Review: Practical Advice From 2000 Years Ago
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 12 11, 2012
"Tree of Wisdom", otherwise known as " She-rab dong-bu" or " Prajnya Danda", is a Shastra - a treatise or commentary on the words of Buddha. It's a collection of 260 verses that could be considered  moral maxims, a commentary on manners, or just a simple guidance for people in situations where they are faced with making a decision with a "out of many, there is only one correct choice" simplicity.It was written by Nagarjuna, who is considered one of the greatest scholars in Buddhist tradition. He lived approximately in 150-250 CE and is almost universally accepted as the most important Buddhist philosopher after Buddha himself. Nagarjuna is almost a mystical figure, with a lot a legends and great deeds surrounding his name; yet surprisingly, very few people in the West have ever heard of him, or his life's work. He founded the Madhyamika School of the `Middle Way' school of philosophy, he revealed (or created, depending on what source this comes from) the Prajñaparamita Sutras - the core teaching of the second turning of the wheel of the Dharma, otherwise known as "The Perfection of Wisdom" and more.However, one main thing to understand about Nagarjuna, at least by looking at his work, is that he was supremely practical and he dedicated his life to re-interpreting the words of Buddha for all to understand. The interpretations of his texts should also reflect the spirit in which the originals were written, in my humble opinion. The only other interpretation in English was done by W. L. Campbell in 1919. It was in a language of his time and it sometimes had more mystical overtones than practical ones. Here are a couple of examples from Campbell and Weller, compared side by side:Campbell:Just as for the garlands on the altarsOnly full-blown flowers are gathered,So a gardener, in the same way,Does not uproot the plantWaller:As the gardener knows that it is mother earth that produces the flowers.While flowers are admired and loved, they are fleeting.Be not forgetful of the source of this beauty.In the same way, you should be like the root firmly planted.OrCampbell:Life, which perishes naturally in a moment,Has this as its essence.As your actions and intellect are undevelopedRemain modest in society.Waller:Life that perishes naturally is a life that ends modestly.As so you should live, with a sense of modesty.For living in modestly has its essence.Especially if your intellect is not developed.As you can see, the verses' interpretation by Waller are somewhat more grounded, while Campbell's do, admittedly, have that scholarly charm of the beginning of the last century.The same applies to notes and explanations. I am convinced that each generation should have the texts of wisdom in the language they speak; the purpose of the exercise is not to revere but to relate."Tree of Wisdom" is a rare text that is a part of Nagarjuna's "Collection of Advice". It is of a practical interest for scholars of Buddhism and philosophy in general, and supremely helpful for anyone who seeks guidance. Recommended.