Buddhism as a Religion: Its Historical Development and Its Present Conditions

Buddhism as a Religion presents Buddhism as both a historical tradition and a living religion. The book begins with the life of the Buddha and the core doctrines of Buddhism, especially suffering, craving, rebirth, karma, and nirvāṇa. It then traces the historical development and geographical spread of Buddhism from India to Ceylon, Burma, Siam, Tibet, China, Korea, and Japan. A major strength of the work is its broad comparative treatment of modern Buddhist institutions, monastic life, sacred buildings, rituals, sects, scriptures, and the relationship between Buddhism and lay society across different Buddhist cultures. The author states that the book aims to describe Buddhism not only as an ancient Indian doctrine but also as a present-day religious system in multiple Asian countries.