BUDDHA AND THE GOSPEL OF BUDDHISM

by Ananda Coomaraswamy ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 13, 1964

First printed in 1916, this work was re-issued in 1927, and again now without change. Trained in science, the author was associated with the Boston Museum of Fine Arts from 1916 until his death, at 70, in 1947. Aldous Huxley accredited him with ""unique importance as a mediator between East and West."" The book contains five sections: A life of the Buddha, an exposition of the Gospel of early Buddhism, and then of contemporary systems, the Mahayana development, and finally, Buddhist Art. The author's purpose was to consider the Buddhist systems in relation to the Brahmanical systems in which they originate, and to analogous systems of Christian mysticism as found in such mon as Ruysbroeck, Eckhart, and Bochme. Anticapitalist, he Gandhi's doctrine of poverty. As early as 1938, he looked with suspicion on popular forms of Buddhism circulating in the West. The book continues to be a solid exposition of Buddhistic thought and its reissue should be timely in view of current approchment between the West and Eastern religious systems. Some twenty plates-add interest and value.

Pub Date: March 13, 1964

ISBN: 0766176304

Page Count: -

Publisher: University Books

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 1964

Categories: NONFICTION