Buddhism Books

Book SynopsisThis is an interspiritual commentary -- largely though not exclusively Buddhist-inspired -- on the life of Elijah as recounted in the Bible. It treats the externals of his life as metaphors for internal mind-states, his story as a labyrinth-like journey toward enlightenment, an unfolding realization of the non-duality of himself and God. Elijah begins with a henotheistic conception of God as a national deity connected to the land of Israel and progresses to a realization of God as the ground of being, being-itself, the God of those who struggle with God, which is the deeper meaning of the name Israel. While the inner dimension is emphasized, there is also a focus on the political dimension of the story, which liberation theologians call God’s preferential option for the poor, and here it is called the politics of anatta -- the core Buddhist principle of not-self.

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Book SynopsisIn this innovative book, S. Niggol Seo investigates the intrinsic and intriguing relationship between the fundamental teachings of Buddhism and the principles of economics and happiness. Offering a unique perspective on the topic, Seo delves deep into the theoretical foundations of economics and Buddhist teachings, highlighting how these seemingly polar opposite thought systems cross paths.Seo argues that when it comes to markets, prices, interest rates, growth, poverty, and environmental protection, Buddhism and economics share a number of common economic ideas. Written in an accessible style, Seo presents both a succinct and encompassing description of Buddhism for economists, as well as a comprehensive overview of economics. Buddha, Wisdom and Economics brings together in a balanced and systematic way the common ground between both endeavours. It further examines important topics in the field in light of Buddhist teachings, including economic growth and happiness, poverty and environmental protection.This thought-provoking book will be an invigorating read for undergraduate and postgraduate economics students and to those with a particular interest in development economics, religion, welfare and happiness studies. It also offers ground-breaking insights for economic policy-makers looking to better understand the intersection between Buddhism and economics.Trade Review‘Buddha, Wisdom and Economics: A Contribution to the Art of Happiness by S. Niggol Seo is a complicated and thoughtful treatise of two facets of the author's life. The first has been spent reading and absorbing the thoughts of the three Buddhas. The second has been a long professional education understanding economics and applying that understanding specifically to environmental economics. The aim of the book is to present a deeper understanding of Buddhism to economists and an introduction of economics to Buddhists.' -- Robert Mendelsohn, Yale University, USTable of ContentsContents: Preface viii About the Author 1 Introduction to Buddha, Wisdom and Economics 2 Buddha: a concise introduction with life stories for this audience 3 Perfection of wisdom: a concise introduction for this audience 4 Market: the foundation of economics 5 The value of something: material value versus inner value 6 Capital and interest rate: no possessions or earn profits? 7 Economic growth: happiness versus growth 8 Poverty: all people being equal versus getting people out of poverty 9 Environmental protection: protect all versus protect wisely 10 Personal reflections on bodhisattva deeds in the “reality” of the market Bibliography of the Sutras Cited Index

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Book SynopsisThis book brings together the studies of Jeaneane Fowler in Taoism, Chinese popular religion and the broader canvas of Chinese cosmogony, and those of Merv Fowler in Confucianism, Ch'an (Zen) Buddhism and Pure Land Buddhism. 'Chinese Religions' requires no previous knowledge and thereby serves as an introduction to the religions of China, and places it in the wider context of Chinese history and philosophy. The facets of Chinese religions are as broad, multilayered and varied as the geographical vastness of China itself, yet so many Chinese beliefs have found their way into the West -- the theory of yin and yang, the I Ching, the Tao Te Ching are good examples. One of the greatest characteristics of Chinese religions is that they encompass virtually every avenue of religious thought throughout the long span of Chinese pre-historic and historical pathways.Table of ContentsContents include: Ancient China: The Three Dynasties; Religious Taoism; Rhythms of the Universe; Chan Buddhism; Confucianism; Pure Land Buddhism; Neo-Confucianism; Popular Religion; Classical Taoism; Chinese Religions Today.

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Book SynopsisIn 1983, a tiny group of people in Cardiff and a married couple in Aberporth West Wales were the only Welsh members of Soka Gakkai International, a Japanese movement based on the beliefs and teachings of the 13th century Buddhist, Nichiren Daishonin. Today, there are hundreds of members in Wales and the Borders. This book examines the history of the movement in these two areas, and draws on original research gleaned from the members themselves. The research elicits facets of their faith, practices, and study, as well as their testimonies to the success of such beliefs and practices in their daily lives. The book combines the twin goals of academic analysis of the Buddhism of Nichiren Daishonin in general with the warmth of its expression in the lives of its adherents in Wales and the Borders.Table of ContentsContents include: The philosophy and history of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism; The history of Nichiren Daishonin Buddhism in Wales and the Borders; The human revolution for a universal humanity; Practices, Experiences and Ceremonies; The 'Lotus Sutra'.

