Francis harold cook describes the metaphor of indras net from the perspective of the huayan school in the book huayen buddhism. Readers who love action and philosophy, history and imagination, mystery and revelation will find this book a unique and provocative blend. Indras net is a vast, cosmic lattice that contains precious jewels wherever the threads cross. This piece has become the logo of the the collection. Such intellectuals often target swami vivekananda, accusing him of camouflaging various. Francis harold cook explains this miraculous metaphysical necklace in his book, hua yen buddhism. See more ideas about textures patterns, sacred geometry and patterns in nature. Each has an independent place within the net and we all reflect and influence each other. Defending hinduisms philosophical unity is a 2014 book by rajiv malhotra, an indianamerican author, philanthropist and public speaker, published by harpercollins.
For the book by rajiv malhotra, see indras net book. It illustrates the interpenetration, intercausality, and interbeing of all things. The buddha in the avatamsaka sutras 30th book states a similar idea. This is a very important book for the present day and at the end gives the much needed poison pills and porcupine quills for dharmas selfdefense. Stephen mitchell, in his book the enlightened mind, wrote. The capacity of one jewel to reflect the light of another jewel from the other edge of infinity is something that is difficult for the linear mind, rational mind to comprehend. Defending hinduisms philosophical unity is a perfect sequel to being different.
Indras pearl necklace and other metaphors for divinity aleph. Each jewel reflects the image of every other jewel, however far away they are, and the reflections of the reflections, and so on to infinity. Indras net is about the ongoing battle over hinduisms positioning on par with the worlds major religions. The metaphor of indras jeweled net is attributed to an ancient buddhist named tushun 557640 b. When the authors of the vedic texts first described indras net over 2,500 years ago, it almost seems they were describing the mindnumbingly myriad nodes and threads of todays internet. The jewel net of indra hua yen buddhism far away in the heavenly abode of the great god indra, the protector and nurturer of life, there is a. In this metaphor, indras net has a multifaceted jewel at each vertex, and each jewel is reflected in all of the other jewels. The metaphor of indra s net is attributed to an ancient buddhist teacher named tushun 557640 b.
This book is an introduction to the world view of a chinese form of buddhism named huayen flower ornament with a fascinating philosophy describing our existence as infinite realms upon realms that mutually contain one another the jewel net of indra. For a suitable description of indra s net, we end up with a paraphrasing from the book huayen buddhism. Indra s net is the net of the vedic god indra, whose net hangs over his palace on mount meru, the axis mundi of hindu cosmology and hindu mythology. This book is recommended by me, everyone who has interested to know deep culture of adavita vedanta and swami vivekananda. The bulbs and light sockets are amazing design elements. The vedic conception of indras net my big toe wiki.
Welcome to indras net indras net book summary it is fashionable among many intellectuals to parrot that dharma traditions lacked any semblance of unity before the british period, and that the contours of contemporary hinduism were bequeathed to us by our colonial masters. Facebook, twitter, myspace, the whole social networking complex is a clumsy, roughedged facsimile of the infinite sparkling elegance of the net of indra. Its what came to mind when thinking about nets and webs and interconnectedness and jewels and poems. Indra s net also called indra s jewels or indra s pearls is a metaphor used to illustrate the concepts of emptiness, dependent origination, and interpenetration in buddhist philosophy. Jul, 2017 view royalty payments made to the book bus. Now open your eyes, and know that you are a sparkling jewel in indra s net, as is every person around you. Indras net symbolizes the universe as a web of connections and interdependencies among all its members, wherein every member is both a manifestation of the whole and inseparable from the whole. The metaphor of indra s jeweled net is attributed to an ancient buddhist named tushun 557640 b. Every jewel is connected with all the other jewels in the net. Indras net also called indras jewels or indras pearls, sanskrit indrajala is a metaphor used to illustrate the concepts of sunyata emptiness, pratityasamutpada dependent origination, and interpenetration in buddhist philosophy. A documentary of the artist james stanford and his largescaled prints that explore the hindu concept of indras jewels and indras net. There is an ancient story about jewels called indras jewels or indras net. Jul 16, 2014 for more information about this story, follow this link.
