Studies of Buddhism

Book Details

• Edited by: G. Prasad

• Publisher: Bhartiya Kala Prakashan

• Edition: 1st

• Language: English

• ISBN: 9788180900709

• Pages: 298

• Cover: Hardcover

• Dimensions: 8.80 x 5.80 inch

• Weight: 540 gm

• Year: 2006

• Country of Origin: India

Author Info:
G. Prasad is an editor and scholar with expertise in the study of Buddhism and its contributions to Indian culture. He is known for his work in bringing together insights about the philosophy, language, and literature of Buddhist traditions and their impact on Indian society.

Foreword:
The All-India celebrations of the twenty-fifth centenary of the great Saint Gautama Buddha served as a moment of reflection on the grandeur of India's cultural heritage and its long-standing connection with Eastern Asia. The contributions of Buddhism to Indian culture span language, literature, art, architecture, and moral and social ideals.

Gautama Buddha, living in an era steeped in iron-clad traditions, faced immense opposition from the entrenched orthodoxy of his time. However, his teachings resonated with both the intellectuals and the masses, introducing a path to salvation that was not reserved for an exclusive few. His teachings emphasized self-reliance and the law of causality, marking significant contributions to Indian religious and philosophical thought.

Philosophy:
Gautama Buddha, raised in the traditional Indian faith, challenged the efficacy of established doctrines in alleviating human suffering. Although many thinkers before him had contemplated the Truth, their ideas did not survive except for those in the Upanishads and Jaina literature. While the Upanishads emphasized a monistic view of the Truth, Buddha adhered to the view that the highest Truth is transcendental, and hence, it can only be described using negative terms, criticizing any attempt to form positive concepts about the ultimate Truth. This concept is expressed in terms of negation rather than affirmation.