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Book SynopsisThe Pureland schools are the largest Buddhist denominations in Japan, and yet this approach to Buddhism is hardly known in the West. Pureland centres on our relationship with Amida Buddha, the embodiment of measureless love, light and life. It offers a fresh view of spirituality, recognising us in our mundane lives, whilst lifting us into relationship with the eternal. As ordinary people, we cannot fathom our own depths nor can we know the immensity of the universe. We can but stand in awe and reach out to what we intuitively know to be beyond the small orbit of our lives. Pureland is a path of simplicity and beauty, poetry and nature. It is the path of faith.Trade ReviewIn this profound work, Caroline Brazier looks at the apparent opposites of Pure Land Buddhism and psychotherapeutic practice in a deep and unifying manner. Leading us gently but firmly, she shows how the Other-power - which is the essence of the Pure Land (Jodo) Path - can be a vital factor in a full restoration of the harmony of self. The result is not only an essential book for Buddhists, for students of religion, and for therapists of all schools, but for anyone who seeks an improved ability to cope with the stresses of our everyday world. Jim Pym, editor of Pure Land Notes, and author of You Dont Have to Sit on the Floor.

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Book SynopsisA Cup of Buddha: reflections on truth discusses how to take the journey toward inner peace, toward truth in entertaining, simple language beyond the abstract and mystical concepts typically found in eastern philosophy books. The book applies eastern philosophy to western living utilizing pop culture and music metaphors to explore dense topics in an easy to digest format. Individuals are restless, and unhappy. We search for the water to put out our fire of discontent filling this space with self help books, food, new cars, relationships, and more, all with short term satisfaction but our fire still burns. We look outward, we look to others, yet the fire rages. A Cup of Buddha: reflections on truth addresses this fire within each of us, exploring the actual journey toward truth, understanding that each moment in life is everything, and we alone ultimately make this choice toward happiness.Trade ReviewThomas Craig speaks of the unknown in very pragmatic and understandable way in his book A Cup Of Buddha. He succeeds in bringing Buddhism into your everyday way of life. A wonderful read. (Lynn Andrews, Bestselling author of Medicine Woman)

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Book SynopsisMost of us have lived through painful, humiliating or traumatic experiences, leaving us haunted and conditioned by reactions that trap us in ongoing cycles of feeling hurt and hurting others. And on the wider political scale, we have obviously yet to learn the art of responding well to the hurts of terrorism, exploitation, or more local conflicts of interest. Either we resort to reciprocal violence, or claim too readily the status of innocent victim. The book begins by looking at three predominant negative responses. It then draws on a variety of traditions from the author's own Buddhist Christian perspective, exploring how deep meditation can help take us beyond the negative narratives of hurt. The author finds ambivalent but broadly positive images in childhood innocence and the tragicomic fool, and urges the importance of a radical and unconditional forgiveness of self and others that is grounded in both Buddhist Emptiness and the risen Christ. By these means, the habit of accusation that so easily dominates self and society can give way to humour and mutual wonder.Trade ReviewWounded Wisdom is both an accessible text and a significant contribution to the dialogue between theology and psychology. The academic discussion is clear and wide-ranging , while the author's own poetry, together with the stories he has uncovered, are unafraid to tap into violent emotion. Readers will be intrigued by his synthesis of Buddhism ('a wave-like approach') and Christianity ('a more focused, particle-like' description). This is a fine exemplar of the burgeoning genre of practical theology - well-informed, personally engaged and committed to Love's lessons, wherever they are found. (Charles Hampton - pastoral psychologist)

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Book SynopsisHoping to rediscover his deeper purpose, Rijumati, an English Buddhist teacher and businessman, embarked on a journey into the unknown: a round-the-world trip by land and sea that became a kind of pilgrimage. Months - and many crises - later he returned with new reverence for ordinary people and places, a sense of veneration for nature's wonders and a profound gratitude for being human. Part travel diary and part record of a spiritual journey, these pages evoke the sacred, remote places encountered in the outer world alongside the 'inner terrain' that unfolded along the way. If you have ever felt the call of the open road, longed to travel as a form of self-discovery, or just wanted to know how to stay sane whilst getting a visa stamp in Kazakhstan, then Pilgrimage to Anywhere is for you.Trade ReviewRijumati's long journey took him through many countries, cultures, and climates, and he writes with veracity and verve about the places he passed through and the diverse people he met. Once you have started on this book you will find it difficult to put it down. (Sangharakshita, author of The Rainbow Road and Facing Mount Kanchenjunga)

