Buddhisms: An Introduction

by John S. Strong

Buddhism or Buddhisms? By the time they move on to Buddhism in Japan, many students who have studied its origins in India ask whether this is in fact the same religion, so different can they appear. In An Introduction , Professor John S. Strong provides an overview of the Buddhist tradition in all its different forms around the world. Beginning at the modern day temples of Lumbini, where the Buddha was born, Strong takes us through the life of the Buddha and a study of Buddhist Doctrine, revealing how Buddhism has changed just as it has stayed the same. Finally, Strong examines the nature of Buddhist community life and its development today in the very different environments of Thailand, Japan, and Tibet. Enriched by the author’s own insights gathered over forty years, Buddhisms never loses sight of the personal experience amidst the wide-scope of its subject. Clear in its explanations, replete with tables and suggestions for further reading, this is an essential new work that makes original contributions to the study of this 2,500 year-old religion.

Genres: Religion, Buddhism, History, Nonfiction, Philosophy

480 pages, Paperback

First published August 11, 2015

Reviews

[Kaushik · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is as good an academic introduction to Buddhism/s as you will find.

It would certainly help to have an elementary understanding of Buddhism and its precepts before diving into this book. It is densely academic, dealing with complicated doctirnal formulations of Mainstream, Theravada, Vajrayana and Mahayana Buddhism, while also giving a great overview of Buddhist practices across several countries.

This is not a practitioner's book but an academic book. If you are looking to practice Buddhism, you are better off reading Thich Nhat Hahn or going to your local monastery/sangha. However, if you have an academic interest, this is the go-to book to understand and dive in from its extensive and well-research footnotes and bibliography.

[Jonathan Griffin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is an incredible introduction to the depth and breadth and complexity of modern Buddhism. It assumes little to no familiarity with the subject. I think Strong gets deep enough into the details to satiate most interested readers while also providing an extensive bibliography if any particular subject sparks your longing for a deeper dive. This book does not answer every question but it provides a fantastic jumping off point for anyone interested in learning more about Buddhism.

[GJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the best book of its kind. A total pleasure to read.

The introduction can be read as a standalone and is a brilliant piece of original scholarship. It’s somehow the perfect general introduction to the history, literature, and practice of Buddhism while also being filled with fun gems and details not found in other volumes. I particularly appreciate how it sets an example both how to read Buddhist texts and how to do history and anthropology.

The last section (chapters 11-13), like the introduction, can also be read as a standalone piece of original idiosyncratic scholarship that shows the author’s command of humor, geographic and historic breadth, and attention to detail.

I’d compare this book to Wendy Doniger’s The Hindus: An Alternative History insofar as it’s a simple survey of a giant tradition while also feels like you’re sitting at a table having a casual conversation with a scholar and teacher at the end of their long career of translation and travel. And like that book, this book opens up the reader to the colorful field of religious studies itself.

This book probably pairs best with (for primary source texts) Norton Anthology: Buddhism ed. Lopez and (for additional essays) Buddhism: A Journey Through History by Lopez and (for more a great follow up pairing) Unfortunate Destiny: Animals in the Indian Buddhist Imagination by Ohnuma

[C. Varn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent in its detail and scope--scholarly and yet accessible. Strong doesn't just introduce the various Buddhist schools, he contextualized the shifts both historical and doctrinal in nature. Then Strong gives us the modern case studies so we can get a sense of the real life results. Great work.

[Rome Doherty · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this book because I wanted some of the information it promised, but it was a little too college textbook like for me.

[Katie Michalczyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not exactly what I was looking for but a good read nevertheless

[Jeremy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The name of this book is plural because there are so many different strands of Buddhism. Generally every country has their own traditions and beliefs, and more specifically regions within a country vary in their belief, and even in the same town. If I used an analogy of Christianity, taking Protestant belief and comparing it maybe with an Eastern Orthodox tradition, perhaps that covers some of the differences, but the difference between Theravada and Mahayana are probably even greater. This was a very well written and interesting book to read. Highly recommended on the subject for a deep introduction. Four stars.

Here are notes I took:

Two main Buddhist institutions - Theravada and Mahayana. Theravada is mainstream or traditional. Theravada is practiced in countries like Thailand, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Laos, though it is in other places as well. Mahayana is practiced predominantly in China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Mongolia, and the Himalayas, though the term Vajrayana is sometimes also used to distinguish Buddhism in Tibet, Mongolia and the Himalayas from other Mahayana traditions.

A buddha is one who has experienced bodhi (awakening) and who, as a result, will never again be subject to suffering in the cycle of death and rebirth, or samsara. More specifically, to be a buddha you had to attain awakening on your own without the immediate help of a teacher, and to go on to teach others. There have been many buddhas, but the Buddha is Siddhartha Gautama, aka Sakyamuni. Sakyamuni was a prince who gave it up. He was a bodhisattva in his previous lives, which is someone who will become a buddha in a subsequent life. Sakyamuni was born a buddha - his mother gave birth standing up and he immediately took seven steps and declared that this would be his last life. He becomes enlightened and spends his life teaching his disciples. Upon his death at 80 he reaches parinirvana, which is the ultimate state where his karmic stream which led him to be reborn again and again in different mind-bodies throughout the eons has now come to an end.

Buddhas teachings are his Dharma. There will be a future Buddha named Maitreya. The Buddhist canon is huge. There are three major canonical collections - one in Pali, one in Chinese, and one in Tibetan. There are additional fragments and individual texts extant in other languages. Karma is an idea that came from an Indic context, as did certain gods like Indra that are spoken of in Buddhist literature.

The Four Truths are the most famous comprehensive summation of Buddhist teaching. They are 1) Life as we live it is characterized by stress, 2)There is a reason for this stress: desire or craving - this leads us to long for and cling to things that bring passing enjoyment here and there but cannot be finally clung to, 3)By eliminating our inherent craving and all its subtle and not-so-subtle manifestations and connections, it is possible to bring an end to stress, to be free from it. This is the truth of the cessation of stress, which is commonly identified with nirvana, 4)Finally, the way to do this is to practice the path, which is seen as the way to the cessation of stress. This path has eight practices, called the noble eightfold path, which are (1) right view; (2) right application of the mind; (3) right speech; (4) right action; (5) right livelihood; (6) right effort; (7) right mindfulness; (8) right concentration. These are further grouped into three trainings, the first two as wisdom, the next three as moral discipline, the last three as meditation.

[Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

A remarkably clear and thorough book that gives the reader a theoretical background in various kinds of Buddhism, covering both the "Mainstream" Theravada sects as well as various Mahayana groups. Ends with giving the reader an inside look into how these things are carried out day-to-day in various traditions: Thai, Japanese, and Tibetan, as well as a look at how they have interacted with the West. One of the best introductions to Buddhism, and strongly recommended.

[Cold Cream 'n' Roses · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddhisms is a fine reference book on Buddhism. Addition of a glossary would enhance its value as a reference book.

The title Buddhisms inspired me to create a Facebook photo album with the same name. The Buddhisms photo album shows how the Buddha is imagined across Asia.

[Mark Bahnisch · Rating 5 out of 5]

An admirably clear and rich book giving insights into the fascinating religious traditions of Buddhism.