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Description : Written by a well-respected author and established scholar, Klostermaier’s Buddhism: A Short Introduction is a meticulous examination of this ancient and diverse religious tradition. Using jargon-free and accessible language, the author explores not only the origins and development of the Buddhist tradition, but also offers a detailed study of its schools, doctrines and practices. Specific topics covered include:
• Buddhism as a living tradition of both east and west • the Buddhist path to liberation • meditation and education • women in the development and history of Buddhism.
Introducing all of the major texts, this authoritative study allows the reader to become acquainted with both the intellectual content and the unique flavour of Buddhism and Buddhist writings.
Contents: INTRODUCTION • The making of a Buddhist • Insider and outsider writing about Buddhism • Buddhist texts and Buddhist practice • About this book • Part I: THE ‘THREE JEWELS’ OF BUDDHISM • THE BUDDHA • The historical Buddha • Buddhas of the past and the future • The image of the Buddha • The remembrance of the Buddha • The women in the Buddha’s life • THE DHAMMA: BACKGROUND AND EXPRESSIONS • The contemporary Indian background • Hinayana, Mahayana, Vajrayana: Buddhism, one or many? • THE CONTENT OF THE BUDDHA-DHAMMA • The Buddhist councils • The spread of Buddhism • Modern Western Buddhist scholarship • The Buddha-dhamma and feminism • Buddhist education • The Wheel of Becoming • The Dhammapada as a compendium of the • Buddha-dhamma • King Milinda’s questions • THE SANGHA • The Patimokkha • Women and the Sangha • The Sangha and the sanghas • THE BUDDHIST PATH • THE WAY TO NIBBANA • Who can reach nirbbana? The path to nibbana Nibbana • The arahant • Arahatta and Buddhahood • BUDDHIST MEDITATION • Preparation for meditation • Types of meditators • The kasinas • Brahma-vihara • Samatha and Vipassana bhavana • THE BODHISATTAVA PATH• Santideva’s Bodhicaryavatara • The ten bodhisattva bhumis • SCHOOLS OF BUDDHISM • BUDDHIST SYSTEMATIC AND POLEMIC • The Abhidhamma • Buddhist logic and polemics • MADHYAMAKA, YOGACARA AND TANTRIC BUDDHISM • Madhyamaka: the ‘Central Philosophy’ • Yogacara: ‘Mind Only’ • Madhyamaka and Yogacara: deconstruction and reconstruction • Tantric Buddhism • CONCLUSION • Buddhism as philosophy and religion • APPENDIX 1 BUDDHIST LITERATURE: PRIMARY SOURCES • APPENDIX 2 ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS OF BUDDHIST • SOURCES • APPENDIX 3 CHRONOLOGY ISBN - 9781851681860
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Pages : 246
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