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Book SynopsisThe Yugyō-ha achieved success by basing its religious authority on a combination of Pure Land mysticism and the practices of fundraising hijiri. Between 1300 and 1700, the Pure Land Buddhist religious order known as the Ippen school Yugyō-ha (later the Jishu) established itself as the leading representative of nembutsu propagation in Japan. The theme of the order's history is the development of religious authority as a result of the struggle to normalize relations among the official head, sometimes obstreperous religious, and often interfering (usually warrior) lay patrons. This study demonstrates the value of the articulation in organizational studies of Weber's concept of charisma as a successful social relationship as well as that of a chosen career determined by culture and tradition. Indeed, the success of the Yugyō-ha was due to its ability to seize on the advantages of combining the principles and practices of two existing traditions, Pure Land mysticism and the fundraising hijiri movement.Trade ReviewBy identifying key events and turning points in the development of the Yugyō-ha, Thornton describes a historical process. Rich in detail, nuanced in argument, and original in its approach... a welcome addition to the study of premodern Japanese Buddhism. * History of Religions *

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Book SynopsisTranslated by Francis H. Cook, this volume comprises three important texts of the Yogacara school. ""Demonstration of Consciousness Only"" is an in-depth commentary on Vasubandhu's ""Thirty Verses on Consciousness Only"" by Hsuan-tsang. It also includes the text of Vasubandhu's ""Thirty Verses"" and ""The Treatise in Twenty Verses on Consciousness Only"", which presents a logical defense of Yogacara doctrine.

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Book SynopsisContains biographies of three great Mahayana masters, sixty-five Chinese nuns from the fourth to sixth centuries, and an account of the life and travels in South Asia of the fifth-century Chinese monk, Faxian.

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Book SynopsisThe Sutra of Queen Srimala is an important early Mahayana text. The ""Vimalakirti Sutra"" is a well-known sutra that deals extensively with the doctrines of nonduality and emptiness. This work presents two titles in one volume.

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Book SynopsisLewis Rosser Lancaster’s vision led to the establishment of the Group in Buddhist Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, in 1972. The Group continues today as one of the most important programs for the academic study of Buddhism. Lancaster’s dissertation on the Chinese translations of the 8,000 Line Perfection of Wisdom sutra informed the program with a strong philological emphasis, and a focus on the detailed understanding the historical development of a text and the comparative study of different versions. His scholarly projects have included the creation of The Korean Buddhist Canon: A Descriptive Catalogue, which continues to serve as an important tool for research into the Buddhist canon. This work also relates to the contributions he made to Buddhist studies by bringing greater scholarly attention to Korean Buddhism. Much of his recent efforts have been devoted to integrating the power of data search procedures into the study of the history of the canon. These efforts include a challenge to traditional views of texts as self-contained autonomous entities with a clear and identifiable history. Instead texts emerge as events, that is, as nodes in networks, ones that have complex interconnections with one another.

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Book SynopsisCompiled by Vinaya Master Shi Sengyou, these writings (by laypeople as well as scholar-monastics) were intended to protect the Buddha Dharma from criticisms by Confucians and Daoists and the political powers of the time. As noted in the Translator's Introduction, Sengyou believed that ""The Way is propagated by people, and the teaching is clarified by literature.”The work is widely known as an invaluable source to examine the early development of Chinese Buddhism and how this foreign religion was accepted and adopted in Chinese society. A notable aspect of this work is that Buddhist tenets are explained using Confucian and Daoist terminology. While the Collection is a Buddhist work from chiefly the fourth and fifth centuries, it also serves well as a primary source for studies of contemporary Daoism.Volume 2 completes the translation with fascicles 8-14 of the source text; Volume I (available separately) comprises fascicles 1-7.

