The
Unveiling of Deep Meaning Sutra or
Sandhinirmocanassutra is one of the most important of the Great Vehicle sutras . It is indeed considered as the founding text of one of the two main philosophical currents of Indian Mahâyâna, the idealist current of "Nothing but spirit" which will develop from the 4th century under the influence of the writings of Asanga and by Vasubandhu. Unlike the radically vacuist Prajñâpâramitâsûtras like the
Diamond Sutra already published in this collection, the
Unveiling of Deep Meaning Sutra emphasizes the role of consciousness in the genesis of illusion and a more moderate interpretation of emptiness. But it is presented above all as a meditation manual that will inspire many Indian, Chinese and Tibetan practitioners. The meditations of stillness (
shamatha) and of eminent vision (
vipashyana) are described here with precision, in their relation to the crossing of the Ten Grounds which the bodhisattva must traverse to reach the final Awakening of a Buddha. What is this deeper meaning that the Sutra claims to reveal? The true intention of the Buddha, that is to say a teaching whose definitive meaning eliminates any temptation or attempt at a nihilistic interpretation of Buddhism.
Echoing the Sutra of the Ten Lands, the Sutra of the Unveiling of Deep Meaning is part of the logic of a collection which aims to introduce lovers of wisdom to the jewels of Buddhist thought and mysticism.
The translation presented in this volume was made from the Tibetan version of the eighth century. (Source:
Fayard)
Cornu, Philippe, trans. Soûtra du dévoilement du sens profond. Paris: Fayard, 2005.
Cornu, Philippe, trans. Soûtra du dévoilement du sens profond. Paris: Fayard, 2005.;Soûtra du dévoilement du sens profond;Consciousness;Doctrine;Meditation;Third Turning;Philippe Cornu;Soûtra du dévoilement du sens profond
