Book Title: Buddha as God: The Doctrine of Buddha in Indian Buddhist Thought
Author: Paul J. Griffiths
Publisher: Sri Satguru Publications
Language: English
Edition: 1995
ISBN: 9788170304494
Pages: 264
Cover: Hardcover
Dimensions: 23 cm x 14 cm
Weight: 400 gm
About the Book
In this insightful work, Paul J. Griffiths explores the nature of the Buddha within the context of Indian Buddhist thought. The book tackles fundamental questions such as: What is it like to be a Buddha? Is there only one Buddha, or are there many? What can Buddhas do, and what do they know? Can they do or know anything they choose? Through a philosophical lens, Griffiths examines the conceptual dilemmas faced by Buddhist thinkers when theorizing about the Buddha, offering critical analysis of doctrines developed between the 3rd and 9th centuries CE.
Drawing on original sources in their original languages, this is the first book in a Western language to explore the intricacies of Buddha's doctrinal attributes from an analytical standpoint. The author brings to light how Buddhist thinkers, driven by the notion that Buddha must be maximally perfect, encountered conceptual challenges that echo Western theistic debates. These philosophical explorations are systematically laid out to showcase the depth and analytical rigor of Indian Buddhist thought.
Accessible to both specialists and nonspecialists, the book makes a significant contribution to the study of Buddhist philosophy, presenting material largely underexplored in Western scholarship. It critically addresses not only Buddhist conceptualizations of divinity but also sheds light on how such concepts relate to broader human ways of conceptualizing the divine.
Griffiths' work is praised for its remarkable new insights into Buddhist philosophy and its importance to the field of comparative religion.
About the Author
Paul J. Griffiths is an Associate Professor in the Divinity School and in the Department of South Asian Languages and Civilizations at the University of Chicago. His previous publications include works on Buddhist philosophy such as On Being Mindless and The Realm of Awakening, and on cross-cultural philosophy and theology, notably An Apology for Apologetics. His scholarly contributions have significantly advanced the study of Buddhist thought in both historical and philosophical contexts.
Preface
In the preface, Griffiths lays the foundation for his exploration by defining the concept of doctrine and its relevance to cross-cultural studies in the philosophy of religion. He highlights the importance of understanding the doctrinal discourse of Indian Buddhism, particularly the discussions surrounding the attributes of Buddha, and compares this discourse to the Christology in Christian thought. The work is an attempt to offer a critical and systematic analysis of how Indian Buddhists conceptualized Buddha, using doctrine as both a category and analytical tool to understand religious development in India.
This approach allows the author to examine how doctrinal positions related to Buddha evolved, reflecting the intellectual atmosphere of the time, and challenges traditional assumptions about Indian philosophy.
