Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo [Paperback]

Richard Gombrich (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0415075858 | ISBN-13: 978-0415075855 | Publication Date: February 25, 1988 | Edition: 2

Theravada is the branch of Buddhism found in Sri Lanka and parts of South East Asia. The Buddha preached in north-east India in the fifth-century BC. He claimed that human beings are responsible for their own salvation, and put forward a new ideal of the holy life, establishing a monastic Order to enable men and women to pursue that ideal. For most of its history, the fortunes of Theravada have been identified with those of that Order. Under the great Indian emperor, Asoka, himself a Buddhist, Theravada reached Sri Lanka in about 250 BC. There it became the religion of the Sinhala state and from there it spread, much later, to Burma and Thailand. Widely recognized as the classic introduction to the field, Richard Gombrich's book shows how Theravada Buddhism has influenced and been influenced by its social surroundings. He explores the influences of the Buddha's predecessors, as well as the social and religious contexts against which Buddhism has developed and changed throughout history. This revised and updated new edition incorporates recent research, including recent controversies over the date of the Buddha and reflects recent social and political developments in Sri Lanka.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"An excellent and exciting introduction to the social history of Buddhism . . . This book will be useful to scholars and students in both Buddhist studies and the social sciences." -- Choice

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 2 edition (February 25, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0415075858
• ISBN-13: 978-0415075855
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,418,731 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #69 in Books > History > Asia > Sri Lanka

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding social history of Buddhism in ancient India and Sri Lanka, April 9, 2009

By 

Elizabeth A. Gibson (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo (Paperback)

Gombrich is an excellent writer, his prose clear and precise. In this book, he does a great job of explaining how Buddhism grew out of the Buddha's responses to the various religious and spiritual options available in 500-400 b.c. India, including Brahmanism and various types of renouncers and ascetics. Fascinating! Gombrich also does an excellent job of explaining the specific spiritual problems Gotama attempted to address with his philosophy and practice. Very highly recommended.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, June 30, 2010

By 

Nick (Switzerland) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Theravada Buddhism: A Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo (Paperback)

If you're interested in the origins of Buddhism, with a thorough exposition of its social parameters, this is the book for you. From the Buddha's relation to Brahminism and the evolution of the religious order founded by him, this book covers it all, including the arrival of Europeans and how Theravada Buddhism reacted to it.

Personally, I started reading this book to know about Theravada Buddhism per se, not so much its social history, but even then I found much to be interesting and helpful for an understanding of Buddhism in general.

The writing is excellent, precise, to the point, and informative.