WORLD OF THE BUDDHA: A Reader

A reader meant mainly for the newcomer to Buddhism which proceeds chronologically from the 2500 year old Jakata tales concerning the Buddha's previous states and existence, the life itself through sermons, parables and discourses long and short, most involving the Buddha, some his disciples, from both canonical and noncanonical Pali literature of the Thereavada school, to the literature of Mahayana (the greater vehicle) Buddhism in translation from Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, Japanese, Lao, to the latest Chart and Zen poems. Professor Stryck, a Zen expert at Northern University, introduces the major aspects of Buddhism, comments on its meaning for modern man: ""Buddhism, better than most religions, seems to have adapted to modern life, many. considering it to be, among other things, not only a method of self-discovery but a source of ideas for social orientation without equal in the West."" An open window on the East, a good introduction.