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Book SynopsisThese quintessential sayings of the Buddha offer a rich tapestry of spiritual teachings and reflections on the spiritual path. More than just a collection of Buddhist sayings, The Dhammapada's message is timeless and crosses all cultural boundaries. It offers the reader a constant source of inspiration, reflection and companionship. It is a treasure trove of pure wisdom that has something to offer to everyone. Everyday Buddha brings the original teaching and traditional text of The Dhammapada into our 21st century lifestyle, with a contemporary context. Without straying far from the Pali text it renders it in a fresh and modern idiom, with a universal appeal. An introduction provides a background to the life and times of the historical Buddha, and his teachings on the four noble truths and eight fold noble path. Foreword by H.H. The Dalai Lama, with his seal of approval.Trade Review"This book is a welcome addition to such fine translations as that of Juan Mascaro. An invaluable aid to living a good life." Michael Taylor, New Vision "Whether you already have a copy of the Dhammapada or not, I recommend you get this. If you are new to Buddhism this is a great place to start. The whole feel of the book is lovely, the layout of the verses is clear and the simple illustrations are very beautiful, catching a feel for the original work of the Buddha, Tibetan Buddhism and their expression in the West. His Holiness the Dalai Lama's foreword is particularly beautiful and is accompanied by a partucularly sweet picture of this great teacher, which is worth the purchase price alone. Lawrence's introduction is clear and simple and sets the context for what follows without getting bogged down in information... I congradulate all involved in this project and have put the book on my recommended list." Jeremy Ball, Nova Magazine "This book is a contemporary rendering of the Buddhist classic, The Dhammapada and the foreword is by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama. These quintessential sayings of the Buddha offer a rich tapestry of spiritual teachings and reflections on the spiritual path. However, more than just a collection of Buddhist sayings, The Dhammapada's message is timeless and crosses all cultural boundaries. The introduction is erudite and not only explains this classic book but also explains all about The Dhammapada which is one of the thirty one books which comprise the Tipitaka, the original Pali texts which contain the quintessence of the Buddhist teachings. The profundity of each verse is evident and one can experience calmness simply by reading the verses quietly and then meditating. The author, Karma Yonten Senge aka Lawrence R. Ellyard is a Dharma practitioner of the Karma Kagyu Tradition of Tibetan Buddhism. A delightful reading experience. " Living Now Magazine

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Book SynopsisThe Wind from Vulture Peak addresses the history of the gradual incorporation of Buddhist concepts into Heian waka poetry and the development among court poets of a belief in the production of that poetry as a Buddhist practice in itself.Trade ReviewThe breadth and depth of this work and the brilliance of the translations constitute a significant contribution to the field of Japanese literature. * Kyoto Journal *

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Book SynopsisThe Wind from Vulture Peak addresses the history of the gradual incorporation of Buddhist concepts into Heian waka poetry and the development among court poets of a belief in the production of that poetry as a Buddhist practice in itself.Trade ReviewThe breadth and depth of this work and the brilliance of the translations constitute a significant contribution to the field of Japanese literature. * Kyoto Journal *

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Book SynopsisContemplative and calming to colour, Elizabeth Carpenter's 30 mandalas offer delightfully challenging mazes running through her striking designs. Very different from the childhood mazes you're familiar with, each of these intricate puzzles exercises the critical part of the brain as you work your way through the winding paths.

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Book SynopsisThis book addresses the question of how to properly handle Dōgen’s texts, a core issue that became critical during the Meiji period in which the philosophical appropriation of Dōgen became apparent inside and outside of the monastery. In present day Dōgen studies, most scholarship is informed by a number of factions representing Dōgen. The chapters herein address: the Zennist (j. zenjōka) emphasising practice, the Genzōnians (j. genzōka) shifting the attention to the close reading of Dōgen’s texts, the laity movement opening up both the texts and the practice to people in modern society, and the Genzō researchers (j. genzō kenkyūka) searching for the authenticity and truth of Dōgen’s writings. The book aims to clarify the rightful place of Dōgen: in the monastery, in denominational studies, or in modern academic philosophy? It brings forth various viewpoints on Dōgen, and analyzes the relations of these viewpoints from the premodern to modern times. The collected volume appeals to students and researchers in the field while establishing hermeneutic standards of reading and proposing new, original, and critical interpretations of Dōgen’s texts.Chapter From Uji to Being-time (and Back): Translating Dōgen into Philosophy is available open access under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License via link.springer.com.Table of ContentsSteve Heine: A Critical History of Interpretations of an Ambiguous Shōbōgenzō SentenceAldo Tollini: Dōgen and the Buddhist WayGeorge Wrisley: Dōgen as Philosopher, Dōgen’s Philosophical Zen.Ralf Müller: Incorporating Dogen as philosopher? The example of Nishida Kitaro.Eitan Bolokan: Interpretive Sensibilities in Do̅gen's “Genjo̅ko̅an”. Negotiating the Path Between Textual Authority and CreativenessRussell Guilbault: Dōgen as Philosopher, Metaphysician, and Metaethicist.Andrei Van der Braak: Philosopher, Religious Thinker or Theologian?: Engaging Dōgen beyond Zen ModernismLaurentiu Andrei: The Practice of Time and the Time of Practice. Dōgen and Marcus-Aurelius on Impermanence and SelfLaura Specker: Do Not Lose the Rice: Dōgen Through the Eyes of Contemporary Western Zen Women Leesa S Davis Deakin: Engaging with Dōgen’s texts: the nonduality of philosophy and religionZuzana Kubovčáková: Uji: Analysis of Dōgen’s Language Style as the Formation Ground for his PhilosophyRaji Steineck: From Uji to Being-time (and Back). Translating Dōgen into PhilosophyFelipe Cuervo: On Flowing While Being. The (Mereo)Logical Structure of Dōgen’s Conception of TimeRein Raud: Thinking the Now: Dōgen’s Thought between Philosophy and Praxis

