Buddhisms

Buddhism or Buddhisms? By the time they move on to Buddhism in Japan, many students who have studied its origins in India ask whether this is in fact the same religion, so different can they appear. In Buddhisms: An Introduction, Professor John S. Strong provides an overview of the Buddhist tradition in all its different forms around the world. Beginning at the modern day temples of Lumbini, where the Buddha was born, Strong takes us through the life of the Buddha and a study of Buddhist Doctrine, revealing how Buddhism has changed just as it has stayed the same. Finally, Strong examines the nature of Buddhist community life and its development today in the very different environments of Thailand, Japan, and Tibet. Enriched by the author's own insights gathered over forty years, Buddhisms never loses sight of the personal experience amidst the wide-scope of its subject. Clear in its explanations, replete with tables and suggestions for further reading, this is an essential new work that makes original contributions to the study of this 2,500 year-old religion.

John S. Strong is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Religion, Bates College, in Maine, USA. Specializing in history of religions, Asian religions, and Buddhist Studies, with a focus on Buddhist legendary and cultic traditions in India and South Asia. He is the author of numerous books and articles including The Buddha: A Beginner's Guide (Oneworld).

Preface Schemes and Themes Technicalities Note on abbreviations   Chapter 1      Introduction: Lumbin-, a Buddhist World Exposition 1.1 Therav-da and Mah-y-na 1.2 Lumbin-'s Eastern Monastic Zone: South and Southeast Asian Traditions 1.2.1 The Mah- Bodhi Society 1.2.2 The Sri Lanka Monastery 1.2.3 The Gautam- Center for Nuns 1.2.4 Myanmar (Burma) 1.2.5 Meditation Centers 1.3 Lumbin-'s Western Monastic Zone: East Asian Traditions 1.3.1 China 1.3.2 Korea 1.3.3 Japan 1.3.4 Vietnam 1.4 Lumbin-'s Western Monastic Zone: Tibetan Vajray-na Traditions 1.4.1 The Great Lotus St-pa 1.4.2 The Lumbin- Udyana Mahachaitya    Part I: Foundations of the Triple Gem: Buddha/s, Dharma/s, and Sägha/s Chapter 2      --kyamuni, Lives and Legends 2.1 The Historical Buddha 2.2 The Buddha's World 2.3 The Buddha of Story 2.4 Past Buddhas and the Biographical Blueprint 2.5 The Start of --kyamuni's Career 2.6 Previous Lives (J-takas) 2.6.1 The Donkey in the Lion's Skin 2.6.2 Vessantara J-taka 2.6.3 The Tigress J-taka 2.7 A Lifestory of --kyamuni 2.7.1 Birth and Childhood 2.7.2 Life in the Palace 2.7.3 The Beginnings of Discontent 2.7.4 The Great Departure 2.7.5 Paths Not Taken 2.7.6 Awakening 2.7.7 After Enlightenment 2.7.8 The First Sermon 2.7.9 Various Conversions and Miracles 2.7.10 Death and Parinirv--a   Chapter 3      Overcoming the Buddha's Absence 3.1 Seeing the Buddha in the Dharma 3.1.1 Excursus on the Buddhist Canon/s 3.2 Places of Pilgrimage 3.3 Relics 3.4 Buddha Images 3.5 The Masters of the Dharma 3.6 The Arhat Dharma-Protectors 3.7 Meeting Maitreya   Chapter 4      Some Permutations of the Middle Way 4.1 The Middle Way 4.2 Karma and Säs-ra 4.2.1 Why Do Good Deeds? 