The Different Paths of Buddhism: A Narrative-Historical Introduction

Acknowledgments: Explains that the book grew out of more than twenty years of teaching Buddhism and focuses on major highlights from India, Tibet, China, Japan, and village Buddhism in Sri Lanka, Myanmar, and Thailand. Part One: Origins and Historical Development: Introduces Buddhism through narrative, early Indian religious contexts, the historical Buddha, early Buddhist literature, worldview, and the spread of Buddhism. Chapter 1: Crows and Monks: Introduction: Presents the narrative method and frames Buddhism as diverse, historical, and culturally adaptive. Chapter 2: The Elephant and the Buddha: Discusses the Buddha’s life, symbolic narratives, and early formation of Buddhist identity. Part Two: Theravāda Philosophy and Practice: Examines early Buddhist doctrine, ethics, social organization, donors, gender, and village religious life. Chapter 3: The Narrative Path of the Buddha: Explains the Buddha’s teaching, path, suffering, liberation, and nibbāna. Chapter 4: Ethical and Political Implications of Buddhist Narratives: Discusses Buddhist ethics, kingship, social order, and political meanings. Chapter 5: The Tale of Beggars and Donors: Focuses on monastic-lay relations, giving, merit, and support structures. Chapter 6: The Feminine Narrative in Buddhism: Treats women, nuns, gendered religious narratives, and female participation. Chapter 7: Stories from Buddhist Villages: Presents local practices and lived Buddhism in village contexts. Part Three: Major Mahāyāna Movements and Schools: Surveys major Mahāyāna traditions, doctrines, devotional forms, and regional developments. Chapter 8: The Bodhisattva’s Path to Perfection: Introduces the Bodhisattva ideal, pāramitās, and Mahāyāna literature. Chapter 9: Secret Narratives: Philosophies of Emptiness: Discusses Nāgārjuna, Madhyamaka, emptiness, and philosophical interpretation. Chapter 10: Devotional Voices of the Pure Land: Explores Pure Land faith, devotion, and salvific practice. Chapter 11: Tales of Lamas: Tibetan Buddhism: Presents Tibetan Buddhist history, institutions, teachers, and distinctive practices. Chapter 12: The No-Narrative of Seated Meditation: Zen: Examines Zen practice, meditation, kōan literature, and Japanese developments. Chapter 13: New Narratives: Recent Paths of Reform and Revival: Reviews modern Buddhist reform, revival, and contemporary transformations.