Buddhism: A Short IntroductionThis short introduction to Indian Buddhism provides a general overview as well as some in-depth treatment of issues central to Indian Buddhism. It is text based, introducing the reader to some of the most important textual sources of Buddhism. It is divided into three parts which are subdivided into a varying number of chapters. Part I deals with the basics of Buddhism, the proverbial 'Three Jewels': the Buddha, the Dharma and the Sangha. In that context, the Indian background to the Buddha's teaching will also be mentioned, as well as the development of Buddhism. Part II offers a systematic study of Buddhist teachings: a comprehensive account of the path to liberation according to the Pali Canon; a detailed study of meditation, the most typical Buddhist practice; and a summary of the bodhisattva path. Part III introduces more technical philosophical expressions of Buddhism and the teachings of distinctive schools that emerged in the course of time. Chapter 8 deals with the theoretical framework of Theravada Buddhism in the Abhidamma and with the controversies between Buddhists and (primarily) Hindus; chapter 9 discusses Madhyamaka and Yogacara, two important philosophical systems, and Vajrayana, a late development of Indian Buddhism, its Tantric expression. |
Contents
Buddhist texts and Buddhist practice | 6 |
11 | 27 |
THE CONTENT OF THE BUDDHADHAMMA | 47 |
Copyright | |
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Common terms and phrases
Abhidhamma arahants arahattā Asanga became become bhāvanā bhikkhunīs bhikkhus bodhisattva body brahma-vihāra brahman Bu-ston Buddha Buddha-dhamma Buddha-word Buddha's teaching Buddhaghosa Buddhist Meditation century chapter commentary compassion consciousness Council Delhi developed Dhamma Dhammapada disciples doctrine Eightfold Path emptiness enlightenment everything existence famous five Four Noble Truths Gotama Hīnayāna Hindu History of Buddhism human Ibid Indian Philosophy insight Jātakas jhāna Journal of Indian karma kasiņa king large number Madhyamaka Madhyamaka-kārikās Mahāvagga Mahāyāna Buddhism Maitreya mantras Māra means Milinda mind monastic monks and nuns Motilal Banarsidass Nāgārjuna Nāgasena Nālandā nibbāna Nikāya nirvāṇa one's Pali Pāli Canon Pāli Text Pātimokkha Piṭaka practice prajñā Rahula reached reality rebirth religion samādhi samsāra Sangha Sanskrit scholars schools Sri Lanka suffering śūnyatā Sūtra Sutta T. W. Rhys Davids Tantric Buddhism Tārā Tathāgata Tattvasangraha teacher Text Society Theravada thought Tibet Tibetan tradition trans translation University Vajrayāna Vasubandhu Vinaya Vipassanā virtues Visuddhimagga wisdom words Yogācāra