Reviews (5)

A Wonderful Work...
Firstly, Bhikkhu Nanamoli (Osbert Moore) was a gifted intellectual and prized authentic textual translation above mere book writing.Unlike soooo many Buddhist authors in the West, he was NOT looking to sell a book and become an Author to impress friends and family or help sell his meditation retreats.His intent was always aimed at a scholarly (re: intellectually rigorous) rendering of sacred texts.This rare combination of a deeply intellectual mind with the veneration of a monk�s spirit towards his textual sources has given us some of the most pristine English translations of the Buddha�s works. A great antology from the Vinaya Pitaka
The book presents a selection of the suttas with an historical underpinning and without ever extending beyond the limited borders of the Pali Canon.
Buddhism Changes Too.
This is my humble opinion on the importance and place of this book.Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Buddhism - History    3. Religion    4. Religion - World Religions    5. Religion / Buddhism / History    6. Religion / Buddhism / Sacred Writings    7. Religious    8. Buddha and Buddhism    9. Buddhism    10. Buddhism - Sacred Writings    11. Gautama Buddha   

Reviews (1)

highly recomended
This work pulls together a wide range of material covering the history of Buddhism in Cambodia.Considering just how bare the book shelves are on this topic, I can only jump with joy that it has appeared. Problems with the historical record are carefully pointed out with ample references and cautionary notes for those who would look further.This book should be an essential part of anybody's collection on the development of contemporary Buddhisms in Southeast Asia. Just one small point: there is a most welcome inclusion of oral histories (for example with reference to the origin of place names - but there is insufficient warning that there are often many legendary origins for names - a case in point is the origin of the name of Phnom Sambau and Phom Krabau - certainly Harris is correct, but this is not the only version by any means.Highly recommend this book to anybody interested in the area but would equally strongly suggest reading it alongside Marston and Guthrie (2004) to round out some aspects of modern Buddhism. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Buddhism - History    4. Buddhism and politics    5. Cambodia    6. History    7. Political atrocities    8. Religion    9. Religion - World Religions    10. History of religion   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Southeast Asia    2. Buddhism - History    3. Buddhism - Theravada    4. Religion    5. Religion - World Religions    6. Religious    7. Buddhism    8. Thailand   

Reviews (5)

One of the best available books on "Hinduism"
Richard King has written a very provocative and very useful book.In Orientalism and Religion, King argues that the term "Hinduism" does not represent any single ancient "religion."Rather, Hinduism is a construct of western scholars who, upon encountering Indian culture, created a religion along the lines of their own Christian conceptions of what a religion ought to be.These scholars of the nineteenth century sought out Indian equivalents of their own Christian culture (i.e. sacred texts and authority figures), and from these (largely the Vedas and the Brahmin caste, respectively) created the "religion" of the Hindus, or "Hinduism." This construction of a "world religion" abetted the colonial exploitation of Indians.King effectively argues the point through examinations of the works of early "Orientalist" scholars and works of more recent scholars who exhibit the same "essentializing" tendencies. An excellent, myth-smashing academic book
This is an excellent book that does much to dispel both the Eurocentric and mystifying Orientalist myths that have grown up around the relation of East and West.A truly impressive piece of post-colonial scholarship that refuses to cater to the prejudices of Hindu fundamentalists, convert Neo-Buddhists, or Euro-American boosters.

