Verses from the Center

A Buddhist Vision of the Sublime

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The understanding of the nature of reality is the insight upon which the Buddha was able to achieve his own enlightenment. This vision of the sublime is the source of all that is enigmatic and paradoxical about Buddhism. In Verses from the Center, Stephen Batchelor explores the history of this concept and provides readers with translations of the most important poems ever written on the subject, the poems of 2nd century philosopher Nagarjuna.
Preface

Intuitions of the Sublime

Verses from the Center
Walking
Seeing
Body
Space
Addiction
Birth
Actors
Already
Fire
Before
Anguish
Change
Connection
Essence
Life
Acts
Self
Time
Disappearance
Buddhanature
Awakening
Nirvana
Contingency
Opinion

Afterword
Appendix
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography

Stephen Batchelor is a former monk in the Tibetan and Zen traditions and the author of books including Alone with Others, The Faith to Doubt, The Awakening of the West, Buddhism Without Beliefs, and Living with the Devil. He lives with his wife, Martine, in southwestern France and lectures and conducts meditation retreats throughout the world. View titles by Stephen Batchelor

About

The understanding of the nature of reality is the insight upon which the Buddha was able to achieve his own enlightenment. This vision of the sublime is the source of all that is enigmatic and paradoxical about Buddhism. In Verses from the Center, Stephen Batchelor explores the history of this concept and provides readers with translations of the most important poems ever written on the subject, the poems of 2nd century philosopher Nagarjuna.

Table of Contents

Preface

Intuitions of the Sublime

Verses from the Center
Walking
Seeing
Body
Space
Addiction
Birth
Actors
Already
Fire
Before
Anguish
Change
Connection
Essence
Life
Acts
Self
Time
Disappearance
Buddhanature
Awakening
Nirvana
Contingency
Opinion

Afterword
Appendix
Notes
Glossary
Bibliography

Author

Stephen Batchelor is a former monk in the Tibetan and Zen traditions and the author of books including Alone with Others, The Faith to Doubt, The Awakening of the West, Buddhism Without Beliefs, and Living with the Devil. He lives with his wife, Martine, in southwestern France and lectures and conducts meditation retreats throughout the world. View titles by Stephen Batchelor