Buddhism and Immortality (Paperback)

by William Sturgis Bigelow (Author) "THE view of the Immortality of Man which I have the privilege of stating is, broadly speaking, that of the Buddhist religion..." (more)
Key Phrases: sensory consciousness

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
1908. This work is taken from the Ingersoll Lecture series. The view of immortality of man is, broadly speaking, that of the Buddhist religion. Buddhism, like many other great religions, is divided into main churches and subdivided into sects. These divisions in Buddhism are commonly called the Northern and the Southern Buddhism. The Northern has its center in the north of India, in Nepal; while the Southern is centered in Ceylon.

About the Author
About the Author:

"William Sturgis Bigelow (1850-1926) was a doctor and great American collector of Japanese art. He was one of the first Americans to live in Japan, and to introduce the American public to Japanese art and culture. He was also among those who worked to establish protections for Japanese art during a time when the Japanese were willing to sell or destroy elements of their own traditional culture in a fervor of Westernization and modernization.

A brilliant medical student, Bigelow received his degree in medicine from Harvard University in 1874, and continued his medical studies in Europe for five years, under Louis Pasteur. Though his primary interest was, accordingly, bacteriology, his father was a surgeon, and so he was pressured to perform surgery as well.

Instead, in 1882, Bigelow traveled to Japan with Ernest Fenollosa and Edward Sylvester Morse. This may have been intended originally as simply a vacation from the world of medicine, but in the end, Bigelow remained in Japan for seven years. There, he became an art collector, and traveled the country for some time, exploring it and studying its culture, art, and religion. Bigelow would eventually convert to Buddhism. He also contributed financially to the establishment of the Nihon Bijutsu-in (Japan Fine Arts Academy), which was founded by his friend and ofttimes traveling companion Okakura Kakuzo.

As a result of the determination of Fenollosa and Morse, as well as their special authorizations under the Japanese government, Bigelow was able to explore parts of Japan closed to outside viewers for centuries. The group visited the Shoso-in (Treasure House) of Todai-ji, viewing hidden treasures of Emperor Shomu, and being granted a few shards of pottery, the only items belonging to the Shoso-in known to currently reside outside of it. Among the many many other items he obtained during his time in Japan were a set of gilt bronze statues from Horyu-ji, of the historical Buddha and attendants, known as the Shaka Trinity statues, and a mandala from the Hokke-do (Lotus Sutra Hall) of Todai-ji, one of the oldest Japanese paintings to ever leave Japan.

An experienced photographer, Bigelow recorded many of the sights he and his companions came across. As Fenollosa and Okakura were granted authority by the Japanese government to open temple rooms and storehouses unopened for centuries, i --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 84 pages
• Publisher: Kessinger Publishing (March 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076614531X
• ISBN-13: 978-0766145313
• Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 8.3 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
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• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,915,730 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)