Author: P V Bapat
Foreword/Introduction: S Radhakrishnan
Publisher: Publications Division
Year: 2012
Language: English
Pages: 423
ISBN/UPC (if available): 8123002947
Description
Three important events in the life of the Buddha -- birth, enlightenment, and 'parinirvana' and an account of the story of Buddhism in the last 2500 years is the central theme of this book.
Sixth century BC was remarkable for the spiritual unrest and intellectual ferment in many countries. In China, there was Lao Tzu and Confucius, in Greece Parmenides and Empedocles, in Iran Zarathustra, in India Mahavira and Buddha. In that period many remarkable teachers worked upon their inheritance and developed new points of view.
The Buddha did not feel that he was announcing a new religion. He was born, grew up, and died a Hindu. He was restating with a new emphasis the ancient ideals of the Indo-Aryan civilization. Buddhism did not start as a new and independent religion. It was an offshoot of the more ancient faith of the Hindus. While on the fundamentals of metaphysics and ethics Buddha agreed with the faith he inherited, he protested against certain practices which were in vogue at the time. He refused to acquiesce in the Vedic ceremonialism.
Buddhism is a religion of kindness, humanity and equality. While the religion of the Vedas allowed animal sacrifice to propitiate the gods, Buddhism set its face against such sacrifices; on the contrary it waged a merciless campaign against this practice.
Led by its distinguished editor, this volume has contributions from 26 well-known writers and a foreword from Dr. S. Radhakrishnan.
CONTENTS: India and Buddhism * Origin of Buddhism * Life and Teachings * Four Buddhist Councils * Asoka and the Expansion of Buddhism * Principal Schools and Sects of Buddhism * Buddhist Literature * uddhist Education * Some Great Buddhist afterAsoka * Chinese Travellers * A Brief Survey of Buddhist Art * Places of Buddhist Interest * Later Modifications of Buddhism * Buddhist Studies in Recent Times * Buddhism in the Modern World * In Retrospect + Glossary + Bibliography + Index + Charfts, maps and illustrations.
EDITOR: P V Bapat, Ph.D. (Harvard), is a retired Professor of Ancient Indian Culture, Pali and Buddhism, Poona University and Fergusson College, Poona.
Contents
Foreword
Our Contributors
CHAPTER I
India and Buddhism
CHAPTER II
Origin of Buddhism
CHAPTER III
Life and Teachings
CHAPTER IV
Four Buddhist Councils
CHAPTER V
Asoka and the Expansion of Buddhism
CHAPTER VI
Principal Schools and Sects of Buddhism
CHAPTER VII
Buddhist Literature
CHAPTER VIII
Buddhist Education
CHAPTER IX
Some great Buddhist After Asoka
CHAPTER X
Chinese Travelers
CHAPTER XI
A Brief Survey of Buddhist Art
CHAPTER XII
Places of Buddhist Interest
CHAPTER XIII
Later Modifications of Buddhism
CHAPTER XIV
Buddhist Studies in Recent Times
CHAPTER XV
Buddhism in the Modern World
CHAPTER XVI
In Retrospect
Glossary
Bibliography
Index
Charts, Maps and Illustrations