Best History of Buddhism Books
Here you will get Best History of Buddhism Books For you.This is an up-to-date list of recommended books.
1. Mindfulness: The Remarkable Truth Behind Meditation and Being Present in Your Life
Author: by Olivia Telford
Published at: Independently published (July 10, 2019)
ISBN: 978-1077521551
Have you ever felt anxious, depressed, and stressed out? Do you live through your every day feeling overwhelmed by everything life keeps throwing your way? It’s time to reclaim your life, start living in the moment, and discover the secrets of mindfulness.
People who charge through their days on autopilot are often missing out on life’s most precious gifts. Mindless living puts you at risk of stress, mental health problems, and even weakens your immune system. When you can’t appreciate who you are and what you have right here, right now life will always be unsatisfying.
So how can you stop rushing through the day, jumping from task to task in the hope that eventually you’ll find happiness? In Mindfulness: The Remarkable Truth Behind Meditation and Being Present in Your Life, you’ll discover the secrets of truly calm, contented people.
Drawing on ancient knowledge passed down over thousands of years, Olivia Telford will show you exactly how to embrace mindfulness. You’ll grow a more compassionate heart and make goals that align with your deepest values. In this book you’ll discover:How to calm your racing mind within minutesInstant ways to make yourself feel more positiveA simple method to conquer feelings of stressHow to heal symptoms of depressionThe most powerful way to skyrocket your productivity and kill procrastinationExactly what to do to plan for an amazing futureThe best way to enrich all the relationships in your lifeYou might have heard you need to change your spiritual beliefs to practice mindfulness, but anyone can do it!
2. The Story of Buddhism: A Concise Guide to Its History & Teachings
Author: by Donald S. Lopez Jr.
Published at: HarperOne; Reprint edition (August 11, 2009)
ISBN: 978-0060099275
How and when did the many schools of Buddhism emerge? How does the historical figure of Siddartha Guatama relate to the many teachings that are presented in his name? Did Buddhism modify the cultures to which it was introduced, or did they modify Buddhism?
Leading Buddhist scholar Donald S. Lopez Jr. explores the origins of this 2,500-year-old religion and traces its major developments up to the present, focusing not only on the essential elemenmts common to all schools of Buddhism but also revealing the differences among the major traditions.
Beginning with the creation and structure of the Buddhist universe, Lopez explores the life of the Buddha, the core Buddhist tenets, and the development of the monastic life and lay practices. Combining brilliant scholarship with fascinating stories – contemporary and historical, sometimes miraculous, sometimes humorous – this rich and absorbing volume presents a fresh and expert history of Buddhism and Buddhist life.
3. An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (Introduction to Religion)
Author: by Peter Harvey
Published at: Cambridge University Press; 2nd edition (December 14, 2012)
ISBN: 978-0521676748
In this new edition of the best-selling Introduction to Buddhism, Peter Harvey provides a comprehensive introduction to the development of the Buddhist tradition in both Asia and the West. Extensively revised and fully updated, this new edition draws on recent scholarship in the field, exploring the tensions and continuities between the different forms of Buddhism.
Harvey critiques and corrects some common misconceptions and mistranslations, and discusses key concepts that have often been over-simplified and over-generalised. The volume includes detailed references to scriptures and secondary literature, an updated bibliography, and a section on web resources. Key terms are given in Pali and Sanskrit, and Tibetan words are transliterated in the most easily pronounceable form, making this is a truly accessible account.
This is an ideal coursebook for students of religion, Asian philosophy and Asian studies, and is also a useful reference for readers wanting an overview of Buddhism and its beliefs.
4. Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo (The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices)
Author: by Richard F. Gombrich
Published at: Routledge; 2nd edition (July 24, 2006)
ISBN: 978-0415365093
Written by the leading authority on Theravada Buddhism, this up-dated edition takes into account recent research to include the controversies over the date of the Buddha and current social and political developments in Sri Lanka. Gombrich explores the legacy of the Buddha’s predecessors and the social and religious contexts against which Buddhism has developed and changed throughout history, demonstrating above all, how it has always influenced and been influenced by its social surroundings in a way which continues to this day.
5. Zen Buddhism: A History, India & China (Volume 1)
Author: by Heinrich Dumoulin
Published at: World Wisdom; Revised and expanded ed edition (August 16, 2005)
ISBN: 978-0941532891
Unparalleled in scope and detail, this classic history of Zen covers all important ideas and developments in the tradition from its beginnings in India through the Sung period in China.
