The Foundations of Buddhism (OPUS) 1st Edition by Rupert Gethin (PDF)

Description

Buddhism is a vast and complex religious and philosophical tradition with a history that stretches over 2,500 years, and which is now followed by around 115 million people. In this introduction to the foundations of Buddhism, Rupert Gethin concentrates on the ideas and practices which constitute the common heritage of the different traditions of Buddhism (Thervada, Tibetan, and Eastern) which exist in the world today. From the narrative of the story of the Buddha,through discussions of aspects such as textual traditions, the framework of the Four Noble Truths, the interaction between the monastic and lay ways of life, the cosmology of karma and rebirth, and the path of the bodhisattva, this books provides a stimulating introduction to Buddhism as a religion andway of life, which will also be of interest to those who are more familiar with the subject.

User’s Reviews

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

⭐I have read nearly every introduction and history of Buddhism and Buddhist thought. Rupert Gethin has written in what I consider the best yet. Very well written; he evidences a very deep understanding of the tangled complexities. It is an excellent introduction, his bibliography will inform the reader to more specific facets of Buddhist thought and practice. He is very good explaining ambiguities of Buddhist philosophical terminology without getting bogged down in convoluted explanation. I highly recommend this book to one who is interested and wants to know something about Buddhism, as well as to those who are informed. My only criticism is that I think his discussion of Tibetan Buddhism was a little weak, while good at describing the schools of Buddhism in Tibet. He did not mention the reme movement that arose toward the end of the nineteenth century. to put it awkwardly, an unrestrictve approach to the teachings of all Buddhist schools. A lot can be said of this movement. I recommend the wikipedia as a point of departure for better a understanding.

⭐The other reviewers have spelled out the many ways in which this book is excellent.So I will boil my review down to one word: RELIABLE. When you are struggling with Abhidhamma or other questions, go to this book first for a RELIABLE overview and summary.Yes, I am utterly familiar with “What the Buddha Taught,” an excellent book. But it says little or nothing about the two main streams of Buddhism, Theravada & Mahayana — and yes, I am aware that some people hate these terms. I also live in a Buddhist country — have done so for many years — and am quite interested in the subject of “Export Buddhism” versus “Buddhism in our Daily Life in Thailand.””Export Buddhism” seems to have been fashioned as a replacement product for Unitarianism or other forms of nearly-godless Protestantism. A lot of Americans, including myself, used to say that Buddhism was really more of a philosophy than a religion, since it was not a God-religion like Christianity.Well, welcome to Thailand. Sure, you’re right, Buddhism is not a God-religion; it’s a religion with a thousand gods, demigods, and Arahants. Rather than being a “pure philosophy” which preaches the doctrine of reincarnation, Thai Buddhism embraces both the idea of going to heaven AND the idea of being reborn. For example, if you have been a really good person, you may go to Heaven for a thousand years, and then be reborn as a great spiritual leader. If you messed up, you may go to Hell for a while, and be reborn as a snake. The central Buddhist ritual in Thailand is “tham boon” == “making merit.” This is done in the frank hope of having a better life to come. Rupert Gethin mentions such things, and so the consumers of “Export Buddhism” are naturally shocked!By the way, my current interest is in dhyana / jyana states in meditation. Apparently, these are states of mind available to anyone willing to put in the time and work. And, for a quick look to remind me about this, Gethin’s book is RELIABLE.That’s pretty high praise!

⭐While I do not have the pedigree of Mr. Taylor (who wrote another 5 start review), I have read several hundred books on Buddhism, including all of the Nikayas, and I also took one graduate level course in a Buddhist Studies program, and I agree whole-heartedly with his comments. This book was one of the two main sources for the Buddhist Studies course, and to this day it is one of the handful of books to which I refer regulary. In fact, my copy is so worn out that I am about to order another one. If I were to teach an introductory course on Buddhism this would be the textbook. Unlike the 1 start review of Mr. Martin, I find this book wonderfully engaging and well-written. Occasionally I will pick it up to look up a fact, and find myself reading the next 20 pages.Mr. Gethin is also uniquely able to present the different traditions in an honest way without being disparaging about any of them. It is perhaps the fairest, most even-handed and factual account of the different traditions that I have read. I find this quite remarkable. I think that a fair reading of this text will let you appreciate the different schools of Buddhism, even if you don’t necessarily buy into them.I think this book is a hidden gem. I wish that everyone with an interest in Buddhism could read – and appreciate (!) – this fine piece of work.

⭐Though Gethin’s book is now a little old, it remains the best introduction to Buddhism for Western academics. He treats all topics within and divisions of Buddhism with respect and a scholar’s eye for accuracy. He respects the tradition, and even goes so far as to dispel myths perpetuated by early Western scholars of Buddhism, while still giving an academic treatment that will be intelligible and accessible to those with no background in Eastern thinking.This book may be slightly boring for those with a firm grounding and broad knowledge base, but I found myself picking up nuances and details that had not been covered by the other books I read on the topic. This is the only book on Buddhism that I have read so far that I feel does not require a teacher or extensive background knowledge to make it clear.

