In this episode, Martino talks about the Buddhist keyword Vimalakīrti, the lay protagonist of the Vimalakīrtinirdeśa, a masterpiece that blends doctrinal depth with narrative flair. This Buddhist scripture weaves Vimalakīrti’s dialogues and miracles to critique and transcend the perceived limitations of early Buddhist thought.
Discussed in this episode: Vimalakīrti. The Vimalakīrtinirdeśa, in English “Vimalakīrti’s Instructions,” is an important sūtra of the Mahāyāna, or “Great Vehicle,” dating from approximately the second century CE. The name Vimalakīrti in the title is the name of the sūtra’s protagonist: a layman who embodies the bodhisattva ideal. Vimalakīrti elucidates the Dharma with a wisdom that surpasses even that of the Buddha’s most accomplished monastic disciples. Through a series of philosophical discourses and miraculous feats, Vimalakīrti expounds on the Mahāyāna themes of śūnyatā, or “emptiness,” the unity of saṃsāra and nirvāṇa, and the importance of upāya, or “skillful means.”
Detailed show notes: https://www.martinodibeltuloconcu.com/enlightenment-legacies/keywords
