Buddhism (An Inextricable Part of India's Cultural and Philosophical Heritage) Set of 2 Volumes

Email

Whatsapp

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter

Copy link

The first part of the book throws light on Pre Buddhist India, Buddha and his teachings. Buddhism in India after the Buddha, divisions of Buddhist thought, Buddhist philosophical views, and Siddha tradition of Buddhism while part two is dedicated to Buddhist art, Important Buddhist places in India, important Buddhist education centres of ancient India and Buddhism in the Indian Himalayan region.

Dr. G. K. Lama, Professor, Department of AIHC & Archaeology, Centre of Advanced Study, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, having specialization in the field of Archaeology, Buddhism and Asian Studies, has 32 books in his credit namely Tibet Men Bauddha Dharma Ka Itihas-2004; Samyak Darshan -2004; Cultural Heritage of South-East Asia-2009; Indus to Ganges-2009; Pakkakot: Some New Archaeological Dimensions of Mid-Ganga Plain-2012; Buddhist Cave Temples of Ancient India-2013; A Buddhist Universe-2016; An Archaeological Journey of Nalanda-2018; Art Heritage of Nalanda-2018; India: A Journey from Lithic to Iron-2019; Footprints of the Buddha on the Roof of the World-2020, Glimpses of North-East India-2021, Indian Culture through the Ages-2021, Revealing India's Past-2021, Buddhism on the Silk Route-2022, Mysterious World of Siddhas-2022, The Cult of Adamantine Path-2022, Buddhism A Living Spiritual Force-2022, Indian Archaeology Some New Perspectives-2022, Glimpses of Asian Art Heritage-2023, Indian History A Multidisciplinary Approach-2023, Fusion of Indian Culture on Asia-2023, Unique Features of Buddhist Monasteries-2023, Mahayana Sutra Samgraha-2023, Cultural Heritage of Nepal-2023, India in Chinese Travelogues-2023, Trans Himalayan Buddhism-2023, The Sacred Ganga-2024, Prajna-Jyoti-2024, Yantra-Mantra-Tantra in Buddhism-2024, Archaeological Excavations at Rukhegarh, Nalanda-2024 and Archaeological Investigations in the Ganga Plain, 2025. He has presented 89 research papers in various National and International seminars and 113 research papers have been published in various reputed journals, edited books, conference proceedings and felicitation volumes. He has completed a Major Research Project entitled Archaeological Investigation in and around Nalanda, granted by the University Grants Commission, New Delhi, which was submitted in 2014. The author has also completed 16 projects regarding archaeological investigations in Sikkim, Eastern and Western UP and Bihar with the kind permission of Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi. He has invited twice to Sri Lanka and once to Thailand to deliver special lectures.

Buddhism is a universal religion meant for peace-loving and civilized mankind. It is not meant B for any on one caste, creed or race. The aim behind writing this book is to highlight the religio philosophical and cultural background of Buddhist thought. The contribution of Buddhist thought and culture had been very important and distinct in shaping the religious life of Indian people for 2, 500 years. A lot of printed material is available on this subject but this book is very interesting as well as fresh in its approach. I have tried my best to give update information of the status of Buddhism in India

This book is spread over ten chapters in two parts followed by a glossary and concludes with a select bibliography at the end. In Part-1 there are six chapters. The first chapter throws light on Pre-Buddhist India. A brief description is given about the Buddha and his teachings in the 2nd chapter. The 3rd chapter deals with the status of Buddhism in India after the Buddha. Sufficient light is thrown on the divisions of Buddhist thought in the 4th chapter. Buddhist philosophical views were narrated well in the 5th chapter. Discussion was made on the Siddha tradition of Buddhism in the 6th chapter. Part-II begins with Chapter seven which is based upon Buddhist art. Important Buddhist places in India is the subject of 8th chapter while the 9th chapter of the book is dedicated to the important Buddhist education centres of ancient India. Chapter ten focuses on Buddhism in the Indian Himalayan region followed by a glossary of Buddhist terminologies.

I am indebted to the great Buddhist scholars whose writings helped me a great. I have used their treasure-trove of knowledge. To be more humble, I must say that if there is something good in the book then credit of it goes to those scholars only. I express my thanks to the libraries of Banaras Hindu University, Tibetan Institute, Sarnath, Namgyal Institute, Sikkim, Darbar Library, Kathmandu, Nepal and many others for collecting materials for this book. I reverentially express my personal gratitude to my late parents whose blessings are always with me. I record my deep sense of gratefulness from the core of my heart to my wife Mrs. Abha Rana Lama whose support give me the energy for non-stop study. She helped me while preparing the manuscript of this book. Finally I am thankful to my publisher for the speedy completion of this book.

