Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism

Overview: Buddha and the Gospel of Buddhism is a masterpiece of religious and philosophical scholarship, providing a clear and definite statement of the life and early doctrine of the Buddha. Designed for the general reader as well as the student of Eastern thoughts, it contextualizes Buddhism within the larger framework of Indian philosophy and examines its historical evolution and cultural impact. Key Content & Structure: Part I: The Life of the Buddha: Chronicles the spiritual journey of Gautama, from his early life as a prince, his Great Renunciation, the intense years of seeking, his ultimate Enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, to his long ministry and final Parinirvana. Part II: The Gospel of Early Buddhism: Explores fundamental Buddhist doctrines such as the Four Noble Truths, the Noble Eightfold Path, Karma, Rebirth, the concept of An-atta (Non-self), and the ultimate state of Nirvana. Part III: Contemporary Systems: Provides a comparative analysis between Buddhism and the Brahmanical systems (particularly the Upanishads and Vedanta), clearing up common misconceptions regarding their historical relations. It also draws fascinating parallels with Western mysticism and Christian thoughts. Part IV: The Mahayana: Traces the development of the Buddhist church, the rise of the Great Vehicle (Mahayana) and its schools, including Zen Buddhism (Ch'an) in China and Japan, as well as the ideal of the Bodhisattva. Part V: Buddhist Literature and Art: Reviews classical Buddhist texts (the Pali Canon, Dhammapada, Jataka tales) and offers a rich historical survey of Buddhist art, from the early Gandhara and Mathura sculptures to the majestic cave paintings of Ajanta, Longmen, and the architecture of Borobudur. Artistic Value: The volume features magnificent, full-page color illustrations specially created by celebrated modern Indian artists Abanindro Nath Tagore and Nanda Lal Bose, alongside 32 black-and-white photographic reproductions representing masterpieces of Buddhist sculpture and architecture.