The context for the first part of this study is the community (sangha) of early Buddhism in India; as it is reflected in the religion's canon composed in the Pali language; which is preserved by the Theravada tradition as the only authentic record of the words of the Buddha and his disciples; as well as of events within that community. This book does not assert that the Pali Canon represents any sort of "original" Buddhism; but it maintains that it reflects issues and concerns of this religious community in the last centuries before the Common Era. The events focused on in part one of this study revolve around diversity and debate with respect to proper soteriology; which in earliest Buddhist communities entails what paths of practice successfully lead to the religion's final goal of nibbana (Sanskrit: nirvana). One of the main theses of this study is that some of the vocational and soteriological tensions and points of departure of the early community depicted in the Pali Canon have had a tendency to crop up in the ongoing Theravada tradition in Sri Lanka; which forms the second part of the study. In particular; part two covers first a vocational bifurcation in the Sri Lankan that has existed at least from the last century of the Common Era to contemporary times; and second a modern debate held between two leading voices in Theravada Buddhism; on the subject of what constitutes the right meditative path to nibbana.With a few notable exceptions; both members of Theravada Buddhism and the scholars who have studied them have maintained that the Pali Canon; and the ongoing tradition that has grown out of it; has a singular soteriology. The aim of this study is to deconstruct tradition; in the simple sense of revealing the tradition's essential multiplicity. Prior to this study; past scholarship--which preferred to portray early Indian and Theravada Buddhsim as wholly rationalist systems--has shied away from giving ample treatment on the noble person who possesses supernormal powers. This book examines the dichotomy between two Theravada monastic vocations that have grown out of tensions discussed in part one. The bifurcation is between the town-dwelling scholar monk and the forest-dwelling meditator monk. Scholars have certainly recognized this split in the sangha before; but this is the first attempt to completely compare their historical roles side by side. This is an important book for collections in Asian studies; Buddhist studies; history; and religious studies.
#441532 in Books 2014-10-01 2014-10-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.50 x .80 x 5.50l; .0 #File Name: 1600789978352 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A Must Read for Clemson FansBy Ashley RoseBought this for my husband and he loved is. He'd heard some of the stories on the Clemson radio show but he enjoys having them in text and some were new to him. A fun; lighthearted read for a Clemson fan5 of 6 people found the following review helpful. For the Clemson loverBy A. GleesonI purchased this book as a gift for my husband. He is not a reader; but lives in a family were myself and the kids are always reading something new. The hope was he would find this book interesting enough to at least review a few facts. However; to my surprise he started reading it and truly enjoyed the stories and facts. He loves Clemson; his blood runs orange. So; many of the facts he already knew; but the stories were well written in great detail. The best part for him was the book does not need to be read from cover to back. A reader can just read on certain topics or periods. The book contains even the most current topics.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Go Tigers!By C. ElliottMy husband loves the trivia presented. Die hard fans will still learn a few things about Tiger history.
