Author: Samuel Beal
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications
Year: 1989
Language: English
Pages: 452
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8170301831
Description
The Buddhist Canon in China, as it was arranged between the years 67 and 1285 A D, includes 1440 distinct works, comprising 5586 books. But these form only a fractional part of the entire Buddhist Literature. The present books is divided into parts. In the beginning the book contains an informative introduction.
Part I contains Legends and Myths which includes - The Origin of the rivers; The Navel of the earth; The Habitable world; the Four great continents; On the Karma that leads to birth in these worlds: On the causes of the earthquakes; on the eight cold Hells; on the abode of the king Yama. The Superior Heaven; The thirty three heavens; The four divisions of Dhyana Heavens; the occupants of the Heaveans; General summary; The collective Universe; The extent of the different systems of the worlds; on the length of time called a Kalpa; On the kalpa of Perfection; on the various tiers of the world; on the names of the great numbers used in Buddhist books; Legend of Sakya; Origin of the Sakya family; Memoirs by Wang Puh; the various scenes of Sakya teaching; his methods of teaching; the various developments of his doctrine; the eternity of his law; his successors; the epitome of Buddha's life.
Part II deals with Buddhism as a Religion - The necessity of meditation; Buddhism as a atheistic system; as a nihilistic system; The Nirvana - The character of Nirvana; Chinese definitions; the discussion found in the Mahaparinirvana Sutra. The Sutra of the forty-two Sections, The Pratimoksha, The Daily Manual of the Shaman., The Tian T'ai School of Buddhism.
Part III is on the Scholastic Period - General division of the Buddhist development; Translation of Sutras. Part IV. Mystic Period - Definition of Mysticism; the convent at Nalanda; the worship of Kwan-yin; Part V. Decline and fall - Naga worship. In the end the book Contains Additional Notes, General Index, and Index of Proper Names, arranged Phonetically.
Contents
PREFACE
INTRODUCTION.
PART I : Legends And Myths :
1. The Habitable World
2. The Superior Heavens
3. The Collective Universe
4. Legend Of Sakya
PART II :
1. Buddhism As A Religion
2. Nirvana
3. The Sutra Of The Forty-Two Sections
4. The Pratimoksha
5. The Daily Manual Of The Shaman
6. The Tian T'ai School Of Buddhism
PART III : Scholastic Period :
1. Translation Of Sutras
PART IV : Mystic Period :
1. Translations :
PART V : Decline And Fall :
1. Naga Worship