An excellent, pioneering work
This is a wonderful work of scholarship, which takes Said's 'Orientalism' to a new level, critiquing the weak points of Said's work and applying his insights to the Indian context. This book demonstrates very well how our modern notions of 'Hinduism' and 'Buddhism' have been contructed through a dialectical process of interaction between Western and Indian thinkers, and King uproots assumptions about certain scriptural sources and philosophies being the 'centre' or 'foundation' of these traditions. The author's style is also clear and engaging. I cannot recommend this book highly enough -- every student (and educated practioner) of Indian religions should read it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - History    2. Education    3. Hinduism    4. History    5. India    6. Mysticism    7. Philosophy, Indic    8. Religion    9. Religion - World Religions    10. Religions    11. Sociology of Religion    12. Study and teaching    13. Cultural studies    14. Oriental religions    15. Religion / General   

Reviews (1)

excellent collection of essays
This collection of essays covers some of the key aspects of Buddhism in Cambodia today and their historical context. A really first class publication with reliable information not found elsewhere.The primary focus is on contemporary Cambodia. Well produced, well written, well priced.Highly recommended. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Buddhism    3. Buddhism - General    4. Buddhism - History    5. Buddhism and politics    6. Cambodia    7. General    8. History    9. Religion    10. Religion - Commentaries / Reference    11. Anthropology    12. Religion & Beliefs   

Reviews (1)

Great Biographical and Literary Study
Zen master Eihei Dogen (1200-1253)has been widely acclaimed as Japan's finest religious writer.This is a major biographical study, cutting through the traditional hagiography that has clouded standard accounts of Dogen's life and writings.Heine does much to illuminate the rich and sometimes subtle contours of Dogen's intellectual and social context and the evolution of his mind.He also brings English-speaking readers up to date on the complexities of recent Japanese historical-critical scholarship on this pivotal figure in the Zen tradition.Dogen was a brilliant bridge builder who adapted the Chinese Ch'an Buddhist traditions to Japan to create what we now know as Zen.Heine highlights Dogen's many-sided literary genius, as well as the many-sided ways Dogen appealed to China as a way to craft his unique vision of Buddhist life.Lucid and insightful at a variety of levels. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1163-1228    2. 1200-1253    3. Buddhism - History    4. Buddhism - Zen    5. DÃ¥ogen,    6. Eastern - Zen    7. Philosophy    8. Religion    9. Religion - World Religions    10. Rujingchanshi,    11. Zoroastrianism    12. Religion & Theology | Buddhism    13. Religion / Zoroastrianism   

Reviews (1)

One with Everything
I'm no history buff but this book put me on that path - as well as the path to enlightenment. It is serious - but also seriously readable, making connections between the past and present, even while explaining the subject matter in comprehensive and fascinating style. Sutin, who also wrote the definitive biography of sci-fi avatar Philip K. Dick, has found a way to synthesize a huge quantity of material into a single compelling book that examines time-honored ideas in a new and exciting way. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Buddhism - History    4. History    5. Influence    6. Relations    7. Religion    8. Religion - World Religions    9. Western countries    10. History of religion    11. Religion / Buddhism   

Subjects:  1. 1858-1945    2. 20th century    3. Asia - Southeast Asia    4. Buddhism    5. Buddhism - History    6. Communism    7. Confucianism    8. Historiography    9. History    10. History - General History    11. Political Ideologies - Communism & Socialism    12. Religion    13. Religion, Politics & State    14. Vietnam    15. Asian / Middle Eastern history   

Reviews (4)

The way of the Buddha
One major claim of this book is that in Buddha's case it is impossible to understand the thought without understanding the life. Thus Michael Carrithers tells us the story of Buddha's life, of his coming to meet with a sick person, an aged man and a corpse, his renunciation of the world and his wandering until he meditating calmly under a Bo tree comes to the enlightentment that is his liberation.For forty- five years afterwards he wanders and teaches but when he leaves the world the seed has been planted , there are followers who will spread his teachings throughout the world.
Excellent introduction to early Buddhist thought
This book, perhaps better than any other I've read, brings to light the unique philosophical position of the Buddha. Carrithers clearly explains how the Buddha stood out from the intellectual background of his time and helps one understand how and why the Buddha arrived at his views. A brilliant account of the Buddha's life and teachings not only for its scholarship but also for its refreshing lucidity.

