The Sūtra of The Teaching of Vimalakīrti | A Celebrity Falls Sick

by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse, Robert A. F. Thurman (Translator), DALeast (Illustrator)

In celebration of Saga Dawa, the month in which many Buddhists commemorate the birth, enlightenment and passing of Shakyamuni Buddha, Khyentse Foundation and 84000: Translating the Words of the Buddha are pleased to announce the launch of The Sūtra of The Teaching of Vimalakīrti. The book is offered in two sections, a prefatory commentary by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche, “A Celebrity Falls Sick,” and a new 84000 edition of Robert A. F. Thurman’s English translation of the acclaimed Buddhist sūtra, The Teaching of Vimalakīrti.

Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche and Thurman have praised The Teaching of Vimalakīrti:

“It’s difficult for those us living in today’s mundane world to swallow the truth when we hear it, and the Vimalakīrti Sūtra contains a great deal about the very highest of high truths. Don’t imagine, though, that the nature of the highest truth is mystical or mythological, because it isn’t. Although the absolute truth cannot be expressed, conceived or conceptualised, all the techniques and tools necessary to establish it have been laid out for us by the Buddha himself. The Vimalakīrti Sūtra… describes astonishingly effective methods for deconstructing anything and everything that is not the truth.”—Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche

“Unmatched in its content—a quintessence of Mahāyāna doctrines, both of the profound and of the extensive categories—its aesthetic virtue, too, makes it an object of the connoisseur’s delight.”—Robert A. F. Thurman

The book, illustrated by DALeast, is available in English, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese as a free download on the Khyentse Foundation and 84000 websites, and is offered as a thank you gift from Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche to the many supporters of the two organizations.

Genres: Buddhism

212 pages, Paperback

About the author

Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse Rinpoche was born in Bhutan in 1961 and was recognised as the incarnation of Jamyang Khyentse Chokyi Lodro (1894-1959). From early childhood, he has studied with some of the greatest contemporary masters, particularly his father, H.H. Thinley Norbu Rinpoche and H.H. Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche.

From a young age he has been active in preserving the Buddhist teachings, establishing centres of learning and practice, supporting practitioners, publishing books, and teaching all over the world. Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche supervises his traditional seat of Dzongsar Monastery and its retreat centres in Eastern Tibet, as well as his new colleges in India and Bhutan. He has also has established centres in Australia, North America, and the Far East. These are gathered under Siddhartha's Intent.

In addition to Siddhartha's Intent, in 2001, the Khyentse Foundation was founded by Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche. It is a non-profit organization with the stated goal "to act as a system of patronage for institutions and individuals engaged in the practice and study of Buddha's wisdom and compassion."

His two major films are The Cup (1999) and Travellers and Magicians (2003).

Reviews

[Alvaro Luis]

The commentary by the eminent Dzongsar Khyentse (A Celebrity Gets Sick) is both light and extremely profound and humble. This is one of the most profound teachings of Buddhism and its relevance, even in issues as current as gender, is impressive. In many ways, this Sutra is unique. The way the teaching is transmitted, the “construction” of the characters, how the Buddha guided the facts from a distance, the unfolding of the plot. This is one of those reads you never want to finish. A Sutra to be venerated by those who have faith and studied by skeptics due to the depth of its themes. Thank you Dzongsar Khyentse Rinpoche for the masterful comment.

[Ansh Mehta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it for the chuckle -