Buddhism was born on the Indian soil in 6th century BCE. But today Buddhism is the way of life for many all around the world. It has exercised a tremendous impact globally and is therefore indispensable for the understanding of culture, religion and philosophy. It enables people to recognize that the well-being of one self and the well being and love for all is interrelated.

Today Buddhism is not only the religion of many Asian countries but also impressed the Western world. It is also the subject of major ongoing research undertaken in universities worldwide. Buddhism has been instrumental in inculcating the spirit of love and compassion globaly, also its contribution to the world order is invaluable, to Art and Architecture, to culture, to philosophy, mysticism and ecology.

Buddhism took on a new meaning when it disseminated from the land of its birth to other Asian countries. Buddhism has helped to identify the root of contemporary crisis of modern civilization as spiritual crisis of today's human values. The teachings of the Buddha have many norms and values to offer in term of helping readers. Existing world orders create new world order based on justice, love, tolerance and moderation. Certain teachings of the Buddha are unique and perhaps more sensitive than other religions of the big traditions in terms of understanding the very concept of life. The world now has great expectations from Buddhism, as the truth made obvious by Buddhism is the way to define how one should live as a person. Buddhism is wisdom and compassion, life and legend, beauty and bliss, as alive as a river that runs, or as a mountain upon which a glimmer of eternity descends.

The very basis of Buddhism is the thought that all lives are equal. Buddhism does not differentiate among human beings. It promotes mutual respect among all living things, and creates a world where neither victors nor losers are born. The world expects a great deal from Buddhism and we, as people studying Buddhism, must take the initiative to respond. The advent of Buddhism with its focus on Universal Compassion held so much sway on humanity that it attracted many followers and also resulted in refinement in the life style of the followers of other religions.

Siddhartha was born in a class-ridden society. He felt the pulse of the age which was throbbing with dissatisfaction with all spheres of life. He tried to find the reasons for human misery, gaining enlightenment in the process and preached that adherence to the middle path, the path of moderation, was the answer for cessation of suffering. This is relevant even today in a world plagued with political, religious and social turmoil, and probably explains the emergent signs of global interest in Buddhism. In today's perspective Buddha's enlightenment is certainly not a matter of the fabled past. It is an experience of primordial value and is eternally significant as his tenets and teachings continue to inspire. While Buddhism during the last 25 centuries has evolved into various branches of Buddhism, the Theravada, the Mahayana, and Vajrayana, at the core is Nirvana signifying the confluence and assimilation of all the Buddhist schools of thought. Compassion is what the human society needs most roday. The core tenets of Buddhism which is the cessation of suffering through eradication of greed can act as a catalyst to foster universal love and understanding. Today's materialistic world is based on acquisition resulting out of greed. This leads to unhealthy competition which cannot be devoid of pain, the pain of unfulfilled desires. We have a lot to learn by revisiting these core tenants and inculcate them in simple lessons for the younger generation who are turning aggressive and intolerant when things do not go their way. Religious and ethical beliefs shape our views of the world in which we live. If religious values are not an operative factor in international relations today, it is because we have drawn an artificial division between morality, politics and policy. The moral options of our time depend upon our concepts and the role of the individual in our society.

The multiple paradises of Buddhism, the sophistication and abstraction of Buddhist philosophy, the social and moral values harmonising all sectors of society, the opening up of monastic learning to high and low, the ideal beauty of sculptures and paintings in their soft diaphanous colours, and scores of other new syndromes of ideas and living gave a new world-view to Asia. Emperor Asoka initiated a movement whose dynamics can also rejuvenate the renewed image of the future. Asoka's massage was not only a religion, but the noblest form of creativity imbued with spirituality and social values that could endure over time. He gave a human direction to the inner universe in nobility of its meaning for life to be lived in harmony on the family level, in the harmony of sects, and the affinity of the human spirit with the other transcendent reality. He was the beloved of the gods (Devanampiya) that is blessed by them, as well as one who saw to the fulfillment of public welfare (Priyadarshi). Emperor Asoka gave rise to humanism in the Buddhist vision that transcended itself. He sent his emissaries to Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Afghanistan. The tribal ways of these areas were transformed into images of perfection, giving rise to sculptures, temple complexes, governmental institutions, writing, literature, philosophy, and so on. Buddhism became the birthplace of philosophical ideas, and all the influences in art and poetry which determined for two millennia, and still determine the intellectual and spiritual life of millions. It became a tremendous civilizing influence.