Buddhism Introducing the Buddhist Experience

by Mitchell, Donald W.

• ISBN13: 9780195139525
• ISBN10: 0195139526
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-11-29
• Publisher: Oxford University Press

Summary

Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience focuses on the depth of Buddhist experience as expressed in the teachings and practices of a wide array of its religious and philosophical traditions. Taking a broad and inclusive approach, this unique work spans over 2,500 years, featuring chapters on Buddhism's origins in India; Therav=ada and Mahayana Buddhism; and Buddhism in Southeast Asia, Tibet, China, Korea, and Japan. It also includes an extensive discussion of modern, socially engaged Buddhism and a concluding chapter on the spread of Buddhism to the West. Mitchell provides substantial selections of primary text material throughout that illustrate a great variety of moral, psychological, meditative, and spiritual Buddhist experiences. Buddhism features twenty-two boxed personal narratives provided by respected Buddhist leaders and scholars from around the world, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharma Master Sheng Yen, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Jeffrey Hopkins, Sulak Sivaraksa, Rita M. Gross, Chatsumarn Kabilsingh, and Robert Aitken. These concise and intriguing essays give students a glimpse into what the topics discussed in the book actually mean in terms of human experience today. Ideal for courses in Buddhism, Asian religions, and Asian philosophy, Buddhism also incorporates helpful maps, numerous illustrations, a glossary, and suggestions for further reading.