4.2.2 Contexts of Karma I: Neither Free Will nor Determinism 4.2.3 Contexts of Karma II: Both Jain and Upani-adic Views 4.3 The Doctrine of Non-Self (An-tman) 4.3.1 Breaking Down the False Sense of Self: the Five Aggregates and Impermanence 4.3.2 The Elements (Dharmas) 4.3.3 Countering the Breakdown of Self: Personal Continuity 4.3.4 Explications of Continuity: Pseudo-Selves and Ersatz -tmans 4.4 Summary   Chapter 5      The Four Truths 5.1 The First Truth: Stress 5.2 The Second Truth: the Continual Arising of Stress and Interdependent Origination 5.2.1 The Double Bind of Säs-ra 5.3 The Third Truth: the Cessation of Stress - Nirv--a 5.4 The Fourth Truth: the Path to the Cessation of Stress 5.4.1 Moral Discipline 5.4.2 Meditation 5.4.3 Wisdom 5.5 Other Systematizations of the Path 5.5.1 The Seven Factors Conducive to Enlightenment 5.5.2 The Graduated Training 5.5.3 The Four Divine Abidings 5.5.4 The Four Fruits of the Path 5.6 Summary   Chapter 6      The Establishment and Character of the Early Buddhist Community 6.1 Monastic-Lay Interactions 6.1.1 D-na (Giving) and Other Forms of Making Merit 6.1.2 Lay Ethics 6.1.3 Magical Protection 6.1.4 Laypersons and the Monastic Rules 6.1.5 Royal Supporters 6.1.6 King A-oka 6.2 The Monastics: Wandering and Settling 6.2.1 Monastic Lifestyles 6.2.2 Monasteries 6.3 Mah-praj-pat- and the Establishment of the Order of Nuns 6.4 Common Moral Commitments 6.5 Initiation Rituals: Wandering Forth and Ordination 6.6 Monastic Rules 6.6.1 The Elaboration of the Disciplinary Code 6.6.2 Enforcement of the Rules: Pr-timok-a Recitation and Prav-räa 6.7 Some Exemplary Disciples of the Buddha 6.7.1 --riputra and Maudgaly-yana 6.7.2 Pä-c-r- 6.7.3 The Laypersons Nakulapit- and Nakulam-t- 6.7.4 Vi--kh-, Preeminent Laywoman 6.8 Summary   Chapter 7      Visions and Divisions of the Sägha 7.1 Council Stories 7.1.1 The Council at R-jag-ha 7.1.2 Vinaya Disputes: the Council of Vai--l- 7.1.3 The Councils of P--aliputra 7.1.4 Other Council Traditions 7.2 The Flowering of Mainstream Factionalism 7.3 Other Divisional Issues 7.3.1 Practice vs. Study 7.3.2 Meditators and Merit Makers 7.3.3 Forest Monks and Town Monks 7.3.4 The Question of Asceticism 7.3.5 The Question of Bon-Vivant Monks 7.3.6 Sect vs. Sect 7.4 The Origins of the Mah-y-na 7.5 Proliferation of Mah-y-na Schools 7.5.1 Mah-y-na Schools in India 7.5.2 Mah-y-na Schools in China 7.5.3 Mah-y-na Schools in Japan 7.5.4 Mah-y-na Schools in Tibet 7.6 Summary   Part II: Further Elaborations of the Triple Gem Chapter 8      Mah-y-na and Vajray-na Ways of Meeting the Buddha/s 8.1 Changes in the View of the Buddha: the Lotus S-tra and --kyamuni's Lifespan 8.2 Three Bodies of the Buddha/s 8.3 Meeting the Buddha/s in Their Pure Lands 8.3.1 Ak-obhya 8.3.2 Bhai-ajyaguru 8.4 Amit-bha 8.4.1 Meeting Amit-bha through Visualization 8.4.2 Rebirth in the Pure Land 8.5 Meeting the Buddha in the Great Bodhisattvas 8.5.1 Avalokite-vara 8.5.2 Other Great Bodhisattvas 8.6 Meeting the Buddha/s in the Vajray-na 8.6.1 Mä-alas and the Five Tath-gatas 8.6.2 Ritual Consecration (Abhi-eka) 8.6.3 Merging with the Buddha 8.6.4 Visions: Meeting the Buddha/s in Bardo 8.6.5 Buddha Embodiments in This World: Gurus and Tülkus 8.7 Summary   Chapter 9      M-h-yana Doctrinal Developments 9.1 Emptiness: the Selflessness of Dharmas 9.2 N-g-rjuna and the Madhyamaka 9.3 The Expansion of Provisional