Indras net is depicted as a vast web, wide enough to blanket the entire universe. Defending hinduism s philosophical unity is a 2014 book by rajiv malhotra, an indianamerican author, philanthropist and public speaker, published by harpercollins. Far, far away, in the abode of the great god indra, king of heaven, hangs a wondrous vast net, much like a spiders web in intricacy and loveliness. For more information about this story, follow this link. Sep 21, 2018 indras net shoots holes in the assumption or imputation of a solid and fixed universe out there. The metaphors earliest known reference is found in the atharva veda. There are many ways in which the metaphor suits the anthology. Indras net, a metaphor for the nondual nature of all. Indras net also called indras jewels or indras pearls is a metaphor used to illustrate the concepts of emptiness, dependent origination, and interpenetration in buddhist philosophy.
Just a moment while we sign you in to your goodreads account. The jewel net of indra pennsylvania state university press, 1977, francis dojun cook wrote. Indras net, a metaphor for the nondual nature of all heart space. The following is an extract from carol rumens foreword. This book is the first translation into english of what purports to be the complete gospel of mary. May 14, 2009 when the authors of the vedic texts first described indra s net over 2,500 years ago, it almost seems they were describing the mindnumbingly myriad nodes and threads of today s internet. Indras net is the net of the vedic god indra, whose net hangs over his palace on mount meru, the axis mundi of hindu cosmology and hindu mythology. The letter sent by fazang in china to uisang in korea. Jul, 2017 bennison books, the publisher of my new book, the weirding storm, a dragon epic, has just released a new international anthology of poetry called indra s net.
I suspect there are as many jewels in earths indras net as there human beings alive on the planet, and the energy coursing through the webbing of this net is the wonderous life alive on earth right now. Cook writes,far away in the heavenly abode of the great god indra, there is a wonderful net. Originating in the atharva veda, the concept of indras net is a powerful metaphor for this interrelatedness. Indra s net shoots holes in the assumption or imputation of a solid and fixed universe out there. It is both a great introduction to this very important school of philosophy, as well as thee a wonderful treatment in general. Indras net pdf free download, pdf on jul 12, doug oman and others published indras net. The buddhist version of the metaphor of indras net was developed by the mahayana buddhist school in the 3rdcentury scriptures of the avatamsaka sutra, and. Each jewel, representing an individual life form, atom, cell or unit of consciousness, reflects all the other jewels in a cosmic matrix and is intrinsically and intimately. This book offers a detailed, systematic rejoinder to such views, and articulates hindu dharmas multidimensional, holographic understanding of reality. Indras net by brad bryant 2011, paperback for sale online. Ethel is honored to have three poems in this important anthology. For a suitable description of indras net, we end up with a paraphrasing from the book huayen buddhism.
Huayen is regarded as the highest form of buddhism by most modern japanese and chinese scholars. Indras net is a metaphor used to illustrate the concepts of sunyata emptiness. A single jewel hangs at each eye of the net, the jewels are as infinite as the net itself. Bennison books, the publisher of my new book, the weirding storm, a dragon epic, has just released a new international anthology of poetry called indras net. Lord indras jeweled net of synchronicity hindu human. The jewel net of indra iaswr series 1 by cook, francis h. Quotes indras net is a metaphor for the profound cosmology and outlook that permeates hinduism. Huayen is regarded as the highest form of buddhism by most. Its as old as ancient sanskrit and as today as speculative scientific cosmology. Indras magnificent jeweled net building bridges tapestry. Indras jewel net, or the jewel net of indra, is a muchloved metaphor of mahayana buddhism. Indras net symbolizes the universe as a web of connections and interdependencies among all its members, wherein every member is both a manifestation of the.
