Presenting vivid pictures of Gautama Buddha’s life, teaching, suffering, death and subsequent nirvāṇa, the Mahāparinibbānasutta is one of the principal Buddhist texts. In Hermann Beckh’s words, it describes ‘…one of the greatest human beings that ever lived, who stood at the threshold of the super-human – a teacher and leader of humanity.’
--- Prof. Beckh’s translation of this important sutta achieved a quality and faithfulness that was based on decades of extensive study and meditation. From his academic and spiritual knowledge, Beckh added insightful editorial material, including an introduction, commentary and notes. The English rendering here, by Indologist and long-standing Buddhist practitioner Dr Katrin Binder, is based on both the original Pālī and Beckh’s German translation. An afterword by Thomas Meyer, informed by Rudolf Steiner’s research, traces the development of Buddha’s individuality in the afterlife.
--- Departure of the Perfected One brings to a conclusion the publication of Beckh’s great triad of works on the subject of Buddha, including Buddha’s Life and Teaching and From Buddha to Christ. Through a contemporary reading, these books open up vast new perspectives on the world of sacred Buddhist scriptures to anyone interested in spiritual development.
Departure of the Perfected One : The Story of the Buddha's Transition from Earth to Nirvana - The Mahāparinibbānasutta
Description
Table of Contents
Preface by Neil Franklin – Translator’s Note by Katrin Binder – Introduction by Hermann Beckh – THE SACRED NARRATIVE OF THE GREAT NĪRVĀṆA – Afterword by Thomas Meyer – Postscript: Transference of Merit and Self Surrender – Editor’s Notes by Hermann Beckh
Author Description
HERMANN BECKH (1875-1937) studied Law and later Sanskrit, becoming Professor of Oriental Studies at the University of Berlin. A master of ancient and modern languages, he wrote extensively on religious and philosophical subjects, including Buddhism, Indology, Christianity, Alchemy and Music. He heard a lecture by Rudolf Steiner in 1911 and was inspired to join the Anthroposophical Society, where he soon became a valued co-worker. He helped found The Christian Community in 1922, a movement for religious renewal. His many books are in the process of being translated from the original German and published in English.