series, 1)

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous Book
Review: Edward Conze has published at least 3 translations of the Prajnaparamita or Perfection of Wisdom texts. These are attributed to Gautama Siddhartha, the historical Buddha. Numerous versions of various lengths of these sutras exist. The first of Conze's translations that I read was a collection of the shorter versions of the sutra. The present volume is a single, middle length version. It is often referenced or quoted or included in Bibliographies of Tibetan Buddhist works--which utilize or build upon its wisdom (especially the "emptiness" or dependent-arising nature of perceived reality). While I value the shorter version book, I consider this one vastly superior. It seems to be the version most referenced too. Dr. Conze also published a much longer version (25,000 lines) entitled, "The Large Sutra on Perfect Wisdom" which I own but have yet to read. These texts are not simple, easy reading, but they are profound, high philosophy and/or metaphysics concerning the nature of reality and the universe and humanity's place therein or relation thereto. They tend to link the so-called Mahayana (Great Vehicle) of Northern Buddhism to Vajrayana (Tibetan Buddhism). They are also a wonderful (and, perhaps essential) precursor for ventures into Kagyu Mahamudra and/or Nyingma Dzogchen teachings as well as the Tantric Buddhism or all 4 schools (these 2 plus Sakya and Gelugpa). I plan to keep them in my library.