He is the author of buddhism penguin, 2000, ri 2002 and modern buddhism penguin, 2002. Collects over one thousand primary texts from the worlds six major religions, including foundational works as well as pieces by scholars, seekers, believers, and skeptics from throughout the histories of each of those traditions. Tibetan buddhism and the west u of chicago press, 1998, won the american academy of religion award for excellence in the study of religion last year. A new buddha appears in the world only when the teachings of the previous buddha have been completely forgotten, with no remnanta text, a statue, the ruins of a pagoda, or even a reference in a dictionaryremaining. Lopez reveals the incredible diversity of buddhist teaching and practice over the course of its history and the regions to which it spread. But his writing is not at all daunting or offputting in the way academic prose can be. The scientific buddha has served his purpose, lopez argues. This volume is testimony to the vast scope of buddhist practice in asia, past and present. Much of what we hear about buddhism today in the west focuses on its philosophy, and how it can change ones life. Donald lopez shows that the western focus on the scientific buddha threatens to bleach buddhism of its vibrancy, complexity, and power, even as the superficial focus on mindfulness turns buddhism into merely the latest selfhelp movement. Apr 05, 2017 professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan, donald s. The heart sutra is perhaps the most famous buddhist text, traditionally regarded as a potent expression of emptiness and of the buddhas perfect wisdom. In this compelling introduction and short history, lopez tells the strange story of how a relatively obscure and malleable collection of buddhist texts of. This anthology, first published in 1995, illustrates the vast scope of buddhist practice in asia, past and present.
Tibetan buddhism and the west, and key religious texts by his holiness the dalai lama. Air force pilot and smithsonian institution official donald lopez. Using the surviving fragments of hyechos travel memoir, along with numerous other textual and visual sources, lopez imagines the thriving buddhist world the monk explored. Originally published in 1998, prisoners of shangrila provided the first cultural history of the strange encounter between tibetan buddhism and the west. Whether youve loved the book or not, if you give your honest and detailed thoughts then people will find new books that are right for them. Prisoners of shangrila if you want a more inside, critical understanding of tibetan buddhism. Your first choice is one of the most important texts in east asian buddhism, the lotus sutra. In fact, lopez argues, evanswentzs book is much more american than tibetan. Lopez is available at in several formats for your ereader. It has provoked widespread discussion and sometimes heated debate among scholars. Buddhist scholar donald lopez picks the best books on buddhism.
He has written extensively on aspects of religions of asia, and his books include prisoners of shangila. A ccording to buddhist doctrine, there can be only one buddha for each historical age. Donald lopez is one of our best scholars of buddhism, and i wouldnt begin to presume to question his factual grasp of the the history of the dharma or the life and teachings of the buddha. Donald lopez is professsor of buddhist and tibetan studies in the department of asian languages and cultures, university of michigan. A major landmark of religious publishing and one to be widely welcomed. While buddhism has no central text comparable to the bible or koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of the buddha. Donald s lopez jr recommends the best books on buddhism. Pdf meditation buddhism and science download full pdf. It is regarded as canonical by all schools of buddhism, but in the absence of evidence from outside the buddhist sutras some scholars have. He was educated at the university of virginia, receiving a b. The tibetan book of the dead princeton university press. This engaging introduction to buddhism by leading buddhist scholar donald s. The scientific buddha was sent into battle against christian missionaries, who were proclaiming across asia.
The scientific buddha was sent into battle against christian missionaries, who were proclaiming across asia that buddhism was a form of superstition. He is married to another prominent religious studies scholar, tomoko masuzawa. Pdf the tibetan book of the dead download read online. The tibetan book of the dead isbn 97806914352 pdf epub.
See all 7 formats and editions hide other formats and editions. He has also edited a number of books by the dalai lama. Yet, as acclaimed writer and scholar of buddhism donald lopez writes, the tibetan book of the dead is not really tibetan, it is not really a book, and it is not really about death. His publications include the story of buddhism and, as editor, buddhism in practice. This brief, seemingly simple work was the subject of more commentaries in asia than any other sutra. He is the author and editor of many books on buddhism, including buddhism in practice and prisoners of shangrila. The professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan discusses the dalai lama stepping down as the political leader of the tibetan government in exile and europes links to buddhism. Withhyechos journey, eminent scholar of buddhism donald s. Son of the deputy director of the smithsonian national air and space museum donald s.