Truth: Expedient Means (Up-ya) 9.4 Tiantai Doctrines 9.5 The Ongoing Dialectic: the Yog-c-ra School 9.5.1 Asanga and Vasubandhu and the Development of the School 9.5.2 Yog-c-ra Doctrines 9.6 Avatäsaka Doctrines 9.6.1 Applications of Interpenetration 9.7 The Buddha Womb/Embryo (Tath-gatagarbha) Teachings 9.7.1 Resurgence of the True Self 9.8 Buddha-Nature Controversies 9.8.1 Limitations to the Buddha-Nature: the Icchantika Debate 9.8.2 The End of the Dharma 9.8.3 Expansions of the Buddha-Nature Doctrine 9.9 Summary   Chapter 10      The Bodhisattva Path, Tantra, and Zen 10.1 The Bodhisattva Path 10.2 Sudden and Gradual 10.2.1 Disagreements over the Nature of the Path: the Debate at Samyé 10.2.2 Disagreements over the Nature of Enlightenment 10.3 Graduated Paths 10.3.1 Compassion and Bodhicitta 10.3.2 The Stages of the Path, the Perfections, the Five Paths 10.3.3 Routinization and Ritualization 10.4 Path Shortcuts 10.5 Tantra 10.5.1 Uniting the Poles 10.5.2 Tantric Physiology 10.5.3 Mah-m-dra and Dzokchen (Rdzogs chen) 10.6 Direct Experiences: Chan/Zen 10.6.1 K-ans 10.6.2 Critical Phrases (Huatou) 10.7 Summary   Chapter 11      Sägha Situations: Places, Persons, and Practices in Thai Buddhism/s 11.1 Buddhism in Thailand 11.2 Thai Monastic Life: Temporary Ordination 11.2.1 Life as a Novice 11.2.2 Experiences as a Monk 11.3 The Lives of Two Charismatic Thai Monks 11.3.1 Acharn Mun 11.3.2 Khruba Siwichai 11.4 The End of the Rains-Retreat in a Northern Thai Village 11.5 A Thai Temple in Wimbledon, England   Chapter 12      Sägha Situations: Places, Persons, and Practices in Japanese Buddhism/s 12.1 The Hexagonal Hall (Rokkakud-) 12.1.1 Prince Sh-toku 12.1.2 Shinran 12.1.3 Kannon, Jiz-, and Fud- 12.2 The Ritual Year at Shinnyod- 12.2.1 New Year's 12.2.2 --kin- and the Recitation of the Great Perfection of Wisdom S-tra 12.2.3 Main Hall Rituals 12.2.4 Goma 12.2.5 The Killing Stone 12.3 The Ry-anji Rock Garden 12.4 The Buddha's Birthday at the Morgan Bay Zend- 12.5 The Japan Temple in Lumbin- 12.6 Conclusion   Chapter 13      Sägha Situations: Places, Persons, and Practices in Tibetan Buddhism/s 13.1 Lhasa Jokhang 13.1.1 Pinning Down the Demoness 13.1.2 Flood Control 13.1.3 Grand Prostrations 10.1.4 The Great Prayer Festival 13.2 The Potala and the Dalai Lamas 13.2.1 Finding a New Dalai Lama 13.3 Scholars and Mad Saints 13.3.1 Drepung Monastery and Monastic Studies 13.3.2 Mad Monks: the Case of Tangtong Gyalpo 13.4 Samding: Female Incarnations and a Contemporary Buddhist 13.5 A Tibetan Dharma Center in Vermont, U.S.A. 13.6 Conclusion   Appendices Appendix A: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in India Appendix B: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Sri Lanka Appendix C: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Myanmar (Burma) Appendix D: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Cambodia Appendix E: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Thailand Appendix F: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in China Appendix G: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Japan Appendix H: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Vietnam Appendix I: A Short Chronology of Buddhism in Tibet   Bibliography of Works Cited Index