Faure Unmasking Buddhism

1. Auflage 2009
ISBN: 978-1-4443-0840-2
Verlag: John Wiley & Sons
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 168 Seiten, E-Book

An ideal introduction to Buddhism for anyone who has unansweredquestions about one of the world's largest and most popularreligions.
* A fascinating, short book that challenges us to strip awayexisting preconceptions we may have about Buddhism
* Considers questions such as: Can we talk of Buddhism as aunified religion or are there many Buddhisms? Is Buddhism areligion of tolerance and pacifism as many people think? And isBuddhism a religion without god(s), or is it more of a philosophythan a religion?
* Traces the basic history, beliefs and nature of Buddhism ineasy-to-understand language
* Written by renowned Buddhist scholar, Bernard Faure, it is anideal introduction for anyone who has unanswered questions aboutone of the world's largest and most popular religions

Autoren/Hrsg.

Faure, Bernard

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction 1
Part I Buddhism in History 5
"Buddhism is both one and many" 7
"The Buddha is only a man who achieved Awakening" 11
"Buddhism is an Indian religion" 18
"Buddhism is the cult of nothingness" 23
"Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion" 27
"All Buddhists are seeking to achieve Awakening" 34
"Buddhism teaches the impermanence of all things" 39
"The belief in karma leads to fatalism" 44
"Buddhism denies the existence of a self" 49
"Buddhism teaches reincarnation" 52
Part II Buddhism and Local Cultures 57
"Buddhism is an atheistic religion" 59
"Buddhism is above all a spirituality" 66
"The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Buddhism" 71
"To be Buddhist is to be Zen" 76
Part III Buddhism and Society 83
"Buddhism is a tolerant religion" 85
"Buddhism teaches compassion" 89
"Buddhism is a peaceful religion" 93
"Buddhism affirms that we are all equal" 99
"Buddhism is compatible with science" 104
"Buddhism is a kind of therapy" 112
"Buddhism advocates a strict vegetarianism" 118
"Buddhism is a universalist teaching" 122
"Buddhism is a religion of monks" 129
Conclusion: Buddhism or Neo-Buddhism? 139
Glossary 143
A Short Bibliography 151
Index 153

Über Autor(innen)

Bernard Faure is Kao Professor in Japanese Religion at Columbia University. He has published a number of books in French and English, including: The Rhetoric of Immediacy: A Cultural Critique of Chan/Zen Buddhism (1991); Chan Insights and Oversights: An Epistemological Critique of the Chan Tradition (1993); Visions of Power: Imagining Medieval Japanese Buddhism (1996); The Red Thread: Buddhist Approaches to Sexuality (1998); The Power of Denial: Buddhism, Purity, and Gender (2003); and Double Exposure (2004). He is presently working on a book on Japanese Gods and Demons.