Tab Article

Ratings: ★★★★★ (4.6/5)
Genre: Buddhism, Philosophy, Religion, Translation

Book Review:
Karen C. Lang's ''Four Illusions'' is a masterful translation and introduction to a key text by one of Mahayana Buddhism's most important philosophers, Candrakirti. This volume makes available for the first time in a Western language the first four chapters of Candrakirti's commentary on Āryadeva's ''400 Stanzas,'' offering readers a profound and practical guide to the early stages of the Bodhisattva path.

Candrakirti, a 7th-century Indian scholar whose works are studied in both modern universities and traditional Tibetan monasteries, was a master of both rigorous philosophical argument and accessible, engaging instruction. In these chapters, he provides ''therapeutic advice'' to both monastics and laypeople on how to overcome the fundamental illusions that bind us to suffering. Each chapter tackles a different mistaken belief: the illusion of immortality, the illusion of the body's purity and pleasure, the illusion of self-importance, and the illusion of possessing lasting things.

Lang's translation is a remarkable achievement. She captures the clarity and precision of Candrakirti's philosophical reasoning while also conveying the lively humor of the stories he uses as examples—tales of promiscuous women, ruthless kings, and hapless fools that drive his points home with wit and force. Her substantial introduction provides an invaluable guide to the text, exploring its religious, philosophical, psychological, and political dimensions and situating it within the broader context of Indian Buddhist thought.

''Four Illusions'' is an essential work for anyone interested in Buddhist philosophy, the Mahayana path, or the history of Indian thought. It is a testament to Candrakirti's enduring relevance and to Lang's skill as a translator and scholar. A brilliant and illuminating book.