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Buddhist Studies from India to America covers four important areas of Buddhist Studies: Vinaya Studies and Ethics, the history of Buddhist schools, Western Buddhism, and Inter-religious dialogue. These are the main areas which Charles S. Prebish has either inaugurated or helped to define; and his academic career as a leading, international scholar, and his significant professional achievements are celebrated within this volume. The geographical and historical scope of the essays in this collection range from ancient India to modern America, and includes contributions by well-known international scholars. The contributors discuss a variety of academic disciplines including philosophy, psychology, history, feminism, and sociology. It will appeal to scholars whose interests embrace either ancient or modern aspects of the Buddhist tradition.

Introducing Buddhism is the ideal resource for all students beginning the study of this fascinating religion. Charles S. Prebish and Damien Keown, two of today’s leading Buddhist scholars, explain the key teachings of Buddhism, and trace the historical development and spread of the religion from its beginnings down to the present day. A chapter is devoted to each of the major regions where Buddhism has flourished: India, South East Asia, East Asia and Tibet. In addition to this regional focus, the introduction takes contemporary concerns into account, covering important and relevant topics such as Engaged Buddhism, Buddhist Ethics and Buddhism and the Western World, as well as a chapter devoted to Meditation. Introducing Buddhism also includes illustrations, lively quotations from original sources, learning goals, summary boxes, questions for discussion, and suggestions for further reading, to aid study and revision. The accompanying website to this book can be found at http://www.routledge.com/textbooks/0415392357.  

Product Description: From its origins in India over two millennia ago, Buddhism spread throughout Asia and the world. This far-reaching and accessible introduction explains how Buddhism began, developed into its present-day form, and evolved in the West—where it now exerts increasing cultural influence...read more

This illustrated dictionary provides over 2000 clear and concise definitions of every aspect of Buddhism; including coverage of not only historical but also contemporary issues such as human rights, and the role of women. From religious ceremonies to iconography, this dictionary will provide a useful reference source.

Product Description: It is often alleged that religion is a major cause of war and dissent. History is littered with the wreckage of religious conflict, from the crusades onwards, and it is frequently maintained that it is religion which is the tinderbox that ignites so many regional disputes - from Bosnia's ethnic cleansing to the ongoing conflict in Iraq...read more

Product Description: Action Dharma charts the emergence of a new chapter in an ancient faith - the rise of social service and political activism in Buddhist Asia and the West. Fourteen new essays treat the historical origins, global range, teachings and practices, and leaders and organizations that make up the latest turning of the Dharma...read more (view table of contents, read Amazon.com's description)

Buddhism and Bioethics discusses contemporary issues in medical ethics from a Buddhist perspective. The issues examined include abortion, embryo research and euthanasia. Drawing on ancient and modern sources, the book shows how Buddhist ethical principles can be applied consistently to a range of bioethical problems. It is suggested that moral judgements can be objective and that there can be a 'Buddhist view' on ethical issues. (view table of contents)

Product Description: Abortion is arguably the most controversial and divisive moral issue of modern times, but up until now the debate has taken place almost exclusively within a Western cultural, religious and philosophical context. For the past three decades in the West arguments both for and against abortion have been mounted by groups of all kinds, from religious fundamentalists to radical feminists and every shade of opinion in between...read more

Product Description: In this book the author considers data from both early and later schools of Buddhism in an attempt to provide an overall characterization of the structure of Buddhist ethics. The importance of ethics in the Buddha's teachings is widely acknowledged, but the pursuit of ethical ideals has up to now been widely held to be secondary to the attainment of knowledge...read more