Living Skillfully: Buddhist Philosophy of Life from the Vimalakirti Sutra

This book offers a contemporary philosophy of life drawing upon Buddhist resources from the Vimalakirti Sutra. Among the major themes in this Mahayana Buddhist scripture is the "skillful means" required to live a healthy and undeluded life. The book adopts that theme as a means of developing a practical approach to contemporary Buddhist life. Following many of the brilliant stories in the sutra, this book attempts to provide clear explanations for the primary Buddhist teachings and the relationships that bind them all together into an inspiring way of living. Among the questions addressed are: who is the Buddha, how is a worldview of change and contingency applicable to current life, what does it mean to claim that there is no permanent self, what are the primary characteristics of an admirable Buddhist life, how is freedom conceived in Buddhism, and how do all of these themes help us address issues that are pressing for us today. Although historical questions do arise in the book, its primary purpose is contemporary and practical, an effort to say clearly how this text helps us stake out a way of living for contemporary, global citizens.

Table of Contents:
Introduction 1. The Path and the Buddha 2. The Bodhisattva Ideal 3. Self-overcoming 4. Practicing Meditation 5. Embodied Wisdom 6. Skill-in-Means 7. The Goddess of Freedom 8. The Dharma of Nonduality Conclusion

About the Author :
Dale S. Wright is the Gamble Distinguished Professor of Religious Studies and Asian Studies, Emeritus, at Occidental College in Los Angeles. He is the author of numerous books and articles, including Buddhism: What Everyone Needs to Know ® and The Six Perfections: Buddhism and the Cultivation of Character.

Review :
Wright presents Buddhism as flexible and inclusive living teaching, being malleable in time and space. His particular interpretation of the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa as a manual for a practical philosophy of life gives us a fresh reading of this ancient classic text. Living Skillfully is clearly and cogently written, deeply informed by knowledge of Buddhist thought and practice, and animated by sincere commitment to the value of these. In a variety of ways, he shows us the importance of the VS for the contemporary world. Dale Wright' Living Skillfully is a bright gem, totally on its own, with lots of eloquent and practical advice on how to live well—better than well, winning both spiritual and practical success. It is even more enjoyable with the astonishing bonus that it bounces with great insight and commitment off one of the world's great manuals on how to live skillfully, the Teaching of Vimalakīrti, an ancient Indian classic on how to make your life a masterpiece 'work of art!' Enjoy this book, and it will give you lasting comfort by your bedside! The Buddhist path has often been understood as a way to transcend this world, but the Vimalakīrti Sutra teaches how to live wisely in it. Living Skillfully skillfully brings those teachings alive for us today. The Vimalakīrti Sutra is one of the greatest — and most amusing — religious texts of all time. Centered on the exemplary character and insight of the wealthy and uncanny layman Vimalakirti, who transcends all dualities, remaining fully engaged, while unencumbered, in the world, this text couldn't be more relevant for our time. As we have by now come to expect, Dale Wright expounds the text with probing precision and practical insight, reading the ancient words both on their own terms, and in ours. This book is essential reading for all contemporary spiritual practitioners — of any tradition. Readers will genuinely enjoy and greatly benefit from the accessible yet penetrating and ever thought-provoking style of the current book, which will be useful for many courses on Buddhist or comparative philosophy of religion and also appeal to readers interested in the moral implications and contemporary significance of traditional mystical thought East and West. Readers will genuinely enjoy and greatly benefit from the accessible yet penetrating and ever thought-provoking style of the current book, which will be useful for many courses on Buddhist or comparative philosophy of religion and also appeal to readers interested in the moral implications and contemporary significance of traditional mystical thought East and West.