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For over 2500 years, Buddhism was implicated in processes of cultural interaction that in turn shaped Buddhist doctrines, practices and institutions. While the cultural plurality of Buddhism has often been remarked upon, the transcultural processes that constitute this plurality, and their long-term effects, have scarcely been studied as a topic in their own right. The contributions to this volume present detailed case studies ranging across different time periods, regions and disciplines, and they address methodological challenges as well as theoretical problems. In addition to casting a spotlight on topics as diverse as the role of trade contacts in the early spread of Buddhism, the hybrid nature of religious practices in Japan or Indo-Tibetan relations in Tibetan polemical literature, the individual papers jointly raise the question as to whether there might be something distinct about how Buddhism steers and influences forms of cultural exchange, and is in turn shaped by modalities of cultural interaction throughout Asian, as well as global, history. The volume is intended to demonstrate the need for investigating transcultural dynamics more closely in the study of Buddhism, and to suggest new avenues for Buddhist Studies.

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Book SynopsisWährend hierzulande die Kirchen immer geringeren Zuspruch erhalten, steigt das Interesse am Buddhismus. Darin drückt sich ein fortbestehendes Bedürfnis nach Spiritualität, einer Heilslehre und existentieller Tiefe aus. Tibetischer Buddhismus deckt zudem magisch-mystische Sehnsüchte. Dass dabei die um Vereinbarkeit mit westlicher Lebensweise bemühten Diamantweg- und Rigpa-Schulen die weitaus größte Anhängerschaft vorweisen, mag kein Zufall sein. Der hier gewählte methodologische Zugang gewährt intime Einblicke in Konversions- und Bleibemotive, den Praxisalltag sowie Veränderungen der Selbst- und Weltverhältnisse.Table of ContentsEinleitung.- Tibetischer Buddhismus im Westen.- Institutionelle Sozialisation und spirituelle Entwicklung.- Resümierende Schlussbetrachtungen.- Nachwort von Werner Vogd.

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Book SynopsisThis selection of essays demonstrates that, in the study of Buddhism, a concern with detailed accuracy in philological and textual specifics can be combined with wider philosophical and sociological issues. The essays are divided into three parts: (1) Pali Literature, (2) The Theory and Practice of Not-Self, and (3) Buddhism and Society. The last part builds on but goes beyond the work of Dumont and Max Weber in considering “world-renunciation” as a phenomenon of society and culture.Table of ContentsPreface Pali Literature 1. On the Very Idea of the Pali Canon 2. Notes on Some Oral Aspects of Pali Literature 3. What Is Literature in Pali? The Theory and Practice of Not-Self 4. What Are Buddhist Doing When They Deny the Self? 5. The Body in Theravada Buddhist Monasticism 6. A Buddhist Debate About the Self, and Remarks on Buddhism in the Work of Derek Parfit and Galen Strawson 7. Of Death and Trees Buddhism and Society 8. Monasticism, Utopias and Comparative Social Theory 9. Louis Dumont and the Study of Religions 10. Buddhist "Nuns" (Mae chi) and the Teaching of Pali in Thailand (With Justin McDaniel) Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisLong before the advent of modern psychology, Buddhism offered ways to understand body and mind through introspection and meditation. These efforts yielded a thorough and detailed classification and analysis of mental and physical phenomena, known as the Abhidhamma. The Web of Buddhist Wisdom is a clear and accessible explanation of important themes of the Abhidhamma, such as consciousness, mental concomitants, physicality, and the experience of Enlightenment. In addition, he addresses the law of kamma, the process of dying and rebirth, the four Noble Truths and the value of the Abhidhamma. This is a rich and accessible guide for anyone who is interested in the workings of the human mind. It offers a clear and simple acquaintance with the world of the Abhidhamma, an old yet very accurate mirror of our existence.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, a Burmese manuscript from the mid-nineteenth century is the catalyst for a study of the multifaceted Buddhist cosmos. The manuscript not only lays out the complex array of realms in the Buddhist universe but also ventures into a number of esoteric and little-understood aspects of the Theravāda cosmological system and its inhabitants. By presenting translations and narration of much of the manuscript’s text and sharing his careful analysis of its vivid illustrations, the author uncovers fascinating details of the Theravāda Buddhist cosmos. Detailed color and black-and-white illustrations, including a complete reduced-scale reproduction of the manuscript, help clarify and explain the complex, segmented Buddhist cosmology.

