Empty Vision: Metaphor and Visionary Imagery in Mahayana BuddhismVisual metaphors in a number of Mahayana sutras construct a discourse in which visual perception serves as a model for knowledge and enlightenment. In the Perfection of Wisdom (Prajnaparamita) and other Mahayana literature, immediate access to reality is symbolized by vision and set in opposition to language and conceptual thinking, which are construed as obscuring reality. In addition to its philosophical manifestations, the tension between vision and language also functioned as a strategy of legitimation in the struggle of the early heterodox Mahayana movement for authority and legitimacy. This emphasis on vision also served as a resource for the abundant mythical imagery in Mahayana sutras, imagery that is ritualized in Vajrayana visualization practices. McMahan brings a wide range of literature to bear on this issue, Including a rare analysis of the lavish imagery of the Gandavyuha Sutra in its Indian context. He concludes with a discussion of Indian approaches to visuality in the light of some recent discussions of "ocularcentrism" in the west, inviting scholars to expand the current discussion of vision and its roles in constructing epistemic systems and cultural practices beyond its exclusively European and American focus. |
Contents
| 1 | |
1 The Devaluation of Language and the Privileging of Perception | 15 |
2 Buddhist Visuality in History and Metaphor | 55 |
Visionary Literature and the Struggle for Legitimacy in the Māhayāna | 83 |
Buddha Fields and Fields of Vision in the Gandavyūha Sūtra | 111 |
5 The Optics of Buddhist Meditation and Devotion | 143 |
6 Conclusions and Occlusions | 179 |
Notes | 197 |
| 215 | |
| 225 | |
Other editions - View all
Empty Vision: Metaphor and Visionary Imagery in Mahayana Buddhism David McMahan Limited preview - 2013 |
Empty Vision: Metaphor and Visionary Imagery in Mahāyāna Buddhism David L. McMahan Limited preview - 2002 |
Empty Vision: Metaphor and Visionary Imagery in Mahayana Buddhism David L. McMahan No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
activity actually appearance aspects assertion associated attempt awakening becomes bodhisattva body Buddha Buddhist called chapter claims common concepts considered constituted construction contained context critiques culture deity devotion dharmas dialectic directions discourse discussion doctrine early elements emptiness entering establish example existence experience fact function further Gaṇḍavyuha given hearing idea imagery images imagination important Indian indicate inherent involved issue kind knowing knowledge language light linguistic literature living Mahāyāna Mahāyāna sūtras means meditation metaphor mind nature notion objects oral ordinary particular passage perception Perfection of Wisdom perhaps philosophy practices present Press pure land questions reality realm refer regard religious representation represented schools seen sense sight significant space specific structure stūpa suggests sūtras symbolic Tantric teachings texts theory things thinking thought tion traditions transformation translation truth understanding understood University various vision visionary visual Western worship writing written