⭐I’m new to the study of Buddhism, but I have an academic background, and the style of this book very much addressed my learning style and needs. There is a lot of information, presented in such a way as to not disparage one sect or school, or favor one at the expense of another. This text presents information as straightforwardly as possible, making an attempt to share what is common to all Buddhists, and then delves into some of the differences between individual schools and practices without favoring one at the expense of another.

⭐It’s like reading a 300 page encyclopedia entry. Not sure who the target audience is, academics I suppose? But I imagine people wanting to dive deep into Buddhist teachings are probably heading straight for the primary souces. While those unfamiliar with Buddhism looking for an introduction will struggle to retain much of the dense information presented here.

⭐A thoroughly researched tour of Buddhist cosmology, schools, and the philosophies that underpin them. The major sutras (reported saying of the Buddha) and canonical works (the Abhidharma or higher dharma and those from the later Mahayana and Yogacara thinkers) are cover.A valiant attempt at articulating the no-self doctrine is given a whole chapter, while the equally challenging conceptions of emptiness and dependant arising are well covered.While the Buddhist path (the 4th Nobel Truth) is itself devoted a full chapter, the book is not a a “how to” manual. It is a detailed scholarly overview of East Asian Buddhism’s foundations (as the title says). In this context it is worth mentioning that Buddhist Modernism as encountered here in the west is not really covered, except in the final chapter describing the contemporary practices of Buddhism around the world.A must read for anyone interested in more than a superficial gloss on Buddhism.

⭐I purchased this book after reading a footnote form Bikkhu Bodhi in his anthology of the Pali Canon. The footnote suggested this book as a deeper dive into the philosophical and psychological aspects of the Buddhist ontology and metaphysics, and this is exactly that it is.Though the title may suggest otherwise, I would begin by clarifying what this book is, and what it is not. Though a suitably enthusiastic beginner would certainly learn a great deal by beginning with this book, I do not believe it is suitable for absolute beginners with no prior knowledge of the main tenets of Buddhist thought. Whilst it certainly begins at the beginning, by chapter 5 or 6, the philosophical exposition of the deep and interconnected systems that make up the core Buddhist concepts read like the texts I was studying in my philosophy MA. I say this not to brag, but to try to give an idea of the tone of the book.Potential readers should be under no illusions; this is an academic book that covers deeply academic topics. Philosophical concepts are posed like philosophical arguments, and the discourse is considered in the form approaching an academic essay.That said, what this book does, it does very well. I have found it not only incredibly informative, but captivating to read. The topics, whilst deep and quite tricky to comprehend, are clearly laid out, and the author does not shy away from delving into the minutiae of the philosophical frame work.The chapters on the link between the mind, consciousness, and reality itself, and how these underpin the twin concepts of karma and rebirth, are some of the finest philosophy I have ever read, and while this is, in part, due to the development of Buddhism itself over 2,500 years, credit must be given to the author for the way in which it has been presented.I would recommend this book whole heartedly to those wishing to explore the deeper philosophical aspects of Buddhist thought, from both a practitioner’s perspective and as an intellectual study. I would, however, urge caution for those with little or no prior knowledge. Bikkhu Bodhi’s introductions are perhaps more gentle introductions to the very basics, whilst this is a much more specific and thorough survey of the philosophy which underpins the core concepts.

⭐As a relative newcomer to Buddhism, I found this book very informative and well written. Some of the concepts described are a little mind bending but that is the nature of these things. Would highly recommend to any person wishing to explore Buddhism.

⭐A good primer on Buddhism, its terminology, history and evolution into the various traditions and schools that exist today. This is not a “how to” manual but rather a what, when and why on Buddhist philosophy.I was particularly interested in the core learning such as the four noble truths and the eight-fold path that is explained in detail. The story of Gautama Buddha is, as usual, always engaging and enlightening. The sections on Theravada, Mahayana, Tripitaka (Chinese) and Kanjur (Tibetan) traditions help outline their differences and similarities.What struck me was that even though Buddhism is supposed to be devoid of the schisms that exist in Christianity, here too we see the teachings of a master being subjected to the desires and motivations of his adherents and therefore being set to evolve differently in different geographies and cultures long after the master has passed on. To discover the pure teaching, we need to go back to the master and his message, which, having taken place at a time where only the oral tradition prevailed, is bound to be wrapped, interpreted and changed through the fallible lenses of his disciples and followers. Rupert Gethin has done an admirable job in gathering the multi-various strands of this complex philosophy and presenting it in a single book.

⭐Whatever shape Buddhism has taken in later centuries as it flourished far and wide,one must not forget that it is all built up on a solid foundation of practice and philosophy.What is that solid foundation? I feel this well-researced book lays out facts about basic buddhism in a very sensible manner. Very appropriate book title here I must say.

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