Buddhism: The Path to Nirvana (Religious Traditions of the World)

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 160 pages
• Published by: Waveland Press April 1998
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1577660137
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1577660132
• Book Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.4 x 0.5 inches
• Weighs: 6.4 ounces

Product Description
A captivating guide to Buddhism! Robert C. Lester provides an expert introduction to the diversified beliefs, traditions, and practices of Buddhism. Tracing Buddhism's historical development, Lester identifies its central concepts--the Buddha, the Dharma, the Sangha, Nirvana, Karma--and describes the path to enlightenment through charity, moral discipline, and meditation. He looks at Buddhism's enduring characteristics and its essential logic as a world view. Lester's rare approach explores the relationship between philosophical and practical Buddhism and, more importantly, the relationship between monastic and lay Buddhism. Moving from history to ideal to concrete practice, he vividly portrays the two major traditions of Buddhism--the Theravada as practiced in a Thai village and the Mahayana as experienced in a Japanesemonastery of the Zen sect. Lester draws upon the best scholarship, working the insights of historians, textual scholars, and anthropologists into a highly readable and captivating guide.

Publisher Description
Traces Buddhism's historical development, identifies its central concepts, and describes the path to enlightenment through charity, moral discipline, and meditation. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Reader Reviews
This review is from: Buddhism: The Path to Nirvana (Religious Traditions of the World) (Paperback) Lester has provided a servicable introduction to Buddhism, as one volume in a set of such works by the publisher introducing the major world religions. As such, it covers the basic history and beliefs of the faith in a survey manner at a level good for the general public, but below what a college or university course should require. There are no real surprises for anyone who has read a couple other books like this, but for the curious person on the street, it's a good starting point.