Brief Explanations of Meditation Methods: Kumarajiva's Chanfa Yaojie: Translation and Commentary

Kumarajiva, known to students of Buddhist history as the great translator, also gave instructions on meditation, which were compiled into manuals. This volume is a translation of one of three such texts preserved in Chinese catalogues. A special feature of this text is the Mahayana perspectives Kumarajiva brings into instructions grounded in the early tradition, giving an insight into the period of transition in Buddhist history, before Mahayana became a distinct tradition. In the commentary to the manual Thomas Gutmann draws upon Sarvastivada and Madhyamaka traditions in which Kumarajiva trained, as well as the diversity of the works he translated. This work is off ered primarily as a guide for practitioners but will also be of interest to students and the academic community.