Thus I have seen

By Andy Rotman

Book Description

In the ancient Buddhist tradition, seeing and believing intertwine in profound ways that modern spiritual seekers are only beginning to understand. Andy Rotman invites readers into this fascinating intersection through his exploration of visual practices in early Indian Buddhism, revealing how the act of seeing itself becomes a transformative spiritual tool.

Drawing from the Divyavadana, a treasure trove of ancient Buddhist narratives, Rotman illuminates the deeper meanings behind two crucial mental states that shaped Buddhist understanding: sraddha and prasada. These concepts, often reduced to simple translations of "faith," actually represent complex spiritual processes that connect inner transformation with outer perception.

The book examines how these mental states work alongside the practices of seeing and giving, creating a dynamic relationship that influenced Buddhist ethics and spiritual development. Through careful analysis of these ancient stories, readers discover how visual experiences functioned as gateways to understanding, how pilgrimage practices emerged from this visual-spiritual connection, and how early Buddhist communities developed their moral frameworks around these interconnected practices.

For contemporary spiritual practitioners interested in meditation, mindfulness, and the role of perception in awakening, this scholarly yet accessible work offers fresh insights into how ancient wisdom traditions understood the relationship between what we see, what we believe, and how we live. Rotman's research opens new pathways for understanding the visual dimensions of spiritual practice and their continuing relevance today.