Buddhist Images of Human Perfection: The Arahant of the Sutta Pitaka Compared with the Bodhisattva and the Mahasiddha

by Nathan Katz

All forms of Buddhism--The Theravada, the Mahayana and the Vajrayana--affirm the perfectability of the person, and one finds this notion of perfection embodied in three images; the arahant, the bodhisattva and the mahasiddha. Reader also finds, in scholarly treatments of Buddhism, much made of the perceived differences among these three `vehicles` (yana). By close textual analysis as well as by extensive field work, Katz criticizes this emphasis on difference and prefers to treat Buddhism as a whole, a position he finds in accord with the teachings of both Buddhists and Buddhist texts. By a close examination of these three images of human perfection, bridges among the Theravada, the Mahayana and the Vajrayana are built and continuities within Buddhism are explored. This comparison involves pioneering discussions of Buddhist philosophy of language and hermeneutics, which are facilitated by Katz`s familiarity with Pali, Sanskrit and Tibetan Buddhist texts as well as his sympathetic involvement with the living Buddhist tradition.

320 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Fabio · Rating 5 out of 5]

I came across with this book accidentally, i rarely found it in bibliographies, but it was an excellent surprise. The aim of the book is to show that differences between the concept of arahant, bodhisattva and mahasiddha are more virtual than real. Full of citations from Sutta Nikaya and most important texts from Mahayana and Tibetan traditions will help the reader to really understand some of the most important topics about the difference of the three vehicles. One of the most interesting part was the the understanding and the "skillful" use of language in Buddhism religion, with an interesting confrontation between Pali Buddhism, Nagarjuna and Wittgenstein. Highly recommended.