Academic yet readable, thougrough, lucid and concise
This work is in essence a reprint of the earlier Past Masters work 'The Buddha'. It provides a succinct, clear overviews of the historic Buddha, his teachings and the development and spread of these up to the present day.Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - General    3. Buddhism - History    4. Eastern - General    5. Gautama Buddha    6. Philosophy    7. Religion    8. Religion - World Religions    9. Designed / suitable for A & AS Level    10. Religion & Theology | Buddhism    11. Religion / Buddhism    12. Religious & spiritual leaders   

Subjects:  1. Biography / Autobiography    2. Buddhism - General    3. Buddhism - History    4. Gautama Buddha    5. Religion    6. Religious    7. Biography: general    8. Buddhism   

Reviews (4)

By far the best account of Madhyamika in English
Murti's study of the Madhyamika should be required reading for anyone interested in Buddhism. With questionable relevance, a number of people now seem to assume that 'post-modern' Western philosophy is moving in the same direction as Nagarjuna- and, mutatis mutandis, more than a few Western Buddhists seem happy to confirm this illusion, coining the idioms of post-modern Western philosophy to confirm 'Buddhist' truths.
Classic scholarship arriving at utter brilliance.
This is how philosophy should be done.Murti is logical, readable, topical and brilliant.For all those who still think philosophy can be reduced to analysing concepts and doing away with "meaningless" questions, beware.There are answers out there and Murti shows that philosophy can lead us to them.One may have to give up metaphysics and the mindless piffle of language games that analytic philosphers play, philosophy by jargon and argots, but there are answers out there for those who have the guts to follow logical arguments to their limits.

Another vote in support of T.R.V Murti
Since Murti's Central Philosophy of Buddhism seems to be out of fashion these days with some academic Buddhologists, I would like to add my vote in its favor.The winds of philosophical fashion are variable, and we may find that tomorrow this work might well be on the Best Seller list.Who knows?
Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - History    2. Buddhism - Rituals & Practice    3. Religion    4. Buddhism   

Editorial Review

Books on Buddhism may overflow the shelves, but the life story of the Buddha himself has remained obscure despite over 2,500 years of influence on millions of people around the world. In an attempt to rectify this, and to make the Buddha and Buddhism accessible to Westerners, the beloved scholar and author of such sweeping religious studies as Read more

Reviews (57)

Misses the mark.....
This attempt at capturing the life of the Buddha missed the mark in my opinion.While it is well researched and is most likely a sincere attempt of capturing the life of one of the most influential religious figures of all times, I don't think Karen Armstrong has a strong enough understanding of Buddhism from the inside to pull this off.
To understand the Buddha be his goal
Karen Armstrong's biography of the Buddha on grounds of history is good. However, her understanding of the Buddha and his percepts is naive. Buddhahood and not the Buddha is the goal. While she amply brings out the essence of this, she pays an equal attention to myths which to my mind are senseless and even detract one trying to understand the Buddha's teachings. A biography of the Buddha is pointless unless the essence of his teachings are brought out. While in all fairness Ms Armstrong does attempt this, she falls short of being able to comprehend the Goal. She brings out the Buddha as a missionary rather than someone that reveals the Truth. In the East the concept of religion is not water tight, the sense of being a Buddhist or a Hindu are not essential for seeking Nirvana or Brahman as is understood in the east. There is no concept of salvation in the East, simply because that implies bondage which implies reality of being. The Buddhist thought as does all eastern thought, speaks of the world as being unreal, therefore even bondage is an illusion therefore by that twist of logic salvation or freedomtoo is illusory, therefore the state of Nirvana or Brahman as spoken of in the east is considered one's natural state which is realised when all that one is not is understood. Ms Armstrong's effort at understanding the Buddha while comendable falls short of understanding what the Buddha teaches and therefore in a sense the Buddha. All said, Ms Armstrong definitely has done justice to placing the Buddha in a historical age and understading him from a point of view of society as it was then.

