The Different Paths of Buddhism: A Narrative-Historical Introduction

by Carl Olson and Olson

Book Overview

For centuries, Buddhist teachers and laypeople have used stories, symbols, cultural metaphors, and anecdotes to teach and express their religious views. In this introductory textbook, Carl Olson draws on these narrative traditions to detail the development of Buddhism from the life of the historical Buddha to the present. By organizing the text according to the structure of Buddhist thought and teaching, Olson avoids imposing a Western perspective...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 081353562X
• ISBN13: 9780813535623
• Release Date: January 2005
• Publisher: Rutgers University Press
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.23 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

The history of Buddhism's various branches

Distinguished professor of religious studies Carl Olson presents The Different Paths of Buddhism: A Narrative-Historical Introduction, a comprehensive introduction to the various branches of Buddhist tradition in both the Mahayana and Theravada schools, including the the Madhyamika school, the Yogacara school Pure Land devotionalism, Tibetan Tantric Buddhism, Zen Buddhism, and village folk Buddhist traditions. Chapters explore recurring themes in Buddhist narratives, philosophy and ethics in context, detailed technical examinations, scrutiny of the history of various schools, and much more. A smattering of black-and-white photographs illustrate this scholarly evaluation, ideal for those interested in acquainting themselves with the history of Buddhism's various branches.