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Book SynopsisThe diffusion of religious thought in Buddhist Asia has been marked by new modes of expression. Sometimes this has meant textual translation, as highlighted in chapters about Chinese and Japanese Buddhist texts or the analysis of manuscripts in northern Thailand. In other cases it has been cultural translation, such as local adaptations of jataka tales, legal concepts developed out of Theravada Buddhist teachings, or localization of art, inscriptions, and other material culture. Additional chapters study other types of engagement: the encounter of East and West in British geographical and anthropological exploration of Burma, and the place of Brahmanism in early Buddhist thought as expressed through the jatakas. Together these contributions recognize that beyond being isolated by sectarian divisions, disparate Buddhist traditions have flourished through their simultaneity.

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Book SynopsisA re-examination of Western interpretations-and distortions-of Indian religious traditions. In India in the Eyes of Europeans, Martin Farek argues that when Western scholars interpret Indian traditions, they actually present distorted reflections of their own European culture, despite their attempts at unbiased objectivity. This distortion is clearest in the way India is viewed primarily through a religious lens-a lens fashioned from an implicitly Christian design. While discussing the current international dialogue on the topic and the work of such scholars as S. N. Balagangadhara, Farek's study presents the results of original research on several key topics: the problems in assigning religious significance to the Indian traditions that gave rise to Hinduism and Buddhism; Europeans' questioning of Indians' historical consciousness; the current debate surrounding the arrival of the Aryans in India; and controversial interpretations of the work of the reformer Rammohan Raj. The res

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Book SynopsisFirst published in 1975, B.J. Terwiel's Monks and Magic remains a widely cited text. This is an absorbing study of Buddhism as practised at that time in a community in rural Central Thailand. It describes how esoteric spells and magical diagrams were the main interest of children and adolescents but full ritual knowledge was obtained in adulthood and tempered by life experiences. As death approaches, the Buddhist world-view stimulates merit-making. This fourth edition of the work is a major revision that updates the original text, adds new material and offers a contemporary perspective on the original study.Trade Review'This book deserves a welcome from both sides of academic life, teaching and research. Teachers of subjects dealing with Thai language and culture will welcome a clear account of the religious preoccupations - of country people in the central region. The author has come to treat what is normal and respectable there - The hope is thereby to emphasize the main thesis, viz. that there is such a thing as 'animistic Buddhism' and that it is common in rural areas.' - P.J. Bee, "Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies"Table of ContentsPreface Acknowledgements A Note on Transliteration 1. Two Orientations in the Practice of Buddhism 2. The Setting and the Fieldwork 3. Children and Religion 4. Adolescents, Amulets and Tattooing 5. The First Period in the Sangha 6. Leaving the Order, Courtship and Marriage 7. Building a House 8. The Precepts and Ritual 9. The Pursuit of Beneficial Karma 10. Old Age, Death, and the Hereafter 11. Conclusions Postscript Glossary of Thai, Pali and Sanskrit Words Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn dramatic contrast to the reported growing influence of doctrinal and fundamentalist forms of religion in some parts of Southeast Asia, the predominantly Buddhist societies of the region are witnessing an upsurge of spirit possession cults and diverse forms of magical ritual. This is found in many social strata, including the urban poor, rising middle classes and elite groups, and across the different political systems of Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam. This volume reveals both the central historical place of spirit possession rituals in the Buddhist cultures of mainland Southeast Asia and their important contemporary roles to enhance prosperity and protection. This book examines the increasing prominence of spirit mediumship and divination across the region by exploring the interplay of neoliberal capitalism, visual media, the network cultures of the Internet, and the politics of cultural heritage and identity. It advances beyond critiques of the “secularization” and “disenchantment” theses to explore the processes of modernity that are actively producing magical worldviews and stimulating the rise of spirit cults. As such, it not only challenges the assumptions of modernization theory but demonstrates that the cults in question are novel ritual forms that emerge out of inherently modern conditions.