Good stuff if you're intellectual
Karen Armstrong, an established author, has given us the story of Siddartha Gautama, who eventually became the Buddha, while also delving into Eastern thinking and philosphy and culture.If you're just looking for the story of Buddha's life, this is probably more involved than what you're looking for, but as a scholarly introduction to Buddha AND Buddhism, this is a wonderful book! ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Biography & Autobiography    2. Biography / Autobiography    3. Biography/Autobiography    4. Buddhism    5. Buddhism - General    6. Buddhism - History    7. Gautama Buddha    8. Religious    9. Biography & Autobiography / Religious    10. Dante Alighieri   

Reviews (6)

Critical Reading for Anyone Interested in Zen
This book is critical reading for anyone seriously interested in Zen. Having committed his life as a Buddhist monk only to make these shocking discoveries must have been heartbreaking for Victoria, and it is remarkable that his tone remains as objective as it does. Essential Reading for Students of Zen and Buddhism in Genera
What I found most disturbing about this book was not so much what Victoria had to reveal about the Zen culture of Imperial Japan, (don't get me wrong, that was pretty darn disturbing too)but rather the reaction that came from many, if not most, of North America's Zen masters.Almost to a one, they refused to even admit the core issue that the book arises:"If an _enlightened_ person can support an evil empire, what does it say about being enlightened?" No one doubts that Catholic Popes can committ evil acts (Dante fills Hell with them), but then the Catholic faith makes far lessor claims about the spiritual powers and insight of its clerics. Classic study
A enlightening history of role of Zen Buddhism in the Pacific War.Victoria analyzes how Zen and the Japanese military affected each other. Hetakes the writings of the leading Buddhists of the time to tell the story.A classical study on how religion and society influence each other., even asupposedly peace loving religion can be twisted into an instrument of thestate. Sheds some light on one of the forefathers of American Zen, D.T.Suzuki ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - Japan    2. Buddhism - History    3. Buddhism - Zen    4. Eastern - Zen    5. General    6. History - General History    7. Religion    8. History / Japan    9. Japan    10. Zen Buddhism   

Subjects:  1. Asia - Central Asia    2. Asia - China    3. Buddhism    4. Buddhism - History    5. History    6. History - General History    7. History: World    8. Mongols    9. Asian / Middle Eastern history: c 1500 to c 1900    10. China   

Reviews (1)

great for parents
My grandmother recently passed away and I recommended the book to my mother. This was easy since the book concerns the formidable experience of dealing with aging parents, but also is a poignant account of Tibetan Buddhism. So to give this book to a loved one who has lost thier own parent is a natural. The book itself can help people of any age deal with these traumas. This is a book that people who have an "interest" in Eastern spirituality will enjoy very much.It is also evident from reading the book that Living Without Regret is a labor of love.The book is concise and yet packed will all sorts of Buddhist teachings. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Aging    2. Aging - General    3. Buddhism    4. Buddhism - History    5. Buddhism - Tibetan    6. Caregivers    7. Family / Parenting / Childbirth    8. Religion    9. Religios life    10. Religious aspects    11. Religious life    12. Tibetan Buddhism   

Reviews (1)

Excellent introduction to Emptiness
This book is truly remarkable, even among the excellent books written by His Holiness. It is a transcript of teachings he gave in the early 90s on the 9th chapter of Shantideva's classic "Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life" (Bodhisattvacaryavatara). The 9th chapter is a very difficult chapter to read, because it deals with the understanding of ultimate reality according to the Madhyamika (Middle Way) tradition. However, this is a most important topic, since liberation can only come from realization of emptiness. Therefore, commentaries are essential.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 7th cent    2. 7th cent.    3. Bodhicaryavatara    4. Bodhicaryåavatåara    5. Buddhism - History    6. Buddhism - Tibetan    7. Doctrines    8. Mahayana Buddhism    9. Non-Classifiable    10. Nonfiction - General    11. Religion    12. Religion - World Religions    13. Santideva,    14. âSåantideva,    15. Religion / Buddhism / History    16. Religion / Buddhism / Tibetan    17. Tibetan Buddhism   

Reviews (3)

Couldn't get too far into it.
There is a certain simplicity in writing that some people pass up in favor of a more literary/textbook style. That's what I found when I opened this book. While I'm sure there are many beautiful ideas within I could not bring myself to get past the first 20 pages.