6. The Experience of Buddhism: Sources and Interpretations (Religious Life in History)
Author: by John S. Strong
Published at: Cengage Learning; 3rd edition (March 27, 2007)
ISBN: 978-0495094869
Part of the “Religious Life in History Series,” this comprehensive anthology provides translations of texts illustrative of Buddhist philosophy and doctrine as well as descriptive, concrete accounts of Buddhist practices, rituals, and experiences. Author John Strong gives careful consideration to many key aspects of the religion in a wide range of geographic and cultural arenas, from Asia to the United States, and gives students a sense of Buddhism’s historical evolution in each area.
In addition, this new edition of THE EXPERIENCE OF BUDDHISM uniquely offers students a list of pertinent bibliographic suggestions after each reading, giving them the opportunity to both enhance their understanding of the material and streamline their research and paper-writing process.
7. The Art of Buddhism: An Introduction to Its History and Meaning
Author: by Denise Patry Leidy
Published at: Shambhala; 1st edition (October 6, 2009)
ISBN: 978-1590306703
As its teachings spread from the Indian subcontinent in all directions across Asia, Buddhism influenced every culture it touchedfrom Afghanistan to Korea, from Mongolia to Java. Buddhist art is a radiant reflection of the encounter of the Buddha’s teachings with the diverse civilizations that came under their sway.
It is also an intriguing visual record of the evolution of Buddhist practice and philosophy over a period of more than two millennia. More than two hundred photographs provide the visual context for this tour of the world of Buddhist art.
Included in the rich variety of forms are architecture and monumental art, statuary, paintings, calligraphy, fresco, brushwork, and textile arts. Denise Leidy’s guide is the perfect introductory text for all those intrigued by this splendid aesthetic tradition. It also an essential resource for all who seek to understand Buddhist art as teaching.
8. The Everything Buddhism Book: A complete introduction to the history, traditions, and beliefs of Buddhism, past and present
Author: by Arnie Kozak
Published at: Everything; Second edition (January 14, 2011)
ISBN: 978-1440510281
“My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” -Dalai LamaThat’s easy for the Dalai Lama to say-but for the rest of us, understanding this mysterious, multilayered faith can be very difficult. With this updated and revised edition of the classic Buddhist primer, you can delve into the profound principles of nonviolence, mindfulness, and self-awareness.
From Tibetan Buddhism to Zen, you’ll explore the traditions of all branches of Buddhism, including:The life of Buddha and his continuing influence throughout the worldA revealing survey of the definitive Buddhist textsWhat the Sutras say about education, marriage, sex, and deathFaith-fueled social protest movements in Tibet, Burma, and elsewhereBuddhist art, poetry, architecture, calligraphy, and landscapingThe proven physiological effects of meditation and other Buddhist practicesThe growing impact of Buddhism on modern American culture In this guide, you’ll discover the deceptively simple truths of this enigmatic religion.
9. Zen Buddhism: A History (Japan) (Treasures of the World's Religions) (Volume 2)
Author: by Heinrich Dumoulin
Published at: World Wisdom; First Edition (August 16, 2005)
ISBN: 978-0941532907
In this second volume of his classic history Dumoulin turns his attention to the development of Zen in Japan.
10. The Art Of Buddhism: The Hidden Truth To Be Happy In Your Own Way
Author: by Sherman Evans
Published at: Independently published (December 29, 2019)
ISBN: 978-1652849872
Do you long to bring greater fulfillment, peace, and purpose into your everyday life? Do you struggle to choose joy as you face anxiety and depression each day? Or are you simply looking for a straightforward way to be happy and compassionate?
If you answered yes to any of the questions above, this book will quickly change your life. The teachings of Buddhism have guided spiritual seekers for over 2,500 years. In our modern world, we can all benefit from the inner peace, selflessness, and higher knowledge that Buddhists practice each day.
But the language of Buddhism can be difficult to understand, since ideas like Buddhahood and the ten worlds are unfamiliar to the Western mindset. By learning more about the teachings of Buddhism, you can start making changes in your life that will help you to be a happier and more balanced person.
The principles of meditation, enlightenment, and discipline will deepen your understanding of life, relationships with others, and yourself. From practicing selflessness to pursuing greater mindfulness and deep happiness, a comprehensive understanding of Buddhist principles from many different sects will improve your life in many ways.