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Book SynopsisThis highly acclaimed study describes Aum Shinrikyo's history, examines the various conflicts it was involved in, and discusses the contents of Asahara's sermons and prophecies. Reader suggests that the Aum case is not unique but similar to other cases of religious violence.The March 1995 gas attack on the Tokyo subway system killed 12 people and injured thousands. Massive police raids and the subsequent investigation linked this attack (plus a variety of other criminal activities including murders) to Aum Shinrikyo, a small religious movement whose leader, Asahara Shoko, had prophesied that Armageddon was at hand.Many questions have been raised by the Aum affair. What were Aum's spiritual roots and the focus of Asahara's teaching? Why did a religious movement ostensibly focused on yoga, meditation, asceticism and the pursuit of enlightenment become involved in violent activities? What factors brought Aum into conflict with society at large, caused it to believe it was the victim of a huge conspiracy to destroy it, and impelled it to experiment with making nerve gasses, build weapons and form its own 'alternative government'?Ian Reader examines these questions by describing Aum's history, examining the various conflicts it was involved in, and discussing the contents of Asahara's sermons and prophesies. In so doing, he points to a combination of factors which together took Aum down a path of violence. Suggesting that the Aum case is not unique, he shows how it displays similarities with other cases of violence and conflict among religious and political movements in Japan and elsewhere.

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Book SynopsisThis is one of the important foreign accounts for understanding the history and religion in the South East Asian region during the ancient period.

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Book SynopsisThis book made Buddha and Buddhism famous in Western countries and became a source of inspiration for the Indian nationalist leader, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, and the founder of the Theosophical Society, Madame Blavatsky.

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Book SynopsisA collection of essays engaging with Buddhism in Thailand and the virtues of distraction and variety within the materialist turn in studies of religion.In Thailand, Buddhism is deeply integrated into national institutions and ideologies, making it tempting to think of Buddhism in Thailand as a textual, institutional, cultural, and conceptual whole. At the same time, religious expression in the country reflects anything but a single order. Often gaudy, cacophonous, variegated, and jumbled, diversity and apparent contradiction abound. A more open engagement with Buddhism in Thailand requires a willingness to be distracted, to step away from received hierarchies and follow the intriguing detail in the ornate design, the odd textual reference, and to prefer "thin description" over a search for meaning. Justin McDaniel's well-known book-length writings in Buddhist and Theravada studies cannot be fully understood without taking into account his shorter writings, what he calls his wayward distractions. Collected together for the first time, these essays cover subjects ranging from ornamental art to marriage and emotion, the role of Hinduism, neglected gender and ethnic diversity, Buddhist inflections in contemporary art practice, and the boundaries between the living, dead, and undead. These writings will be of importance to students of Theravada and Thailand, of religion in Southeast Asia and more generally, of the materialist turn in studies of religion.Trade Review“This work is a treasure for any fan of McDaniel’s outstanding work on Thailand. A selection of ten articles published between 2000 and now, this first volume shows the diversity of his work and his efforts to challenge limiting understandings of Buddhism in Thailand. . . . An extremely helpful book for beginner and experienced scholars of Thai studies and Thai Buddhism.” * The Review *"[Wayward Distractions] showcases McDaniel's diverse interests and deep knowledge of the featured Buddhist topics. McDaniel draws on his wide experiences, including teaching at a school in Thailand and time spent as an ordained monk in the northeast near the border with Laos during his fieldwork. As a result, he gained deep knowledge and insight on Thai and Lao lifeways, languages, Buddhism and its rituals (including meditation, and chanting in Pali)." * Journal of Southeast Asian Studies *“This book presents complex topics and methods of analysis, but it does so in a storytelling style that makes it accessible to a broad range of readers—from the general reader who seeks knowledge and enjoyment and is prompted to observe or question familiar things around them, to scholars and students of Thai Buddhism, Thai literature, Thai culture, and ethnography and folklore. They will not only gain new perspectives and explanations on Thai literature and Buddhist culture but also observe the methods of study, questioning, analysis, and synthesis that come from literature review, field data collection, comparison with other cultures, leading to new interpretations and critical thinking skills.” * Southeast Asian Studies *Table of Contents Introduction: Cajoleries, Non-Human Ontology and the Importance of Thin Description in the Study of Thai Buddhist Stuff Ethnicity and the galactic polity: Ideas and actualities in the history of Bangkok Creative Engagement: the Sujavanna Wua Luang and its Contribution to Buddhist Literature Beautifully Buddhist and Betrothed: Marriage and Buddhism as described in the Jatakas The Bird in the Corner of the Painting: Problems with the Use of Buddhist Texts to Study Buddhist Ornamental Art in Thailand The Material Turn: An Introduction to Thai Sources for the Study of Buddhist Amulets Strolling through Temporary Temples: Modern Buddhist Art Installations in Thailand This Hindu Holy Man is a Thai Buddhist Encountering Corpses: Notes on Zombies and the Living Dead in Buddhist Southeast Asia Buddhist 'nuns' (mae chi) and the teaching of Pali in contemporary Thailand Works Cited

