The Sacred Paths of the East

by Ludwig, Theodore M.

• ISBN13: 9780130293572
• ISBN10: 0130293571
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

This book combines study of the dynamic historical development of each religious tradition with a comparative thematic structure. In this way, the book helps readers to explore each of the major religions as a unique and integral system of meaning and life. At the same time, readers are encouraged to discover and explore the nature of religious experience by comparing basic themes and issues common to all religions. Covering the religions arising from India, China, and Japan, this book introduces the key dimensions of religious experience, outlining the basic human concerns that give rise to religious experience, such as origin and identity, ultimate reality, human nature, and the good life. For anyone interested in exploring the origins and development of the diverse religions of the world.

Table of Contents

Preface to the Second Edition	xi
PART ONE Exploring the Sacred Paths	1	(30)
Perspectives on Religious Experience	3	(22)
Some Dimensions of Religious Experience	4	(6)
Grouping the Religious Traditions	7	(3)
Basic Human Concerns and Religious Responses	10	(13)
Sacred Story and Historical Context	10	(2)
Worlds of Meaning: Theoretical Teachings	12	(4)
Ritual Practices and the Good Life	16	(7)
Discussion Questions	23	(2)
Beginnings of the Human Religious Adventure	25	(6)
The Story of Humankind	26	(4)
Discussion Questions	30	(1)
PART TWO Religions Arising from India	31	(125)
Hindu Sacred Story and Historical Context	33	(20)
Foundations of the Hindu Tradition	33	(11)
The Formative Period of Hinduism	34	(2)
Map India	36	(5)
The Many Faces of the Hindu Tradition	41	(3)
Continuing Transformations in the Hindu Story	44	(4)
Shaping the Sacred Ways	44	(4)
The Modern Era: Renaissance and Response to the West	48	(4)
Discussion Questions	52	(1)
Hindu Worlds of Meaning	53	(17)
The Ultimate Real: Brahman, God/Goddess	53	(5)
Brahman as the Sacred Ultimate	53	(2)
God as Supreme Sacred Reality	55	(3)
Existence in the World: Dharma and Samsara	58	(4)
The World and Human Nature in Hindu Thought	58	(3)
Samsara and the Problem of Existence	61	(1)
Three Paths to Transformation and Liberation	62	(7)
The Path of Liberating Knowledge	63	(1)
The Path of Action	64	(1)
The Path of Devotion	65	(4)
Discussion Questions	69	(1)
Hindu Ritual and the Good Life	70	(15)
Rituals and Sacred Times of Hinduism	70	(7)
Vedic Rituals and Puja	70	(2)
Festivals and Pilgrimages	72	(2)
Ritualizing the Passages of Life	74	(1)
Hindus and Sacred Art	75	(2)
Society and Ethical Life	77	(7)
Structure of Hindu Society	77	(1)
Living According to the Dharma	78	(4)
Hindu Visions for Society and the World	82	(2)
Discussion Questions	84	(1)
Buddhist Sacred Story and Historical Context	85	(17)
The Story of the Buddha	85	(6)
Sacred Biography of the Buddha	86	(5)
Tripitaka: Word of the Buddha	91	(1)
Historical Transformations: Shaping the Buddhist Way	91	(10)
Theravada and Mahayana	92	(3)
Great Expansion of Buddhism in Asia	95	(1)
Map Expansion of Buddhism	96	(4)
Buddhism in the Modern Era	100	(1)
Discussion Questions	101	(1)
Buddhist Worlds of Meaning	102	(14)
The Ultimate: Dharma, Nirvana, Buddha	102	(4)
The Ultimate as Unconditioned Truth	102	(3)
Going for Refuge to the Buddha	105	(1)
Existence in the World	106	(3)
The Nature of the World	106	(2)
The Human Problem: Clinging	108	(1)
The Path to Nirvana and Buddhahood	109	(6)
Nirvana and the Noble Eightfold Path	110	(2)
The Mahayana Enlargement of the Path of Transformation	112	(3)
Discussion Questions	115	(1)
Buddhist Ritual and the Good Life	116	(15)
Ritual and Devotion in Buddhist Life	116	(7)
Central Rites and Ceremonies of Buddhists	116	(2)
Holy Days and Festivals	118	(1)
Rituals of the Changes of Life	119	(2)
Artistic Practice Among Buddhists	121	(2)
Buddhist Society and the Good Life	123	(7)
Structure of Buddhist Society	123	(2)
Buddhist Vision of the Good Life	125	(3)
Dharma Model for Society and the World	128	(2)
Discussion Questions	130	(1)
The Path of the Jains	131	(11)
Sacred Story and Historical Context	131	(3)
Mahavira Becomes the Jina for Our Age	131	(2)
Historical Transformations in Jainism	133	(1)
Worlds of Meaning	134	(3)
