Scriptures of the East

by Fieser, James; Powers, John

• ISBN13: 9780072865233
• ISBN10: 0072865237
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-08-05
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages

Summary

This anthology of scriptures offers selections that vary in length from a few paragraphs to 10 pages, accompanied by brief introductions that discuss the nature and scope of scripture within each religion as well as the history of each scripture presented.Scriptures of The Eastcontains sacred writings of Hinduism, Jainism, Buddhism, Sikhism, Confucianism, Taoism, Shinto, and indigenous religions of the East; a companion text,Scriptures of The West, contains sacred writings of Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Christianity, Islam, the Baha'i faith, and indigenous religions of the West.

Table of Contents

CHAPTER 1 - HINDUISM

Introduction

Vedas

Creation of the universe

Origin of the gods

Indra, the paradigmatic warrior

Prayer to Agni, the god of fire

Burning dead bodies

The beneficial effects of drinking soma

Sex and the Yogin

A clever woman

The horse sacrifice

To the fire altar

What is the origin of the world?

Vedanta: the Upanishads and their Commentaries

Yama's instructions to Naciketas

Sacrifices cannot lead to the ultimate goal

Instructions on renouncing the world

Self-effort and Liberation

Maya

That is you

Qualified non-dualism: Ramanuja's interpretation

Yoga

The meaning of Yoga

Yogic Techniques

Yogic Attainments

Puranas and Epics

The Four Ages

The lingam of Shiva

Rama, a God among Humans

The Bhagavad-Gita: Arjuna's refusal to Fight

Devotional literature

Praise of the goddess

Prayer for identity with the goddess

Mirabhai's mystical marriage to Krishna

Cheating on her husband

Treatises on Dharma

Actions and their results

The four stages of life

Leaving home life

Duties of the four social classes

How Women should live

Manu's instructions on finding the right mate

Glossary, Further Readings

CHAPTER 2 - JAINISM

Introduction

Jaina scriptures

Mahavira, the ascetic paradigm

Women cannot attain Liberation

Women can attain Liberation

Bondage and Liberation

The worthlessness of possessions, friends, and relatives

The importance of equanimity

The world is full of suffering

Fasting unto Death

There is no creator God

Excerpts from the Sutra on understanding the meaning of the categories

Glossary, Further Readings

CHAPTER 3 - BUDDHISM

Introduction

Pali Canon

The life of the Buddha

The first sermon

The Buddha's good qualities

Criteria for assessing valid teachings and teachers

Nirvana

Dependent arising

Questions that should be avoided

Selflessness

Instructions on meditation

Ordination of Women

The cessation of suffering

My teacher

The joy of release

The Buddha's last days and final instructions

The questions of King Milinda

Mahayana scriptures

The Heart of Perfect Wisdom Sutra

Excerpts from the diamond Sutra

Why bodhisattvas are superior to hearers

On the differences between Men and Women

The lotus Sutra: parable of the burning house

Everything is controlled by the mind

The basic Consciousness

Nagarjuna on Emptiness

The Bodhisattva's vows of Universal Love

Ultimate reality

Tantric skills in means

The stage of completion

Women should be honored

Samsara and nirvana are one

Using desire to eradicate desire

The state of pure awareness

The importance of the guru

Tibetan Buddhist scriptures

Ultimate reality

Bardo, the state between lives

Milarepa on Meditation

Niguma on Mahamudra

Instructions from Manjushri

The triple appearance

Developing the mind of Enlightenment

Chinese and Japanese Buddhist scriptures

Why Buddhism is superior to Taoism and Confucianism

The platform Sutra of the sixth patriarch

Kukai: exoteric and esoteric Buddhism

Dogen's meditation instructions

The mu koan

Pure land: Shinran on Amida's vow

Truth decay: Nichiren on the title of the lotus Sutra

Glossary, Further Reading

CHAPTER 4 - SIKHISM

Introduction

Sikh scriptures

Nanak, the first guru

Guru Nanak's Death

The mul mantra: the basic statement

Jap: the meditation

The divine name

Meditation on the name

Nudity does not make one a saint

Books and learning are of no use

External observances are of no use

On Hukam

On Haumai

The true guru

The ecstasy of mystical union

Guidelines for a happy marriage

Formation of the Khalsa

Justification for use of force

God, the sword supreme

Glossary, Further Readings

CHAPTER 5 - CONFUCIANISM

History of Confucianism

Confucian Scriptures

Selections from Confucian Scriptures

Sima Qian's Account of Confucius's Life [Shiji selections]

