Synopses & Reviews
This book begins with Buddhism's involvement in the culture and thought of India, and observes its moves into other, very different contexts: China, Southeast Asia, Tibet, Japan, and even the West, to a limited extent. The book accepts the diversity within Buddhism, giving roughly equal treatment to its two major traditions -- the Theravada and the Mahayana. KEY TOPICS: Probes the philosophy and religion of Buddhism and how they relate to cultural traditions.
Description
Includes bibliographical references (p. 146-147) and index.
Table of Contents
I. BUDDHISM AND CULTURE IN HISTORY. 1. Oerview: Bangkok and its Buddhas. 2. A History of Buddhism.
3. Difficult Places along the Middle Path: Dissent and Controversy.
4. Twenty-five Hundreds Years of Poetry.
II. ANALYSIS OF THE BUDDHIST TRADITION: THE THREE TREASURES. 5. The Dharma: Doctrine and Philosophy.
6. The Buddha: Models and Rituals.
7. The Sangha: Community and Modernity.
8. Conclusion.
Glossary.
Bibliography.
Index.