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Book SynopsisThe study of historical Buddhism in premodern and early modern Southeast Asia stands at an exciting and transformative juncture. Interdisciplinary scholarship is marked by a commitment to the careful examination of local and vernacular expressions of Buddhist culture as well as to reconsiderations of long-standing questions concerning the diffusion of and relationships among varied texts, forms of representation, and religious identities, ideas, and practices.The twelve essays in this collection, written by leading scholars in Buddhist Studies and Southeast Asian history, epigraphy, and archaeology, comprise the latest research in the field to deal with the dynamics of mainland and (pen)insular Buddhism between the sixth and nineteenth centuries C.E. Drawing on new manuscript sources, inscriptions, and archaeological data, they investigate the intellectual, ritual, institutional, sociopolitical, aesthetic, and literary diversity of local Buddhisms, and explore their connected histories and contributions to the production of intraregional and transregional Buddhist geographies.

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Book Synopsis“Buddhism across Asia is a must-read for anyone interested in the history and spread of Buddhism in Asia. It comprises a rich collection of articles written by leading experts in their fields. Together, the contributions provide an in-depth analysis of Buddhist history and transmission in Asia over a period of more than 2000 years. Aspects examined include material culture, politics, economy, languages and texts, religious institutions, practices and rituals, conceptualisations, and philosophy, while the geographic scope of the studies extends from India to Southeast Asia and East Asia. Readers' knowledge of Buddhism is constantly challenged by the studies presented, incorporating new materials and interpretations. Rejecting the concept of a reified monolithic and timeless 'Buddhism', this publication reflects the entangled 'dynamic and multi-dimensional' history of Buddhism in Asia over extended periods of 'integration,' 'development of multiple centres,' and 'European expansion,' which shaped the religion's regional and trans-regional identities.” - Max Deeg, Cardiff University, UK.“Buddhism Across Asia presents new research on Buddhism in comprehensive spatial and temporal terms. From studies on transmission networks to exegesis on doctrinal matters, linguistics, rituals and practices, institutions, Buddhist libraries, and the religion's interactions with political and cultural spheres as well as the society at large, the volume presents an assemblage of essays of breathtaking breadth and depth. The goal is to demonstrate how the transmission of Buddhist ideas serves as a cultural force, a lynchpin that had connected the societies of Asia from past to present. The volume manifests the vitality and maturity of the field of Buddhist studies, and for that we thank the editor and the erudite authors. ” - Dorothy C. Wong, University of Virginia, USA.Co-publication: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies / Manohar Publishers & Distributors.

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Book SynopsisWider Bagan: Ancient and Living Buddhist Traditions is the first book to define the area outside the renowned Buddhist capital where vestiges of Bagan era cultural traditions can be found. From nearly six hundred attributes inventoried in Wider Bagan, thematic and geographical analysis of the Wider Bagan data reveals a related but different trajectory from that of the capital. The Sasan? of the court was honoured, and though its economy profited many places across Wider Bagan, local resilience was foremost. While the capital and Wider Bagan existed in relation to each other, their aims and narratives differed. Much has been written about Bagan, but little attention on the ground has been devoted to areas beyond the capital. These places have stories to tell—ones of the past and of the present—that are narrated in this book.

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Book SynopsisHidden at the margins of Burmese Buddhism and culture, the cults of the weikzaweikza in relation to the Vipassana insight meditation movement and conventional Buddhist practices, as well as the contemporary rise of Buddhist fundamentalism. Featuring research based on fieldwork only possible in recent years, paired with reflective essays by senior Buddhist studies scholars, this book situates the weikza cult in relation to broader Buddhist and Southeast Asian contexts, as the Burmese expressions of the weikza cults themselves. Champions of Buddhismopens the field to new questions, new problems, and new connections with the study of religion and Southeast Asia in general.

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Book SynopsisAlgunas de las meditaciones más fascinantes que existen en las tradiciones contemplativas índicas son las denominadas brahmaviharas (moradas divinas de Brahma), también conocidas como los cuatro inconmensurables: la bondad amorosa, la compasión, la alegría empática y la ecuanimidad. Se consideran un elemento imprescindible para alcanzar el despertar, ya que constituyen la base de cómo deberían estructurarse las relaciones humanas armónicas y se utilizan en las absorciones meditativas y el cultivo de la quietud.Con el rigor que le caracteriza, Javier García Campayo analiza la historia de estas meditaciones (comunes al budismo y a la tradición yoga), los textos budistas que las desarrollan, sintetiza las evidencias científicas existentes acerca de sus logros y ofrece las instrucciones completas para cultivarlas. También incluye una serie de meditaciones preparatorias cuyo objetivo es resolver los principales obstáculos que surgen en la práctica.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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