Awakening : An Introduction to the History of Eastern Thought

by Bresnan, Patrick S.

• ISBN13: 9780132436915
• ISBN10: 0132436914
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

Ideal for readers with little or no previous knowledge of the subject, this book provides an exceptionally complete overview of the historical development of the major Eastern traditions of religious and philosophical thought (in India, China, and Japan.). The book uses an engaging style that is filled with anecdotes, analogies, definitions, comparisons, and supporting quotes from primary and secondary sources. It guides learners in recognizing the interrelationships that exist among the various systems, appreciating the relevance of these traditions to the concerns of modern times, and understanding the major issues of interpretation regarding these systems.The traditions of Hinduism and Buddhism are broad umbrellas that include a number of specific schools, each of which is treated individually. Other schoolssuch as Confucianism, Daoism, and Shintoare brought into the story at the appropriate place. Owing to the current high degree of interest in the subject, the historical development of Zen Buddhism receives a bit more attention that the other traditions.For anyone new to the study, and excited by the idea, of Eastern thought.

Table of Contents

Preface	vi
PART I Hinduism and Related Indigenous Traditions of South Asia	1	(132)
India Before the Vedas	2	(16)
The Land of India	2	(2)
South Asia Before the Vedic Age	4	(2)
The Theory of Indo-Aryan Migrations	6	(5)
Varna: The Caste System	11	(3)
The Brahmin Caste	14	(3)
Study Questions	17	(1)
Veda and the Vedas	18	(17)
Yagna: The Vedic Sacrifice	19	(4)
The Vedic Pantheon	23	(7)
An Overview of Vedic Cosmology	30	(4)
Study Questions	34	(1)
Introduction to the Upanishads	35	(23)
The Sanyasin Tradition	36	(2)
Key Elements of the Upanishads	38	(16)
An Overview of Vedanta Cosmology	54	(3)
Study Questions	57	(1)
The Bhagavad Gita	58	(19)
The Bhagavad Gita and the Mahabharata	59	(5)
The Opening Scene	64	(1)
The Bhagavad Gita as Metaphor	65	(2)
The Awakened Person	67	(4)
Karma Yoga	71	(2)
Raja Yoga	73	(2)
Bhakti Yoga	75	(1)
Study Questions	76	(1)
Darshana	77	(20)
The Orthodox Darshanas	78	(8)
The Heterodox Darshanas	86	(10)
Study Questions	96	(1)
The Devotional Movement	97	(17)
The Trimurti	98	(10)
Ramanuja	108	(1)
The Hindu Temple	109	(4)
Study Questions	113	(1)
A Millennium of Strife	114	(19)
The Muslim Era	114	(9)
The Modern Era	123	(7)
Study Questions	130	(3)
PART II Buddhism and Related Indigenous Traditions of East Asia	133	(256)
The Life of Shakyamuni Buddha	134	(20)
The Palace Youth	135	(8)
The Sadhu Years	143	(2)
The Awakening	145	(4)
The Teaching Years	149	(4)
Study Questions	153	(1)
Basic Teaching of Shakyamuni Buddha	154	(30)
The Doctrine of Anatman	157	(9)
The Four Noble Truths	166	(10)
The Noble Eightfold Path	176	(7)
Study Questions	183	(1)
Theravada Buddhism	184	(13)
The Early Centuries	185	(1)
Ashoka	186	(5)
Theravada Buddhism	191	(5)
Study Questions	196	(1)
Mahayana Buddhism	197	(27)
Diversity and Religious Elements in Mahayana	202	(2)
The Nature of Buddha	204	(5)
The Doctrine of Shunyata	209	(6)
The Bodhisattva	215	(3)
Artistic Expression in Early Mahayana	218	(4)
Study Questions	222	(2)
Confucius and Confucianism	224	(29)
Confucius	227	(10)
Mencius	237	(3)
Other Voices from the Period of a Hundred Philosophers	240	(6)
Later Developments in the Evolution of Confucianism	246	(5)
Study Questions	251	(2)
Daoism	253	(26)
The Dao De Jing (Tao Te Ching)	254	(11)
Zhuang Zi (Chuang Tzu)	265	(4)
Religious Daoism	269	(9)
Study Questions	278	(1)
Early Buddhism in China	279	(15)
Buddhism in the Takla Makan	280	(4)
Tiantai Buddhism (T'ien-t'ai)	284	(1)
Huayan Buddhism (Hua-yen)	285	(1)
Pure Land Buddhism	286	(5)
Persecution and Recovery	291	(2)
Study Questions	293	(1)
Chan Buddhism	294	(41)
Introduction	294	(4)
Bodhidharma	298	(10)
Huineng (Hui-Neng)	308	(10)
After Huineng	318	(15)
Study Questions	333	(2)
Shinto	335	(13)
The Shinto Creation Story	337	(2)
The Shinto Shrine and Festival	339	(4)
Historical Development of Shinto	343	(4)
Study Questions	347	(1)
Zen Buddhism	348	(41)
Japan Before Zen	348	(4)
Rinzai and Soto Zen	352	(12)
The Zen Monastery	364	(14)
Zen and the Arts	378	(9)
Study Questions	387	(2)
Works Cited	389	(2)
Index	391