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Overview
BUDDHISM begins with a brief account of the life of the historical Buddha and his teachings. The book looks into the schism that developed upon the death of the Buddha, the various schools that evolved around his teachings and the spread of these schools in all parts of the world, a process which is still continuing today.Synopsis
BUDDHISM begins with a brief account of the life of the historical Buddha and his teachings. The book looks into the schism that developed upon the death of the Buddha, the various schools that evolved around his teachings and the spread of these schools in all parts of the world, a process which is still continuing today.
Library Journal
Reat covers the history of Buddhism in a marvelously interesting and informative way that will appeal to the general reader. In 13 chapters, he discusses the Buddha in history and legend; the death of the Buddha and the split that resulted in the Theravada and Mahayana schools of Buddhism; the teachings of the Buddha; and the development of Buddhism around the world, primarily in the United States. He also demonstrates the impact of the political history of different countries on the development of Buddhism and interweaves explanations of the importance of several Buddhist canonical texts with his descriptions of the development of the Theravada and Mahayana schools of Buddhism in various countries. Reat presents this history in a way that draws the reader into the account and provides answers to the questions a beginning reader would have. The result is more detailed than most introductions to the subject. Highly recommended for libraries needing a current introduction to the subject.-David Bourquin, California State Univ., San Bernardino