Understanding Prajña: Sengzhao's 'Wild Words' and the Search for Wisdom

Can enlightenment be attained through words? Understanding Prajña addresses this perennial issue in the study of mysticism through the work of Sengzhao (374-414), a Buddhist scholar-monk whose essay on prajña (&«wisdom») created a sensation in early medieval China. Drawing on contemporary hermeneutic theory, this book presents a close reading of Sengzhao's work, placing it in proper context while highlighting his masterful techniques for conveying &«wisdom» beyond ordinary language. Understanding Prajña includes translations of Sengzhao's essay and his correspondence with Liu Yimin, a &«hermit-scholar» who yearned to grasp the Buddha's sage wisdom.