Table of Contents

Boxes, Figures, and Maps	xi
Acknowledgments	xiii
Pronunciation Guide	xv
Introduction	1	(8)
The Life of Gautama Buddha	9	(24)
The Early Life of Siddhartha Gautama	11	(1)
Birth	11	(1)
Youth	12	(2)
The Four Sights	14	(1)
The Great Renunciation	15	(1)
Spiritual Teachers	16	(1)
Asceticism	16	(2)
The Awakening of the Buddha	18	(1)
Enlightenment	18	(1)
Nirvana	19	(1)
The Mission of the Buddha	20	(1)
The Three Refuges	21	(1)
Important Conversions	21	(3)
Monasticism	24	(1)
Social Concern	25	(2)
Women's Ordination	27	(1)
The Rebellion of Devadatta	28	(1)
The Last Days of Gautama Buddha	29	(4)
The Teachings of the Buddha	33	(31)
The Three Characteristics	34	(1)
Impermanence	34	(2)
Dissatisfactoriness	36	(1)
No-Self	37	(1)
The Five Aggregates	38	(1)
Dependent Arising	39	(3)
Karma and Rebirth	42	(3)
The Four Noble Truths	45	(1)
The Middle Way	46	(1)
The First Noble Truth: Life Is Duhkha	47	(1)
The Second Noble Truth: The Cause of Duhkha	48	(1)
The Third Noble Truth: The Cessation of Duhkha	49	(1)
The Fourth Noble Truth: The Eightfold Path to the Cessation of Duhkha	50	(1)
Awakening	51	(1)
The Eightfold Path	52	(1)
Right Understanding	53	(1)
Right Thought	53	(1)
Right Speech	54	(1)
Right Action	54	(1)
Right Livelihood	55	(1)
Right Effort	55	(1)
Right Mindfulness	56	(1)
Right Concentration	57	(3)
Nirvana	60	(4)
The Way of the Elders	64	(32)
The Three Baskets	64	(1)
The Sutra Pitaka	65	(1)
The Vinaya Pitaka	65	(2)
The Abhidharma Pitaka	67	(1)
The Second and Third Councils	68	(1)
King Asoka	69	(4)
Theravada's Path of Purification	73	(2)
Morality	75	(3)
Concentration	78	(6)
Wisdom	84	(4)
Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia	88	(1)
Sri Lanka	88	(2)
Southeast Asia	90	(2)
Theravada Monastic and Lay Experience	92	(4)
The Great Vehicle	96	(30)
The Mahayana Sutras	99	(1)
The Perfection of Wisdom Sutras	99	(3)
The Vimalakirti Sutra	102	(2)
The Lankavatara Sutra	104	(2)
The Lotus Sutra	106	(2)
Land of Bliss Sutras	108	(4)
The Great Journey of the Bodhisattva	112	(1)
The Six Perfections	113	(2)
The Ten Stages	115	(7)
Celestial Bodhisattvas and Buddhas	122	(1)
Celestial Bodhisattvas	122	(1)
The Three Bodies of the Buddha	123	(3)
The Indian Experience of Buddhism	126	(25)
The Abhidharma Schools	126	(4)
The Mahayana Schools	130	(1)
The Madhyamika School	131	(8)
The Tathagata-garbha Literature	139	(1)
The Yogacara School	140	(5)
Logic, Tantra, and the Extinction of Buddhism in India	145	(6)
The Tibetan Experience of Buddhism	151	(27)
The First Dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet	151	(2)
The Second Dissemination of Buddhism in Tibet	153	(5)
The Geluk School and the Dalai Lama	158	(2)
The Tantric Experience	160	(2)
Preliminary Practices	162	(2)
Mandalas, Mantras, and Mudras	164	(2)
Deity Yoga	166	(1)
Four Types of Tantric Practice	167	(1)
Schools of Tibetan Buddhism: Distinctive Practices	168	(1)
The Nyingma School	168	(1)
The Sakya School	169	(1)
The Kagyu School	170	(1)
The Geluk School	170	(3)
Recent Events in Tibet	173	(5)
The Chinese Experience of Buddhism	178	(40)
Translation and Inculturation	180	(1)
New Translations and Scholarship	181	(2)
Persecution and Reform	183	(2)
The Chinese Schools I: Laying the Foundation of the Chinese Experience	185	(1)
The Chu-she School	185	(1)
The Ch'eng-shih School	185	(1)
The Lu School	186	(1)
The Chen-yen School	186	(1)
The San-lun School	187	(1)
The Fa-hsiang School	188	(2)
The Chinese Schools II: Defining the Chinese Experience	190	(1)
The T'ien-t'ai School	190	(4)
The Hua-yen School	194	(6)
The Ch'an School	200	(6)
The Ching-t'u School	206	(5)
Persecution and Decline	211	(2)
Later Developments	213	(5)
The Korean Experience of Buddhism	218	(23)
The Advent of Buddhism during the Three Kingdoms Period	218	(3)
Buddhism during the Unified Silla Dynasty: Innovation and Scholarship	221	(1)
Uisang	221	(1)
Wonhyo	222	(2)
The Five Buddhist Schools	224	(4)
Buddhism during the Koryo Dynasty: Searching for Unity	228	(1)
Uich'on	228	(1)
Chinul	229	(5)
The Korean Tripitaka	234	(1)
Repression during the Choson Dynasty	235	(2)
The Japanese Occupation and Recent Developments	237	(4)
The Japanese Experience of Buddhism	241	(42)
Prince Shotoku	242	(1)
The Nara Period (710-784): The Six Schools	243	(1)
The Kusha School	243	(1)
The Jojitsu School	244	(1)
The Ritsu School	244	(1)
The Sanron School	245	(1)
The Hosso School	246	(1)
The Kegon School	246	(1)
The Heian Period (794-1185): The Tendai and Shingon Schools	247	(1)
The Tendai School	248	(2)
The Shingon School	250	(4)
The Kamakura Period (1185-1333): Pure Land, Zen, and Nichiren	254	(1)
Pure Land Buddhism	254	(8)
Zen Buddhism	262	(5)
Nichiren Buddhism	267	(5)
The Muromachi Period (1338-1573): Zen and Japanese Culture	272	(3)
The Tokugawa Period (1603-1868): Struggle and Reform	275	(4)
The Meiji Period (1868-1912) and Recent Developments	279	(4)
Modern Buddhism in Asia	283	(33)
New Buddhist Movements in Asia	283	(1)
India	284	(2)
Sri Lanka	286	(2)
Thailand	288	(3)
Cambodia	291	(2)
Vietnam	293	(3)
Tibet	296	(2)
China	298	(5)
Korea	303	(2)
Japan	305	(5)
Women's Experience of Buddhism in Modern Asia	310	(6)
Buddhism in the West	316	(34)
Major Buddhist Traditions in the West	319	(1)
Theravada Buddhism	319	(2)
Vietnamese Buddhism	321	(1)
Tibetan Buddhism	322	(3)
Chinese Buddhism	325	(1)
Korean Buddhism	326	(2)
Japanese Buddhism	328	(6)
The Experience of Buddhism in the United States	334	(1)
Ethnicity, Identity, and Practice	335	(3)
Authority and Gender Issues	338	(1)
Buddhist Ecumenism	339	(2)
Interfaith Dialogue	341	(2)
Social Engagement	343	(7)
Glossary of Technical Terms	350	(11)
Index	361