Ultimate Reality: Eternal Universe, Liberation	134	(1)
Karmic Matter and Eternal Souls	134	(2)
The Path of Liberation	136	(1)
Ritual and the Good Life	137	(4)
Ritual and Worship Among the Jains	137	(2)
Society and Ethics	139	(2)
Discussion Questions	141	(1)
The Way of the Disciples: The Sikhs	142	(14)
Sacred Story and Historical Context	142	(5)
Nanak and the Other Gurus	142	(4)
Developments, Struggles, Transformations	146	(1)
Worlds of Meaning	147	(3)
The Sacred Ultimate: God	147	(1)
Divine Creation and Human Nature	147	(2)
The Path of Transformation	149	(1)
Worship and Life	150	(5)
Ritual and Worship Among the Sikhs	150	(2)
Society and the Good Life	152	(1)
Map Sikh Presence	153	(2)
Discussion Questions	155	(1)
PART THREE Religions of China and Japan	156	(125)
Chinese Sacred Story and Historical Context	159	(26)
Foundings of the Chinese Traditions	159	(3)
Ancient Rulers and Their Ancestors	159	(2)
Map East Asia	161	(1)
The Stories of Confucius and Laozi	162	(10)
The Confucian Story	163	(3)
Laozi and the Beginnings of Daoism	166	(2)
Development of Popular Confucianism and Daoism	168	(2)
The Beginnings of Chinese Buddhism	170	(2)
Flourishing of the Religions in Post-Han China	172	(8)
Buddhist Expansion and Crystallization	172	(3)
The Maturing of the Daoist Religious Path	175	(2)
The Resurgence of the Way of Confucius: Neo-Confucianism	177	(2)
Persistence and Transformation of Popular Religion	179	(1)
Western Incursion and Revolutionary Climate	180	(3)
Foreign Religions and Western Domination	180	(1)
Revolutionary Movements and Communist Society	181	(2)
Discussion Questions	183	(2)
Chinese Worlds of Meaning	185	(22)
Sacred Reality in the Chinese Vision	185	(6)
Divine Powers: Shang Di and Tian	185	(2)
The Way of Nature: Dao	187	(3)
The Inner Principle of All: Neo-Confucian Metaphysics	190	(1)
Chinese Buddhist Vision of the Ultimate	190	(1)
Cosmos and Humanity	191	(7)
Origin of the Cosmos and Human Nature	191	(3)
Realities of Human Existence in the World	194	(4)
Paths of Transformation	198	(8)
The Confucian Path of Study and Ritual	198	(3)
Paths of Transformation in the Daoist Tradition	201	(3)
Buddhist Paths of Transformation in China	204	(2)
Discussion Questions	206	(1)
Ritual Practices and the Good Life in China	207	(23)
Ritual Practices and Worship	207	(12)
Ritual in the Confucian Tradition	207	(2)
Daoist Rituals and Popular Religion	209	(4)
Buddhist Influences in Chinese Ritual Practices	213	(1)
Sacred Times in the Chinese Traditions	214	(2)
Rituals of the Life Cycle in China	216	(1)
Artistic Expression in Chinese Religions	217	(2)
Society and the Good Life	219	(10)
Structure of Chinese Society	220	(2)
The Confucian Vision of the Good Moral Life	222	(3)
Daoist Perspectives on the Good Life	225	(2)
Patterns and Paradigms for World Society	227	(2)
Discussion Questions	229	(1)
Japanese Sacred Story and Historical Context	230	(16)
Story of the Japanese People	230	(8)
Prehistoric Foundations of Japan	231	(1)
Sacred Nation: Stories of the Kami	232	(1)
Map Japan: Major Cities and Religious Sites	233	(1)
The Coming of Buddhism and Chinese Culture	234	(4)
Continuing Transformations of the Japanese Way	238	(7)
Integrating the Buddhist Way into Japanese Religion	238	(4)
The Coming of the West and the Modern Period	242	(3)
Discussion Questions	245	(1)
Japanese Worlds of Meaning	246	(12)
Shinto Views of Sacred Reality and Human Life	246	(7)
Myriads and Myriads of Kami	246	(2)
Shinto Perspectives on the World and on Humans	248	(3)
Shinto Path of Purification	251	(2)
Ultimate Reality and the Path in Japanese Buddhism	253	(4)
Japanese Buddhist Perspectives on Human Existence	254	(1)
Buddhist Paths of Transformation in Japan	254	(3)
Discussion Questions	257	(1)
Ritual Practices and the Good Life in Japan	258	(16)
Japanese Ritual Practices	258	(9)
Ritual in the Rhythm of Daily Life	258	(4)
Sacred Times in Japan	262	(1)
Rituals of the Passages of Life	263	(1)
Art in Japanese Religion	264	(3)
Society and the Good Life	267	(6)
Structure of Japanese Society: Sacred Community	267	(3)
The Good Life in the Japanese View	270	(3)
Discussion Questions	273	(1)
Epilogue	274	(7)
Discussion Questions	279	(2)
Glossary	281	(14)
Notes	295	(6)
Suggestions for Further Reading	301	(9)
Acknowledgments	310	(4)
Index	314