11. A Concise History of Buddhism
Author: by Andrew Skilton (Sthiramati)
Published at: Windhorse Publications; 2nd Revised 2000 and Thumb Indexed ed. edition (August 1, 2004)
ISBN: 978-0904766929
An ideal introduction to the history of Buddhism. Andrew Skilton – a writer on and practitioner of Buddhism – explains the development of the basic concepts of Buddhism during its 2,500 years of history and describes its varied developments in India, Buddhism’s homeland, as well as its spread across Asia, from Mongolia to Sri Lanka and from Japan to the Middle East.
A fascinating insight into the historical progress of one of the world’s great religions.”.. An excellent synopsis of current scholarship…”Alan Sponberg, Professor of Asian Philosophy and Religion, University of Montana
12. The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa: The Life-Story and Teaching of the Greatest Poet-Saint Ever to Appear in the History of Buddhism
Author: by Garma C.C. Chang
Published at: Shambhala; New edition (June 29, 1999)
ISBN: 978-1570624766
Tibetans accord The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa a classic status comparable to that of the Mahabharata and the Bible, and revere its author as probably the best single exemplar of the religious life. Milarepa was an eleventh-century Buddhist poet and saint, a cotton-clad yogi who avoided the scholarly institutions of his time and wandered from village to village, teaching enlightenment and the path to Buddhahood through his spontaneously composed songs.
Wherever he went, crowds of people gathered to hear his sweet sounding voice “singing the Dharma.” The Hundred Thousand Songs of Milarepa, says the book’s translator, “has been read as the biography of a saint, a guide book for devotions, a manual of Buddhist yoga, a volume of songs and poems, and even a collection of Tibetan folklore, and fairy tales.” With titles like “The Salvation of the Dead,” “A Woman’s Role in the Dharma,” and “Challenge from a Wise Demoness,” Milrepa’s poems are filled with fascinating tales of miraculous encounters and colorful imagery, and present a valuable insight into the living quality of Tibetan Buddhism.
13. Entering The Great Expanse
Author: by Tulku Sherdor
Published at: Blazing Wisdom Publications; Special Heavyweight Vellum First Edition (January 22, 2019)
ISBN: 978-0980173079
Entering The Great Expanse is Tulku Sherdor’s most important and timely book, the fruition of 40 years in the dharma. It explains, lucidly and precisely, and with doses of bracing humor, the deep meaning and vast benefits of the preliminary practices of Tibetan Buddhism, based on the Longchen Nyingtig (Heart Essence of The Great Expanse) tradition.
It is a companion guide to the practice text, An Excellent Path to Omniscience. Morever, this work explains to the Western audience, based on a lifetime of experience, how to study and practice dharma correctly, in order to obtain genuine experience and realization.
Using the practice of ngndro (the preliminaries) as a framework, this book explains the purpose, layers of meaning, and benefits of every level of dharma practice, including the highest levels of Vajrayana and Dzogchen. The instructions and explanations are the teachings of past lineage masters, but spoken to be heard by dharma students today.
The oral instructions offered here are applicable broadly to every lineage of ngndro. The chapters on Bodhicitta, Vajrasattva, and Guru Yoga, in particular, are must-reads for everyone.
14. The Other Side of Zen: A Social History of Sōtō Zen Buddhism in Tokugawa Japan (Buddhisms: A Princeton University Press Series, 10)
Author: by Duncan Ry?ken Williams
Published at: Princeton University Press (November 1, 2009)
ISBN: 978-0691144290
Popular understanding of Zen Buddhism typically involves a stereotyped image of isolated individuals in meditation, contemplating nothingness. This book presents the “other side of Zen,” by examining the movement’s explosive growth during the Tokugawa period (1600-1867) in Japan and by shedding light on the broader Japanese religious landscape during the era.
Using newly-discovered manuscripts, Duncan Ryuken Williams argues that the success of Soto Zen was due neither to what is most often associated with the sect, Zen meditation, nor to the teachings of its medieval founder Dogen, but rather to the social benefits it conveyed.
Zen Buddhism promised followers many tangible and attractive rewards, including the bestowal of such perquisites as healing, rain-making, and fire protection, as well as “funerary Zen” rites that assured salvation in the next world. Zen temples also provided for the orderly registration of the entire Japanese populace, as ordered by the Tokugawa government, which led to stable parish membership.
15. A Concise History of Buddhism
Author: by Andrew Skilton
Published at: Windhorse Pubns (January 1, 1995)
ISBN: 978-0904766660
Book by Skilton, Andrew
16. A History of Zen Buddhism
Author: by Heinrich Dumoulin
Published at: Pantheon; First Edition (January 1, 1963)
ISBN: 978-1135694746
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