This extensively researched and illustrated volume offers Western readers a rare introduction to Buddhism's complex and fascinating views about the structure of the universe. The book begins by clearly explaining classical cosmology, with its symmetrical, India-centered universe and multitudinous heavens and hells, and illuminates the cosmos's relation to the human concerns of karma, transmigration, and enlightenment. It moves on to discuss the Mahayana conception of the universe as a lotus flower containing uncountable realms, each with its own buddha. Then, examining changes in the notions of hell and the gods, the author traces Buddhism's gradual shift from a religion to a mythology. Throughout, treatment of Buddhism's historical, geographical, and doctrinal origins complements detailed cosmological descriptions. Finally, the author shows us how this ancient philosophy resembles the modern scientific view of the cosmos, and how even today it can help us lead more fulfilling lives.
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13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Detailed, to say the least,
By Sean Hoade (South Bend, IN) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Buddhist Cosmology: Philosophy and Origins (Paperback)
The author does an excellent job of making clear what the ancient Buddhists thought about the structure of the universe. The only lack the book really has is that of perspective, leaving one to wonder what this has to say about modern Buddhism in the face of cosmological advances, but the author makes up for this in the book's masterful final chapter.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A unique and detailed handbook with a ton of info!,
By Ted Biringer "Author of The Flatbed Sutra of ... (Anacortes, Washington United States) - See all my reviews Anyone interested in an reference book that provides an extensive overview of Buddhist Cosmology need look no further! Beginning with an overview of the pre-Buddhist landscape of India, this book explores, and details how the "universe" of Buddhism arose, and developed throughout the history of Buddhism. With a plethora of illustrations, diagrams and photos, the whole variety of Buddhist Cosmology is offered at the turn of a page. This book, presents, defines, and explains the development of a wide variety of Buddhist universal elements including heavens and hells, Bodhisattvas, Buddhas, Devas. The various "worlds" and "realms" of Buddhism, along with its beings-sentient and insentient-are described and explained in one coherent and accssible volume. Great Job!
3.0 out of 5 stars
not what I was looking for,
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This review is from: Buddhist Cosmology: Philosophy and Origins (Paperback)
The author indeed provides a lot of info about ancient Buddhist cosmological models. There isn't a whole lot on the "philosophy" part though - the author provides a lot of details but not much on why I should be interested in them. I was hoping this book would elucidate some deeper meanings in these models, but again and again you're just presented a bunch of facts presented rather indifferently, almost getting a sense that the author himself finds the material boring and uninspiring. If you're simply looking for reference material on Buddhist cosmogonies and/or are interested in them simply for their own sake, I'd say this is would be a good purchase for you.
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Inside This Book
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Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs):
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first dhyana, second dhyána, four great kings, four landmasses, one great kalpa, intermediate kalpas, fragrant ocean, great kalpas, wind circle, hungry spirits Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mount Sumeru, Pure Land, Lotus Repository World, Mahayana Buddhism, Flower Garland Sutra, Group of Discourses, Kalpa of Duration, Nadi Vaitarani, Kalpa of Nothingness, Decay of the Dharma, Sri Lanka, Central Asia, Amitabha Buddha, Kalpa of Creation, Lovely View, Second Dhyana, Lake Anavatapta, Indus Valley, Vairocana Buddha, Kalpa of Dissolution, Repository of Undefiled Flames Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
first dhyana, second dhyána, four great kings, four landmasses, one great kalpa, intermediate kalpas, fragrant ocean, great kalpas, wind circle, hungry spirits Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Mount Sumeru, Pure Land, Lotus Repository World, Mahayana Buddhism, Flower Garland Sutra, Group of Discourses, Kalpa of Duration, Nadi Vaitarani, Kalpa of Nothingness, Decay of the Dharma, Sri Lanka, Central Asia, Amitabha Buddha, Kalpa of Creation, Lovely View, Second Dhyana, Lake Anavatapta, Indus Valley, Vairocana Buddha, Kalpa of Dissolution, Repository of Undefiled Flames Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
14
books
cite this book:
See all 14 books citing this book
- A Buddhist Kaleidoscope: Essays on the Lotus Sutra by Nichiko Niwano on page 197, and page 417
- Introducing Buddhism (World Religions (Routledge)) by Charles Prebish on page 25
- The Hidden History of the Tibetan Book of the Dead by Bryan J. Cuevas in Back Matter
- The Foundations of Buddhism (Opus) by Rupert Gethin in Back Matter
- Samadhi: The Numinous And Cessative in Indo-tibetan Yoga (S U N Y Series in Religious Studies) by Stuart Ray Sarbacker in Back Matter
See all 14 books citing this book
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