Highly Recommended
This is an incredibly insightful contribution to our understanding of why Western institutions have become so destuctive of the world around us while generally failing to provide people with a sense of meaning, direction, or pleasure in life. As Loy so clearly articulates, Buddhism offers a perspective that can transform our lives and, perhaps, our self-destructive culture.

Bringing Buddhism Back Home
For Westerners who've had a taste of Buddhist practice or insights, there comes a moment when we must look back on our own cultural heritage and wonder, "What the hell happened?" Why this long 2,500 year detour into dominating nature and building social empires? Why this absorbtion into disconnected individualism? Loy's book is exciting trailblazing into the emerging field of putting Buddhist concepts to work to decode history. Highly recommended. Gassho. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - General    2. Buddhism - History    3. Civilization    4. Civilization, Western    5. Classical influences    6. Eastern - General    7. History - General History    8. Philosophy    9. Philosophy, Buddhist    10. Psychological aspects    11. Religion    12. World - General   

Reviews (5)

I'm a northerner who prefers the southern school...
This is Shunryu Suzuki's commentary on the Sandokai. The Sandokai is a poem by Zen master Sekito Kisen on the inseparability of the relative and the absolute.
Getting the Spirit of the Sandokai
To get a glimpse of Shunru through this text is very gratifying. He deftly communicates the paradoxical aspects of ji-the apparent-and ri-the unseen. The text takes the reader through subtle aspects of zen thinking mind, but without being overly analytical. When he hears himself getting too conceptual, he pulls away with humor and a very special humanness that communicates beyond words, which is actually the context of the Sandokai! I enjoy picking up Branching Streams and reading it for clarity and inspiration every day, and you will too.

A wealth of insight to be found
This book is largely a well-executed editing effort of a number of talks that Suzuki Roshi gave of the Sandokai, a poem written in the early zen years. The poem, written by the Eighth Ancestor in China, Sekito Kisen, was intended to bridge a perceived (and I am hesitant to say) 'philisophical' gap between two zen schools of the time. One appealed to the 'clever', and the other appealed to the 'dull'. The Sandokai reveals that Buddha-nature transcends all such interpretations.Read more

Subjects:  1. Buddhism - History    2. Buddhism - Zen    3. Eastern - Zen    4. Religion    5. Religion - World Religions    6. Poetry & poets: classical, early & medieval    7. Religion / General    8. Zen Buddhism   

Reviews (1)

A condensed biography in English translation of a 1925 original publication
Joseph A. Fitzgerald edits Honen The Buddhist Saint: Essential Writings And Official Biography, a condensed biography in English translation of a 1925 original publication. Buddhist readers will relish the rare presentation of Honen's life and teachings, as well as the background history and Fitzgerald has done a fine job of synthesizing an original multi-volume scholarly presentation into a standard paperback even non-Buddhists will learn from. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1133-1212    2. Biography    3. Biography / Autobiography    4. Buddhism - History    5. Doctrines    6. Early works to 1800    7. General    8. Håonen,    9. Japan    10. Jåodoshåu    11. Priests, Jåodoshåu    12. Religion    13. Religious    14. Biography: general    15. Buddhism    16. Religion / General   

Subjects:  1. Buddhism    2. Buddhism - History    3. Buddhism - Tibetan    4. China    5. Religion    6. Religion - World Religions    7. Spirituality - General    8. Tantric Buddhism    9. Tibet    10. Religion / General