The Life of the Buddha and the Early History of His Order

The book is organized into eight main chapters. Chapter I presents the history of the world from its renovation to the reign of Śuddhodana, including the emergence of society, property, kingship, caste, and renunciant life. Chapter II follows events from Śuddhodana’s reign to the beginning of the Buddha’s ministry, including the Śākya lineage and the early life of the Buddha. Chapter III covers the Buddha’s ministry before the reign of Ajātaśatru, while Chapter IV treats the period from Ajātaśatru’s reign to the Buddha’s death. Chapter V studies the Buddhist community during the hundred and ten years following the Buddha’s passing, including early councils and disciplinary developments. Chapter VI examines the history of Buddhist schools, especially the early sectarian divisions of Hīnayāna traditions. Chapter VII turns to the early history of Bod-yul, or Tibet, and Chapter VIII presents the early history of Li-yul, or Khoten, showing the wider transmission of Buddhism beyond India. The work therefore moves from Buddhist cosmological origins and sacred biography to institutional history, sectarian development, and the spread of Buddhism into Tibet and Central Asia.