The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to Its History & Teachings by Donald S. Lopez Jr. (PDF)

Description

How and when did the many schools of Buddhism emerge? How does the historical figure of Siddartha Guatama relate to the many teachings that are presented in his name? Did Buddhism modify the cultures to which it was introduced, or did they modify Buddhism?Leading Buddhist scholar Donald S. Lopez Jr. explores the origins of this 2,500-year-old religion and traces its major developments up to the present, focusing not only on the essential elemenmts common to all schools of Buddhism but also revealing the differences among the major traditions. Beginning with the creation and structure of the Buddhist universe, Lopez explores the life of the Buddha, the core Buddhist tenets, and the development of the monastic life and lay practices. Combining brilliant scholarship with fascinating stories — contemporary and historical, sometimes miraculous, sometimes humorous — this rich and absorbing volume presents a fresh and expert history of Buddhism and Buddhist life.

User’s Reviews

Editorial Reviews: Review “At long last we have here an introductory volume on Buddhism that goes beyond the usual cliches.” — Bernard Faure, Professor of Religious Studies, Stanford University“Heads my list of books to give to someone ready to be introduced to the Four Noble Truths.” — Phil Catalfo, Yoga Journal“The clearest book we have on the history, variety, and meaning of what we now call Buddhism.” — Kenneth Woodward, Newsweek“The Story of Buddhism is one of those rare books that gives fresh insights on repeated readings.” — San Francisco Chronicle“A portrayal of Buddhism that…is readily accessible and appealing…[a] good introduction to Buddhism.” — Choice“Aims to make the tradition both accessible and compelling, as well as to demystify its practices, teachings, and schools.” — Tricycle About the Author Donald S. Lopez Jr. is the Carl W. Belser Professor of Buddhist and Tibetan Studies at the University of Michigan. He is the author and editor of many books on Buddhism, including Buddhism in Practice and Prisoners of Shangri-La: Tibetan Buddhism and the West, and key religious texts by His Holiness the Dalai Lama: The Joy of Living and Dying in Peace, The Way to Freedom, and Awakening the Mind, Lightening the Heart.

Reviews from Amazon users which were colected at the time this book was published on the website:

⭐I am enjoying reading this book in conjunction with an Eastern World Religions Class. I would not recommend trying to understand Buddhism without an instructor or guide. However, making the effort to find someone to help with the religious and cultural references is well worth it. I also recommend:

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⭐This book is great for someone new to the topic of Buddhism, and interested in a more detailed history of the origins of the spirituality. It goes into great detail on the Buddha, the dharma, and the sangha. It also compares multiple Buddhist texts from across Asia. A must read for the student of Buddhism, or someone simply interested in learning more about the religion itself.

⭐After a recent course in Buddhist philosophy, taught by a Buddhist, left me, a non-Buddhist, with many unanswered questions,I searched the literature for a book that would help me put this complex picture together. I found this book to be the best of the ones I reviewed, and I highly recommend it. I have since read several other books by Lopez and have enjoyed them all while learning a lot.

⭐I was originally looking into the teachings of the Buddhism to provide a center point, as I re-evaluate some of things currently going on around me. I can definitely recommend this book as it is written by a professor who has studied this religion over an extended period of time and, for me, provides a great foundation for this moment in my life.

⭐This books is ok, but there is actually little to nothing about the history of Buddhism, despite the title. If that is your interest, I’d recommend A Concise History of Buddhism by Andrew Skilton. For a scholarly but accessible look at Buddhist doctrine, I think you can’t beat Rupert Gethin’s Foundations of Buddhism, which also has more history than this volume.

⭐Textbook for a college class, I thought it was ok, but World Religions by Smith was much better.

⭐I’ve been a Buddhist Universalist for about 20 years, and have read various explanations and teachings about the Buddha. This book is the best overview of all — showing the basic teachings, the contradictions, and the regional differences. Buddhism is much more diverse than we generally think, and this book shares that diversity with the reader.

⭐Lopez includes a lot of valuable information in this work. Probably more information than a beginner needs or wants. Also, I found the organization to be confusing. A much better book in this category, I felt, was Karen Armstrong’s “Buddha”. I also recommend “The Buddhist Handbook” by Snelling, although it is more idiosyncratic than the others.

⭐Interesting but a tough read!

⭐Love it!

⭐この本の仏教の紹介は独自であると思う。作者は、何が本来の仏教かという議論はしない。仏教がどのようにその主張を発展させ、どのように受け入れられてきたかを描くことによって、仏教を描こうとしている。これも一つの見識であると思う。しかし最後にOscar Wildeの世界に連れて行かれたのには参った。（好意的な感想です。）西洋の研究者の仏教の解説に興味のある人に是非一読をお勧めします。

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