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In the 6th century B.C.E., a young prince named Siddhartha Gotama set out on an ascetic quest to alleviate human suffering. In the middle ground between opulence and self-denial, he discovered a path to enlightenment and self awareness-and he dedicated his life to sharing that discovery. The man called Buddha, the Awakened One, traveled as an itinerant monk, imparting principles of enlightenment throughout India and what is now southern Nepal. He was not worshipped as a god, but became teacher and model to ascetics, royalty, and townsfolk alike. In the 2,500 years that followed, through the spread of Buddha's teachings and the monastic communities that upheld them, the world's oldest missionary religion has grown so that it now boasts over 350 million followers worldwide.
The story of Buddhism unfolds through a series of narrative chapters, dealing with the Brahmanical cosmology from which Buddhism emerged, the stories and myths surrounding Buddha's birth, Buddha's path to enlightenment, and the eventual spread of his teachings throughout India and the world. Kinnard's clear telling of the tale helps students understand such complex concepts as the natural law of cause and effect (karma), the birth/life/death/rebirth cycle (samsara), the ever-changing state of suffering (dukkha), and salvation, the absence of all states (nirvana). Primary documents, illustrations, glossary and biographical sketches illuminate the extraordinary life and legacy of the man called Buddha.
List of contents
Foreword by Bella Vivante
Preface
Timeline of Significant Events in the Emergence of Buddhism
Historical Overview: The Context out of Which Buddhism Emerged
The Life of the Buddha
The Establishment of Buddhism in India
The Continued Presence of the Budda
The Emergence of the Mahayana
Conclusion: The Decline of Buddhism in India and Its Rise Elsewhere
Biographical Sketches
Primary Documents
Glossary of Selected Terms
Annotated Bibliography
Index
About the author
Jacob Kinnard