Keywords scientism, religion, positivism, metaphysics, donald s. Of course, this is why, we suppose you to click the link page to check out, then you could take pleasure in guide the story of buddhism. This book tells the story of the scientific buddha, born in europe in the 1800s but. The central character in this story is walter evanswentz 18781965, an eccentric scholar and spiritual seeker from trenton, new jersey, who, despite not knowing the tibetan language and never visiting the country, crafted and named the tibetan book of the dead. Buddhism, religion and philosophy that developed from the doctrines of the buddha, a teacher who lived in northern india between the mid6th and mid4th centuries bce. Includes index a hymn of praise to the buddhas good qualities paul j. A concise guide to its history and teachings donald s. Donald lopezs the story of buddhism is a concise, readable introduction to the intellectual history of buddhism.
Did buddhism modify the cultures to which it was introduced, or did they modify buddhism. That was really a time when buddhist texts were making their way to europe and scholars were learning sanskrit and chinese, and it was really. The first buddhist council was a gathering of senior monks of the buddhist order convened just after gautama buddhas death in c. In this lecture, donald lopez provided a history of the various associations of buddhism with science, beginning with the polemical responses of buddhist monks to christian missionaries in. The joy of living and dying in peace, the way to freedom, and awakening. Buddhism has played a central role in the spiritual, cultural, and social life of asia, and, beginning in the 20th century, it spread to the west.
While buddhism has no central text such as the bible or the koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of buddha. Lopez jr i typically trace the beginning of buddhist studies in the west to eugene burnouf and his publication in 1844 of a work called an introduction to the history of indian buddhism. The joy of living and dying in peace, the way to freedom, and awakening the. In elaborations on emptiness, donald lopez explores for the first time the elaborate. The best books on buddhism five books expert recommendations. The norton anthology of world religions book summary. Pdf the tibetan book of the dead download read online free. His many books include the story of buddhism harperone and prisoners of shangrila. Project muse critical terms for the study of buddhism. Link distinguished university professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan. Mar 25, 2004 donald lopez is professsor of buddhist and tibetan studies in the department of asian languages and cultures, university of michigan.
His book the story of buddhism considers the actual practice of. It is particularly famous in east asia, but it was very important in india where it was composed and tibet as well. This book tells the story of the scientific buddha, born in europe in the 1800s but commonly confused with the buddha born in india 2,500 years ago. Donald lopez reveals here fanciful misconceptions of tibetan life and religion. Professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan, donald s.
Buddhism introductions, anthologies and dictionaries. While buddhism has no central text such as the bible or the koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across asia that encompasses the dharma, or the t. Jul 26, 20 in this lecture, donald lopez provided a history of the various associations of buddhism with science, beginning with the polemical responses of buddhist monks to christian missionaries in the. Belser professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan. William dalrymple, new york times the norton anthology of world religions offers a beautifully designed library of more than 1,000 primary texts, accompanied by headnotes, annotations, glossaries, maps, illustrations, chronologies, and a dazzling general introduction by pulitzer prize winner jack miles. Link distinguished university professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan, in the department of asian languages and cultures. Donald s lopez, jr this anthology illustrates the vast scope of buddhist practice in asia, past and present, by presenting a selection of fortyeight translated texts including hagiographies, monastic rules, pilgrimage. Swearer sutra on the merit of bathing the buddha daniel boucher reading others minds carl bielefeldt the prayer of the original buddha matthew kapstein myoes letter to the island george j.
Buddhism has no central text comparable to the bible or koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of the buddha. Pdf norton anthology of world religions pdf download. Donald lopez, a professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan, is one of the best scholars who attempt to present a balanced, accurate picture of buddhism as it has been practiced over the generations. The story of the gathering is recorded in the vinaya pitaka of the theravadins and sanskrit buddhist schools. In this compelling introduction and short history, lopez tells the strange. Other readers will always be interested in your opinion of the books youve read. A short history of the buddha buddhism and modernity kindle edition by donald s. Donald lopez s recent book, prisoners of shangrila. Donald s lopez jr recommends the best books on buddhism the professor of buddhist and tibetan studies at the university of michigan discusses the dalai lama stepping down as the political leader of the tibetan government in exile and europes links to buddhism.