Collection
Status
Available
Call number
Publication
HarperOne (2003), Edition: First Edition, 256 pages
Description
Smith and Novak cover the essential teachings, practices, and historical development of Buddhism in all its rich variety. Beginning with the life and legend of the Buddha, Buddhism explores core Buddhist doctrines such as the Four Noble Truths, the Eightfold Path, nirvana, and emptiness. The authors go on to discuss the split between Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism, the continued divisions of Mahayana into Pure Land, Zen, and Tibetan Buddhism, and the confluence of Hinduism and Buddhism in India. The second half of the book follows the global migration of Buddhism and its continuing diversification and development in the West, especially in America.
User reviews
LibraryThing member VioletDelirium
The best history of Buddhism that I've ever read. It covers so many different angles and gives you a great overview. It is not complete, but the authors recognize this and leave you plenty of room to do your own research in areas of interest. For those of interested in not only the principals of
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Buddhism, but the background and history as well, this book is great place to begin, or to use to fill in the gaps. Show Less
LibraryThing member Trotsky731
A great overall view of Buddhism, containing the life of the Buddha, information on the various schools of Buddhism, and a history of Buddhism in America. Geared toward western audiences.
LibraryThing member bexaplex
This is a short and readable introduction to the philosophy and the history of Buddhism. There are two chapters, one on the origin of Buddhism and the various lineages, and one on Buddhism in Europe and the United States (well, three chapters, actually, since there's an afterword on Pure Land
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Buddhism which doesn't get much space in the first chapter). Different flavors of Buddhism can be very different in theory and practice, so it's helpful to have a field guide to sort them all out. The 'Concise Introduction' is accurate; if you're interested in a particular flavor there are plenty of book references and mentions of well-known teachers within the lineage, but an in-depth study of any given tradition this is not. Show Less
Original publication date
2003
ISBN
0060506962 / 9780060506964
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Call number
SMI-801
Pages
256