An Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism

Language: English
Pages: 233


About the Book

Buddhist is divided into two great schools, Mahayana and Hinayana. Both systems originated in India, but since the former predominates in China, Japan, Nepal and in a modified form, in Tibet and Mongolia, wile the latter is confined almost exclusively to Ceylon, Burma, and Siam, they are often, and rather incorrectly known as Northern and Southern Buddhism.

Mahayana is again divided into unreformed and reformed branches, the unreformed branch being found all over eastern Asia, while the reformed branch has its center in Japan. Roughly, we may compare these divisions of Buddhism to those of the principal Occidental faiths. Hinayana, or the earlier and more primitive form of Buddhism, corresponds to Judaism; Unreformed Mahayana to Catholicism, and Reformed Mahayana to Protestantism.

Present work puts forth the essentials of Mahayana philosophy, in a simple form, and presents a historical outline of the origin and development of Mahayanic ideas and practices.



Contents





INTRODUCTION: THE DOCTRINAL EVOLUTION OF BUDDHISM

EPISTEMOLOGY AND LOGIC




THE NATURE OF THE ABSOLUTE AND ITS RELATION TO THE UNIVERSE




THE TRIKAYA - THE BUDDHIST DOCTRINE OF THE TRINITY




THE NATURE AND POWERS OF BUDDHAHOOD




PSYCHOLOGY - ELEMENTS OF EXISTENCE




THE WHEEL OF LIFE AND THE ROAD TO NIRVANA

CONCLUSION: A SHORT HISTORY OF BUDDHISM AND THE PRINCIPAL BUDDHIST SECTS

APPENDIX: THE SACRED LITERATURE OF THE BUDDHISTS





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