Buddhist Scriptures (Penguin Classics) by Donald Lopez (PDF)

Description

While Buddhism has no central text such as the Bible or the Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of Buddha. This rich anthology brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range, and from languages such as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha’s past lives, a discussion of the qualities and qualifications of a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of Enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast nature of the Buddhist tradition.

User’s Reviews

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

⭐According to many scholars, the amount of Buddhist literature is vast. It would be impossible to present all of it in one volume. But Dr. Lopez has presented a plausibly representative sample of Buddhist literature, with very helpful commentaries preceding each selection. The collection is quite revealing to a Western reader like myself, in that it shows the implausible, supernaturalistic nature of much Buddhist literature. Nevertheless it is good background information for anyone who wants to study more modern or Western-friendly Buddhism, like Zen. It is not surprising that Zen practitioners dismiss many Buddhist writings as irrelevant or unimportant. Zen considers lengthy, repetative sutras and philosophical treatises to be merely fingers pointing at the moon, which should not be mistaken for the moon itself.

⭐It’s hard to read but it’s very complete

⭐This is a very useful anthology for students of Buddhism. In addition to highly readable translations of selected ancient texts filled with descriptions and advice; it also includes many instructive fables and tales, including “Maitreya describes the Future” and “A King gives away his Head.”Of particular note is the predecessor to the biblical story of the loaves and fishes — it is the story of how a single portion of alms fed 84,000 sravakas and 12,000 bodhisattvas, and still the food did not run out. hmmmm, sound familiar?

⭐required reading for class

⭐Well written and comprehensive text. Purchased it used and it arrived in record time and was in the condition expected. Good value and excellent reading for students of Buddhism, or for anyone simply interested in Buddhism.

⭐Great condition, good price and prompt delivery. Couldn’t ask for more

⭐Great read

⭐Confusing as all get out.

⭐Buddhism doesn’t have a single central document, instead building it’s canon from literally tens of thousands of texts spanning different continents and thousands of years. This is a nicely varied collection of samples selected to demonstrate some of the main key aspects of the ideology, drawing from different schools based in different countries and across different centuries. The introductions to each category are highly informed and well edited, giving the right amount of information in a succinct and enlightening (sorry, genuinely couldn’t think of a better word) way – there is no long-winded academic self-indulgence, despite the writer obviously knowing a huge amount about their subject. Honestly I’ve read the whole thing about six times and enjoyed it every time.

⭐Have given 4stars as I have read nothing else Bhuddist to compare. But over half-way in, and it is remarkable: purely from a human historical viewpoint (if that means anything), it is a bit deep at times, and not so much other times, so not a particularly taxing read. ‘Though the heavenly mansions are unobstructed, few are those who go there, for people take the three poisons [greed, hatred and delusion], as their family wealth’, hopefully gives some kind of idea or flavour; or ‘How can you trust in fleeting fate’…From my non-Bhuddist point of view this is literally dead interesting (pun intended). There is not insignificant commentary before each chapter which is illuminating and very helpful. For example, ‘…the Buddha concludes by conceding that it has been difficult to teach dharma in a world as degenerate as ours’. You will encounter the six perfections, and a fair amount of repetition in chapter 3. Comparisons and parallels with other religions will also manifest!

⭐Good

⭐The style it’s written/translated in bores me.

⭐A long indepth read

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