For more than a thousand years, the Sutra of Perfect Enlightenment has guided Buddhist practitioners toward a direct experience of awakening. In a series of twelve luminous dialogues, the Buddha responds to the questions of great bodhisattvas—Mañjuśrī, Samantabhadra, Maitreya, and others—unfolding a vision of the mind's radiant, tranquil nature beneath the turning world of desire and illusion. Here are the classic three contemplations: calming the mind, seeing clearly, and resting in meditative equipoise, along with their practical combinations for everyday practice. This modern reader's edition renders the ancient text in clear, present-day English while preserving its measured beauty and spiritual depth, making it inviting for first-time readers of Buddhist scripture as well as seasoned meditators. The dialogues are as practical as they are profound, and their counsel—on desire, meditation, and the true marks of a teacher—speaks as directly to our restless age as it did to ancient China. An introduction, glossary, and key passages help you enter the sutra's world with ease and confidence. Part of The World Scriptures Library.