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Great Religions of Modern Man #1
Buddhism
Conceived In Asia, Buddhism Is An Historic Expression Of A Universal Human Ideal.
This volume presents the beliefs and practices of Buddhism: one of the major religious movements of the world. Since the sixth century B.C.E., Buddhist beliefs and practices, literature and institutions have been spreading and developing in more than thirty countries in Asia. This book explains the ideals and philosophy, the moral principles and practices, the political, social and cultural implications of Buddhism as a way of life.
This volume presents the beliefs and practices of Buddhism: one of the major religious movements of the world. Since the sixth century B.C.E., Buddhist beliefs and practices, literature and institutions have been spreading and developing in more than thirty countries in Asia. This book explains the ideals and philosophy, the moral principles and practices, the political, social and cultural implications of Buddhism as a way of life.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1962
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About the author
Richard Abbott Gard
3 booksDr. Richard A. Gard is Lecturer in Buddhist Studies at Yale University. A graduate of the University of Washington and the University of Hawaii, he received his Ph.D. from Claremont. He has the unique distinction of having lectured on Buddhism at a number of the major Buddhist universities in Asia.
He has received many awards in recognition of his work on Buddhism and is the author of Studies in Oriental Philosophy and Buddhist Political Thought.
He has received many awards in recognition of his work on Buddhism and is the author of Studies in Oriental Philosophy and Buddhist Political Thought.
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
January 13, 2009
Once again i come to this series looking for enlightenment about a religion i am curious about, and once again i find myself in an incomprehensible morass. check out this passage:
"The major Buddhist ways and their implemental schools have numerous textual expositions, with variant doctrinal interpretations, of these Four Principles in Buddhism. In any comparative study of them, they should understood according to the context of their School-system: for example, the Teravada method of Maggasacca is intended for the Teravada conception of Nirodha-sacca which is pertinent to the Theravada notion of Saudaya-sacca which concerns the Teravada view of Dikkha-sacca; similarly, the Sarvastivada, Madhyamika and Yogacara views of Marga re Nirodha re Samudaya re Duhkha."
As far as i can tell, what this means is that the four principles should be understood in the context of the distinct school systems that exist within Buddhism. But does the author then do that? no. does he explain why - beyond "oh, it's too numerous"? no. so why bring it up? why? because that's the way this book works - scads and scads of useless passages like this that do nothing to help one understand anything about this fascinating religion. By the way, if you're particularly interested in the annual report of the Young Buddhists Association of Thailand for the year 1958, you're in luck - it's reprinted at length.
Run, don't walk, away from this book.
"The major Buddhist ways and their implemental schools have numerous textual expositions, with variant doctrinal interpretations, of these Four Principles in Buddhism. In any comparative study of them, they should understood according to the context of their School-system: for example, the Teravada method of Maggasacca is intended for the Teravada conception of Nirodha-sacca which is pertinent to the Theravada notion of Saudaya-sacca which concerns the Teravada view of Dikkha-sacca; similarly, the Sarvastivada, Madhyamika and Yogacara views of Marga re Nirodha re Samudaya re Duhkha."
As far as i can tell, what this means is that the four principles should be understood in the context of the distinct school systems that exist within Buddhism. But does the author then do that? no. does he explain why - beyond "oh, it's too numerous"? no. so why bring it up? why? because that's the way this book works - scads and scads of useless passages like this that do nothing to help one understand anything about this fascinating religion. By the way, if you're particularly interested in the annual report of the Young Buddhists Association of Thailand for the year 1958, you're in luck - it's reprinted at length.
Run, don't walk, away from this book.
April 6, 2009
The introduction is forty pages of indeterminable anthropology, philology, and archeology. Then the book launches into a lecture-already-in-progress.
This is not for someone approaching the subject with ignorance. But then, who is it intended for? It is densely written with an academic level of detail (and a dollar-sized vocabulary), but at 240 pages doesn't have the depth or breadth for serious study.
It's like the author couldn't decide what to talk about: the history, the philosophical underpinnings, or the distinctions between different Buddhist systems. So, he mashed them all together.
This is not for someone approaching the subject with ignorance. But then, who is it intended for? It is densely written with an academic level of detail (and a dollar-sized vocabulary), but at 240 pages doesn't have the depth or breadth for serious study.
It's like the author couldn't decide what to talk about: the history, the philosophical underpinnings, or the distinctions between different Buddhist systems. So, he mashed them all together.
February 9, 2022
This book is not a primer for those who have little to no existing knowledge of the topic. It's largely a survey of the various Buddhist schools, and gets bogged down in linguistic variations of the same views/practices between these schools and regions.
However, it's not without value, even to the uninitiated. I found the chapter on Buddha and the traits that made him such an effective teacher illuminating. This book also outlines Buddhism's main tenets, but it does not clearly define them or provide examples. Again, this may be the result of this work's scope, which would make covering all variations between schools impossible.
However, it's not without value, even to the uninitiated. I found the chapter on Buddha and the traits that made him such an effective teacher illuminating. This book also outlines Buddhism's main tenets, but it does not clearly define them or provide examples. Again, this may be the result of this work's scope, which would make covering all variations between schools impossible.
December 30, 2022
Not very enlightening (ha!). Lots of confusing lists and tangents about types of Buddhism only to veer away and say it's beyond the scope of the book to explain it. Some surface level exploration of Buddhism idea but nothing I hadn't heard second hand aside from the concept of stupas.
March 14, 2024
A decent overview of Buddhism. This is designed to give you a wide angled snapshot of Buddhism rather than a detailed presentation of the beliefs and practices of Buddhists. Such a thing is difficult as there is so much variety within Buddhism.
May 24, 2022
As other reviews have stated, there are parts which are very informative, but this is not something for a new learner to read to understand Buddhism. Look elsewhere.
November 9, 2014
Disappointing. Fortunately, I did not rely upon this book for my knowledge of this religion so I was able to judge better than most non-Buddhists. Its presentation was confusing and not very well written. It did show how a simple teaching by a man who insisted he was just a man at morphed into many different and difficult beliefs. It seems to happen to every religion.
September 13, 2008
A good primer on Buddhism for anyone interested in the ideas and philosophy. An older book (1962) but the ideas presented are 2500 years old and as new as this afternoon's tea.
March 17, 2015
I wish this book had more direct quotes from the Buddhist scriptures. It is still interesting even though it mostly consists of summaries of the different aspects of Buddhism.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews