[Buddha-l] "The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum"

[Curt Steinmetz]

I was looking at a fascinating blog ( http://jayarava.blogspot.com/ ) 
maintained by one of Richard's co-religionists (in the FWBO), and I came 
across a reference to a book on "The Origins of Om Manipadme Hum: A 
Study of the Karandavyuha Sutra" by Alexander Studholme. According to 
the book's blurb at amazon:

"This book presents a new interpretation of the meaning of Om Manipadme 
Hum, and includes a detailed, annotated precis of Karandavyuha Sutra, 
opening up this important work to a wider audience. The earliest textual 
source is the Karandavyuha Sutra, which describes both the compassion of 
Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva whole power the mantra invokes, and the 
mythical tale of the search and discovery of the mantra. Through a 
detailed analysis of this sutra, Studholme explores the historical and 
doctrinal forces behind the appearance of Om Manipadme Hum in India at 
around the middle of the first millennium c.e. He argues that the 
Karandavyuha Sutra has close affinities to non-Buddhist puranic 
literature, and that the conception of Avalokitesvara and his 
six-syllable mantra is influenced by the conception of the Hindu deity 
Siva and his five-syllable mantra Namah Sivaya. The Karandavyuha Sutra 
reflects historical situation in which the Buddhist monastic 
establishment was coming into contact with Buddhist tantric 
practitioners, themselves influenced by Saivite practitioners."
[ 
http://www.amazon.com/Origins-Om-Manipadme-Hum-Karandavyuha/dp/0791453901/ref=ed_oe_p 
]

I am a big fan of Siva - and I am always looking for sneaky ways to 
co-opt Him into the Buddhist pantheon (if for no other reason than to 
see the looks on people's faces at the very idea of a Buddhist pantheon 
at all - let alone one populated with - horrors! - Hindu Deities).

Is anyone out there familiar with this book by Studholme? Or am I going 
to have to actually get it and read it myself?

Curt Steinmetz