Indian Buddhism: A Survey with Bibliographical Notes (Vol.1)

The book is structured into six major chapters. Chapter I offers a general survey of Buddhism and introduces major scholarly approaches to Buddhist studies. Chapter II discusses early Buddhism, including the rise of Buddhism, the life of Gotama Buddha and his disciples, the formation of early scriptures, original Buddhism, early Buddhist thought, practice, worship, faith, and social thought. Chapter III studies conservative Buddhism and the transition to Mahāyāna, with attention to the Mauryan dynasty, foreign invasions, the emergence of philosophical schools, Abhidharma literature, later Southern Buddhism or Theravāda, Buddhist philosophical thought, Buddha-biographies, Aśvaghoṣa, and Avadāna literature. Chapter IV examines Mahāyāna Buddhism through its historical background, major Mahāyāna sūtras, the Lotus Sūtra, Buddhāvataṃsaka-sūtra, Pure Land Buddhism, Ratnakūṭa-sūtra, Mahāparinirvāṇa-sūtra, Tathāgata-garbha texts, Madhyamaka, Nāgārjuna, Āryadeva, Vijñānavāda, Asaṅga, Vasubandhu, and later Buddhist thinkers. Chapter V focuses on Buddhist logicians, especially Dignāga, Dharmakīrti, and later developments in Indian logic. Chapter VI presents Esoteric Buddhism, its beginnings, systematization, final stage, and distinctive features.