Buddhism: Its Essence and Development

The book opens with an introduction to Buddhism as religion and philosophy, focusing on self-extinction, non-self, so-called “radical pessimism,” immortality, and the survival value of Buddhist civilization. It then presents the common doctrinal ground shared across Buddhist traditions: the Buddha, the scriptures, the Four Noble Truths, the question of atheism, and cosmology. The following chapters trace the development of Buddhism through monastic discipline, the role of the laity, the old wisdom school, Mahāyāna and the new wisdom school, devotional Buddhism, Yogācāra, Tantra, and non-Indian developments such as Buddhism in China, Japan, Tibet, and Europe. Together, these sections show Buddhism as a historically diverse but spiritually unified tradition centred on wisdom, renunciation, compassion, meditation, and liberation.