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The two concepts most profound, sublime and influential of all Mahāyāna (The Developed Buddhist Tradition) texts are the concepts of Bodhisattva and Śūnyatā. In fact, both concepts had their seeds first in the Pāli Nikāyas (The Early Buddhist Tradition). In other words, while reading this book, the reader can discover the doctrines of Mahāyāna along with those of Pāli Nikāya which are essentially the same in origin, nature and purpose. He can also recognize how the term Śūnyatā sounds negative but the true meaning of it made Bodhisattva who becomes so positive and affirmative. How both systems of sūtras provide good visions and practical methods to Bodhisattva (Pāli: Bodhisatta) in balance with the insight of Śūnyatā (Pāli: Suññata) in order to help people in modern time overcome the current crisis and can play the important role in establishing a world of peace and happiness for the humanity.

This is a revised and enlarged edition of ‘Bodhisattva and Śūnyatā in the Early and Developed Buddhist Traditions’ which first published two years ago.

In presenting this second edition, I have maintained the contents wrote in the first edition, however, for the sake of greater clarity, a very few changes have been made, minor errors have been corrected and lots of Chinese characters which are equivalent Pāli works have been added.

During the time of my sojourn in India to pursue Ph.D. course of Buddhist Studies in the University of Delhi, I received from Ven. Tri Quang, Late Ven. Tinh Vien, Ven. Nhu Dien, Ven. Minh Chon, Late Ven. Minh Thanh... not only in terms of the generous material supports, but also that of the warm spiritual, have in deed created comfort and smooth conditions for me to keep mental peace and light-hearted in order to put whole my mind and will in study. I could not express my debt of gratitude to these most venerable Monks in words.

In the course of writing this research work, I would like to express my deep gratitude specially to Dr. I. N. Singh, my respected supervisor - the Lecturer of Buddhist Philosophy in Department of Buddhist Studies, Delhi University, whose scientific method of guidance has developed in me a critical point of view, with self-confidence and inspired me to do my research work easily without his guidance, I could not be able to do this heavy task.

I should also like to show my deep thankful to all the other professors, readers and lecturers of the Department, who directly or indirectly instructed me during the period of my study Buddhism from M.A. to Ph.D. courses at the place of its origination. I am also very grateful to all my friends – Venerable monks and nuns, lay-men and lay-women and Buddhist disciples have been kindly helpful in one way or another for my knowledge accomplishments, but their names are too many to be mentioned here.

At last, my sincere acknowledgements go to those whose books have been well used for quotations and references in my research work and my thanks are also due to the library staff of Delhi University Library System and Research Services Section, Central Reference Library for research facilities and their helping hands.

Bhikkhuni Gioi Huong (lay name: Pham Thi Ngoc Dung) was born 1963 in Thuan Hai, Viet Nam, at fifteen entered the Order of the Sangha. She obtained two B.A. degrees, one in Buddhist Studies from the Vietnam Institute of Advanced Buddhist Studies and the other in Vietnamese Literature from University of Ho Chi Minh City. Later, she attended Delhi University in India where she gained M.A. and Ph.D. degrees.

At present (2009), she is the Abbot of Phuoc-Hau Temple, Milwaukee, USA (website: www.phuochau.com  ).

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