The Book of History [Shujing selections]

Confucius: Selections from the Analects [Lunyu selections]

The Great Learning [Daxue]

The Doctrine of the Mean [Zongyong]

The Life of Mencius [Shiji selections]

Selections from the Mencius [Mangzi selections]

Xanzi: The Nature of Human Beings is Evil [Xunzi, III.150-151]

Yang Xiong: Human Nature is a Mixture of Good and Evil [Fu yan 3.1a-b]

Han Yu: Attack on Buddhism and Taoism [Changli Xiansheng wenji, 39.2b-42]

Zhou Dunyo: The Great Ultimate [Taiji Tushuo, ch. 1]

Zhu Xi: Nature and Humanity [Zhuziwenji selections]

Wang Yangming: The Meaning of the Great Learning [Inquiry on the Great Learning, ch. 1]

Glossary, Further Readings

CHAPTER 6 - DAOISM

History of Daoism

Daoist Scriptures

Selections from Daoist Scriptures

A Brief Account of Laozi's Life [Shiji, p. 63.2142]

Laozi Instructs Confucius [Shiji, p. 63.2139]

Laozi Converts Barbarians [Huahujing, p. 1266b]

Laozi Becomes an Immortal [Xishengjing selections]

Laozi: The Daodejing [Daodejing selections]

Wang Bi: Commentary on the Daodejing [Laozi 1.1.1a]

Visualizing the Dao [Laozi Daodejing xuzhai]

The Dao of Immortality [Laozi Daodejing xuzhai]

Purity and Tranquility [Qingjingjing]

Zhuangzi's Life and Work [Shiji 63.2144]

The Dao is in Everything [Zhuangzi, ch. 22]

The Value of Knowing Dao [Zhuangzi, ch. 17]

The Pitfalls of Words and Concepts [Zhuangzi, ch. 2]

The Value of Unlearning [Zhuangzi zhu 8.39a]

The Sage is Godlike [Zhuangzi, ch. 2]

Dreams and Reality [Zhuangzi, ch. 2]

Worldly Fame is Like a Dead Rat [Zhuangzi, ch. 17]

Simplicity and Naturalness [Zhuangzi, ch. 2]

The True Man [Zhuangzi, ch. 6]

What the Sage Knows [Zhuangzi, ch. 17]

A Person Without Feelings [Zhuangzi, ch. 5]

An Old Useless Tre [Zhuangzi, ch. 4]

Dragging His Tail in the Mud [Zhuangzi, ch. 17]

Zhuangzi's Wife Died [Zhuangzi, ch. 18]

The Lady of Great Mystery [Biographies of Spirit Immortals, "The Lady of Great Mystery"]

Sun Bu'er: Immortality Practices for Women [Cultivating the Elixir; from Immortal Sisters]

Sexual Techniques for Men [Yufang Bizhui, "Sexual Instruction of the Master of Pure Harmony," 636]

Sexual Techniques for Women [Yufang Bizhui 635]

The Great Man [Darenxian heng, ch. 1]

The Value of Drunkenness [Jiu desong 47]

Transcending the World [Zhuang]

The Music of Dao [Xishengjing selections]

Glossary, Further Readings

CHAPTER 7 - SHINTO

Introduction

Shinto Scriptures

Birth of the Kami of sun and moon

The birth of great Kami

The creation of Japan

Izanagi visits Izanami in the netherworld

Ameterasu hides in a cave

The Shrine at Ise

Why Japan is special

Protecting the stability of the country

Prince Shotoku's proclamation on veneration of kami

Festival of the gates

Prayer to Ameterasu during the festival of the sixth month

Prayer for moving the shrine of Ise

Mount Fuji

Glossary, Further Readings

CHAPTER 8 - INDIGENOUS RELIGIONS OF THE EAST: AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINAL RELIGION

Introduction

Australian Aboriginal Myths

The First Death

How Fire Became Widely Available

The Rainbow Serpent

Division of Labor between the Sexes

Glossary, Further Readings