Defending hinduism s philosophical unity is a perfect sequel to being different. Review by the journal of the american oriental society. Bennison books announces publication of indras net. An essay on the unique genius behind indras net to descrive the nondual transcendent basis of. This book is a description and analysis of the chinese form of buddhism called huayen or hwayea, flower ornament, based largely on one. Each strand is a life, and at each intersection of lines is a jewel or bead. Jan 25, 2018 indra s jewel net, or the jewel net of indra, is a muchloved metaphor of mahayana buddhism. It is another sign fragment that i zeroed in on at the neon museum. The title of this anthology, indras net, was suggested by one of its poets, the late cynthia jobin.
Indras net is a metaphor for universal interconnectedness. Indra s net has a multifaceted jewel at each vertex, and each jewel is reflected in all of the other jewels. Jul 12, 2019 this page was last edited on 29 augustat return to book page. The book is an appeal against the thesis of neo hinduism and a defense of vivekanandas view of yoga and vedanta. The jewel net of indra pennsylvania state university press, 1977, francis dojun cook wrote, thus each individual is at once the cause for the whole and is caused by the whole, and what is called existence is a vast body made up of an infinity of individuals all sustaining each other and defining each other. Jul 01, 2016 the jewel net of indra hua yen buddhism far away in the heavenly abode of the great god indra, the protector and nurturer of life, there is a wonderful net which stretches out indefinitely in. Indras net is the most researched and valuable book of my collection on hinduism. It rebuts an increasingly powerful academic school which posits that hinduism, as such, has never existed. To ask other readers questions about huayen buddhismplease sign up. This is a very important book for the present day and at the end gives the much needed poison pills and porcupine quills for dharma s selfdefense. Indras net the interconnected universe forest jedi.
Indras net is a metaphor for the profound cosmology and outlook that permeates hinduism. Now open your eyes, and know that you are a sparkling jewel in indras net, as is every person around you. In the realm of the god indra is a vast net that stretches infinitely in all directions. Indras net shoots holes in the assumption or imputation of a solid and fixed universe out there. Far away, in the celestial mansion of the great god indra, there is a fabulous net which was woven and hung by a cunning craftsman in such away that it extends infinitely in every direction.
At each node of the net is a jewel, so arranged that every jewel reflects all the. Indras net is an infinitely large net of cords owned by the vedic deva indra, which hangs over his palace on mount meru, the axis mundi of buddhist and hindu cosmology. In this metaphor, indras net has a multifaceted jewel at each vertex, and each jewel is. This page was last edited on 29 augustat return to book page. This book is a description and analysis of the chinese form of buddhism called huayen or hwayea, flower ornament, based largely on one of the more systematic treatises of its third patriarch. The metaphor of indras net is attributed to an ancient buddhist teacher named tushun 557640 b.
Inspired by the lights of las vegas and the surrounding desert landscape, stanford discovers that within the patterns and processes of man and nature, the fulfillment of the metaphor for the interconnectedness of the universe as conceived in the ancient. Indras net has a multifaceted jewel at each vertex, and each jewel is reflected in all of the other jewels. Far away in the heavenly abode of the great god indra, there is a wonderful net which has been hung by some cunning artificer in such a manner that it stretches out infinitely in all directions. Rajiv malhotra ji philanthropist, scholar of hinduism, social activist and public speaker. Inspired by the lights of las vegas and the surrounding desert landscape, stanford discovers that within the patterns and processes of man and nature, the fulfillment of the metaphor for the interconnectedness of the universe as conceived in the. Each jewel is unique and reflects every other jewel in the net. The book is an appeal against the thesis of neohinduism and a defense of vivekananda s view of yoga and vedanta. At each node, or crossing point, of the net hangs a single glittering jewel. The buddhist version of the metaphor of indra s net was developed by the mahayana buddhist school in the 3rdcentury scriptures of the avatamsaka sutra, and.
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