| Author/Contributor(s): | Sparham, Gareth |
| Publisher: | Wisdom Publications |
| Date: | 4/27/2027 |
| Binding: | Hardcover |
| Condition: | NEW |
The Abhisamayalamkara (Ornament for the Clear Realizations) is one of Buddhism's most sophisticated philosophical works—a concise guide to the Perfection of Wisdom sutras structured around eight chapters and seventy key topics. For nearly a thousand years, this text, one of the so-called Five Texts of Maitreya, and the eighth-century commentary by the Indian master Haribhadra have anchored Tibetan Buddhist monastic education, yet English readers have lacked a clear, usable translation of either work.
This volume presents both texts in full for the first time: the 273 verses of the Abhisamayalamkara, with Haribhadra's Vivrti (Exposition) commentary woven throughout. Translator Gareth Sparham, a leading scholar of these texts and former Buddhist monk, has worked directly from Sanskrit sources—the original language of the Abhisamayalamkara—bringing new precision and clarity to both the root text and its classical commentary. The translation has been substantially revised from his previous works and newly annotated to prioritize accessibility without sacrificing the philosophical rigor these texts demand.
Key features of this edition:
Grounded in Sanskrit sources: A fresh translation from the original Sanskrit with annotation that reflects the Sanskrit philosophical vocabulary but informed as well by Tibetan interpretive traditions.
Practical cross-referencing: Annotations connect passages to the newly translated Hundred Thousand Perfection of Wisdom Sutra available at 84000.co, making explicit how the Abhisamayalamkara actually functions as a guide to these vast texts—a relationship never before so clearly mapped in English.
Readable and usable: Previous translations have been notoriously difficult to penetrate, even for specialists. This edition prioritizes clear, consistent terminology and genuinely helpful annotation.
Ideal scope and affordability: With its compact scope, this volume provides comprehensive coverage in a format that remains accessible for classroom use, Dharma centers, and scholarly reference.
An essential resource for scholars of Buddhist philosophy and serious students of the Perfection of Wisdom tradition.