Hinduism and Buddhism: An Historical Sketch (In 03 Volumes)

The three-volume work is organized as a large historical architecture of Indian and Asian religions. Volume I introduces the influence of Indian thought in Eastern Asia, then studies early Indian religion, including Vedic deities, sacrifice, asceticism, religious life before Buddhism, and Jainism, before moving into Pāli Buddhism through chapters on the Buddha, his teaching, monks and lay followers, Aśoka, the Canon, meditation, and mythology in Hinduism and Buddhism. Volume II develops the study of Mahāyāna Buddhism, including its main features, Bodhisattvas, Mahāyāna Buddhas, scriptures, chronology, Chinese accounts of Indian Buddhism, and the decline of Buddhism in India; it then turns to later Hinduism, especially Śaivism, Vaiṣṇavism, later Vaiṣṇava movements in North India, and Hindu philosophy. Volume III studies Buddhism outside India, covering the expansion of Indian influence, Ceylon, Burma, Siam, Cambodia, Champa, Java and the Malay Archipelago, Central Asia, China, Korea, Annam, Tibet, and Japan, then concludes with broader reflections on the mutual influence of Eastern and Western religions, including Christianity in India, Indian influence in the Western world, Persian influence in India, and Islam in India.