Hsi Lai Journal of Humanistic

Ordinary Wisdom: The temporal and religious 's Treasury of importance of ultimately rested on his considerable learning. Indeed, Good Advice the epithet Sakya Pandita ( paq(lita-: adj., "learned"; n., "scholar") Translated by John T. Davenport, with may be translated as the "Scholar among Sallie D. Davenport and the ." In his capacity as a learned Losang Thonden, , Sakya Pandita wrote this very H.H. Foreword by , practical guide of 457 verses for the lay Published by Wisdom Publications, person exhorting the reader to avoid all 2000, + 364 Boston, xvi pp. harmful acts that are motivated by greed, 0-86171-161-0 ISBN: hatred, and delusion and to take responsibility in one's own conduct toward For those who have little or no others, all in accordance with the idea about the Sakya Legshe (saskya legs underlying reality of the interrelatedness bshad) or the Treasury of Good Advice and and interdependence of all humans­ its author, some background information is indeed of all sentient beings. provided herein. is divided into four. principal schools: the The method of introducing this , , Geluk, and Sakya. The teaching is not through some theoretical last school, the Sakya, was founded in treatise but through the medium of the 1073 with the establishment of the Sakya down to earth wisdom reflecting that body monastery by Khon Gonchok Gyalpo. of known as the Within this tradition arose one of the great nitisiistra-works on morals and scholars of the tradition, Sakya Pandita politics- and the use of subhti$ita-s, Kunga Gyaltsen Pal Zangpo ( 1182-1251 ), eloquent or well-spoken speech that considered the sixth patriarch of the Sakya counsel the individual. Indeed, the Sakya school, the fourth of the five great masters Legshe, according to the translators, of the Sakya tradition, and certainly the represents "the first and an original foremost lama at the time. Because of his Tibetan expression of the subha$ita form reputation, Sakya Pandita was invited to of traditional Indian nilisastra literature­ the court of the Mongolian ruler, Godan , eloquent sayings' about secular affairs in Khan, who converted to Buddhism and daily human life (I). The result is a highly became his disciple because of the readable collection that provides insights impression Sakya Pandita made and not only in how one should conduct because of his curing the prince of an oneself but also in understanding Tibetan illness. This visit not only led to the culture and thought. Although considered ruler's conversion but also allayed a a secular work, one of the few in Tibetan threatened invasion of by the literature (8), the Sakya Legshe most Mongolians. Later, it was Sakya Pandita's certainly is written in accordance with nephew, Chogyal Pakpa (1235-1280), who Buddhist teaching. In the words of the received from Qubilai Khan the temporal Head of the Sakya Order, H.H. Sakya power over Tibet and enhanced religious Trizin: prestige of the head of the Sakya School. The system established was the "patron­ "From a Buddhist perspective, priest" relationship, wherein Pakpa and his sentient beings are trapped within successors became the spiritual preceptors the imaginings of their own minds, of the khans in return for the military creating for themselves a lifetime backing by the Khan's providing of tribulation, rangingfrom minor protection to the and to Tibet. Thus, annoyances to extreme suffering. from 1245 to 1358, the heads of the Sakya This entrapment is due not to School were virtual rulers of Tibet. some permanent defect in the ultimate of mind; rather, 224 Book Reviews

the mind is defiled by disturbing As long as one maintains a sense emotions, which are in fact of shame,

removable ... " One 's personal qualities are like the finestjewels; In the light of this statement, I would But when shame is eclipsed, these suggest that the descriptive "secular" for qualities this work is slightly misleading. It is a Become partial, and one 's speech work directly primarily to non-monastics coarsens (vs. 123). but written within the context of the Buddhist . If the translator Rare are those who say helpful chooses to employ the term in this context, things; then I would agree. I would rather Rarer still are those who listen. describe as a practical compendium and Skillful doctors are hard to find, guide to right living and dispense with the But fewer are those who heed sacred-secular dichotomy. their advice (vs. 169).

In addition to the translation of Many more pearls of wisdom are given by the Sakya Legshe, a modem (1972) this remarkably wise lama, some not as commentary, A Hive Where Gather Bees of easily understood because of cultural Clear Understanding, by Sakya differences and obscure literary references, Sangyay Tenzin is included, thereby but where there is lack of understanding of adding considerable understanding and the verse, the commentary provides more substance to the primary text. The division than sufficient explanation to overcome of chapters is in accordance with the any obstacle. Indeed, Sakya Khenpo subject matter of the verses: Chapter 1, Sangyay Tenzin's commentary provides a entitled "An Examination of the Wise" number of entertaining and instructive followed by eight chapters, all beginning tales that illustrate the verse in question, with "An Examination of... " but ending examples being the story ofKhavara (34f.); with different qualifiers: the Noble, the the boy Candra (4lf.); the learned king of Foolish, both the Wise and Foolish, Bad Var iil}asI, Mahariija, and his sons Conduct, Natural Tendencies, Unseemly Subhartha and Papartha (61f.); the story of Tendencies, Deeds, and Dharma. A the rabbits and elephants (8lf.); and the sampling of the verses demonstrate their story of the Kings Candraprabha and universal appeal: Bhrmasena, an obvious Birth Story (jataka) (94f.). Learning entails hardship;

Living at ease, one cannot Besides the translation, there is an become wise. informative Introduction providing Due to attachment to small information on Sakya Pandita and the pleasures genre and background of the SakyaLegshe, One cannot attain great endnotes, a helpful glossary, bibliography, happiness (vs. 24) and index.

Willingly accepting contempt In conclusion, this book is· highly from the mean-spirited recommended to anyone interested in To whom they have given good Buddhist ethical wisdom and Tibetan advice that goes unpracticed culture. It is also recommended for all And not forgetting even small academic libraries. favors bestowed on them - James A. Santucci Are superb distinguishing features of extraordinary people (vs. 41).

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