Jewel net of indra image of the interconnectedness of all things. The pennsylvania state university press the institute of advanced studies of world religion series, 1977. Preface this book about the world view of a chinese form of buddhism called huayen flower ornamentis the result of about a decade of serious, uninterrupted study of the various forms which buddhist thought and practice have taken since their origins in indian in the. It illustrates the interpenetration, intercausality, and interbeing of all things. It is a cosmology representing the interconnectedness of humanity. In the realm of the god indra is a vast net that stretches infinitely in all directions. 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. The metaphor of indra s net may justly be called the first bootstrap model, created by the eastern sages some 2,500 years before the beginning of particle physics. The metaphor of indra s net originates from the atharva veda one of the four vedas, which likens the world to a net woven by the great deity shakra or indra. Indra s net is the net of the vedic deva indra, whose net hangs over his palace on mount meru, the axis mundi of buddhist and hindu cosmology. Sometime thereafter, i read a quote describing the jewel net of indra. For the book by rajiv malhotra, see indras net book. Francis cook 1977 pennsylvania state university press.
At each node of the net is a jewel, so arranged that every jewel reflects all the other jewels. In this metaphor, indra s net has a multifaceted jewel at each vertex, and each jewel is re. Indra s 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. Avatamsaka sutra the flower garland sutra practices and vows of the bodhisattva samantabhadra the first part of this document is an excerpt from one of the great buddhist sutras. Indra s jewel net, or the jewel net of indra, is a muchloved metaphor of mahayana buddhism. The net is said to be infinite, and to spread in all directions with no beginning or end.
In the abode of indra, the hindu god of space, there is a net that stretches infinitely in all directions. At every intersection of the net there is a jewel so highly polished and perfect that it reflects every other jewel in the net. Organically weaving indras net, jewel by precious jewel. Indra s net the metaphor of indra s jeweled net is attributed to an ancient buddhist named tu shun 557640 b.
Each jewel is merely a reflection of other jewels, and individual jewels always remain in flux. Every jewel in indra s net is a microcosm of the whole net. Indras net is about the ongoing battle over hinduisms positioning on par with the worlds major religions. This is, admittedly, a highly unusual way of lookmg at a nose, and it is true that if in this analysis of cause and result we stopped completely with the assertion that the nose causes the body, this would be a very questionable assertion mdeed. In this metaphor, indra s net has a multifaceted jewel at each vertex, and each jewel is reflected in all of the other jewels. Bohm quantum blockchain indras net with schwinger source. The concise oxford dictionary of world religions dictionary. Brahman is the foundation for indra s net, and no jewel exists apart from brahman. Cook huayen is regarded as the highest form of buddhism by most modern japanese and chinese scholars. Philosophy of universal flux in theravada buddhism. By purchasing books through this website, you support our nonprofit organization. Pennsylvania state university press 1977 abstract huayen is regarded as the highest form of buddhism by most modern japanese and chinese scholars.
In accordance with the extravagant tastes of deities, the artificer has hung a single glittering jewel at the net s every node, and since the net itself is infinite in. The starting point is a mahayana buddhist metaphor of an infinite net of jewels, each representing an individual. Emptiness, identity and interpenetration in huayen buddhism. Gareth bates jewel net of indra is an ongoing largescale installation that will take several years to complete. Indras jewel net, or the jewel net of indra, is a muchloved metaphor of mahayana buddhism. Huayen buddhism the jewel net of indra means that the nose causes my nght elbow, my left knee, and so on. 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. Each jewel reflected in this gem you are gazing into also reflects all the other jewels, so that the process of reflection is itself infinite. One thing contains all other existing things, and all existing things contain that one thing. Now open your eyes, and know that you are a sparkling jewel in indra s net, as is every person around you. Driving down the freeway, remembering hindu mythology indra s net, each intersecting weave holding a jewel reflecting every other facet of every other jewel, infinitely.
An introduction to indra s net by shri rajiv malhotra embed for hosted blogs and item tags. At each juncture there lies a jewel each jewel reflects all the other jewels in this cosmic matrix. Search for library items search for lists search for contacts search for a library. 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 indefinitely in all directions. The jewel net of indra by francis harold cook it is both a great introduction to this very important school of philosophy, as well as thee a wonderful treatment in general. Huayen buddhism strongly resembles whiteheads process philosophy, and has strong implications for. The net of indra is a profound and subtle metaphor for the structure of reality. Indras net, a metaphor for the nondual nature of all. Huayen is regarded as the highest form of buddhism by most modern japanese and chinese scholars. Indra s net u u c l v 0 7 2 8 2 0 1 3 tara stephenson today, we consider the wisdom of the worlds religions as one of the sources of our faith. Every jewel is connected with all the other jewels in the net.
The jewels of indra s net are not meant to symbolize static substances. The similarity of the indra s jeweled net image to what has in modern science become known as the hadron bootstrap is indeed striking. 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. Book one begins below buddha shakyamuni preached it in heaven shortly after his attainment of buddhahood. 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. Now open your eyes, and know that you are a sparkling jewel in indras net, as is every person around you. Indras net changed poem by margaret alice second poem. Cook fastidiously addresses this subject through the image of the jeweled net of indra because it is what huayen has been founded on and it symbolizes a cosmos in which there is an infinitely repeated interrelationship among all the members. The essay marked the beginning of a period of high output of shobogenzo books that lasted until 1246. As a scriptural image indra s net was first mentioned in the atharva veda c. The metaphor of indra s jeweled net is attributed to an ancient buddhist named tushun 557640 b. This book is a description and analysis of the chinese form of buddhism called huayen or hwayea, flower ornament, based largely.
I love the huayen vision, and this book is a lovely introduction to s cook, now an ad. Suddenly i see the hands that paint the white lines. It rebuts an increasingly powerful academic school which posits that. This book is a description and analysis of the chinese form of buddhism called huayen, flower ornament, based largely on one of the more. Indra s net also called indra s jewels or indra s pearls, sanskrit indrajala is a metaphor used to illustrate the concepts of sunyata emptiness, pratityasamutpada dependent origination, and interpenetration in buddhist philosophy. Emptiness, compassion, and the philosophical fallacy.
The boundaries of our socalled selves are not our bodily forms but reach out infinitely through the connections we have. It was written in the summer of 1238 at dogens monastery koshohorinji in kyoto. Indra s net shoots holes in the assumption or imputation of a solid and fixed universe out there. In the god indras celestial abode a wonderful net is stretched in all directions and there is one glittering jewel at every node shining brighter than. Quotes indra s net is a metaphor for the profound cosmology and outlook that permeates hinduism. 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.
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