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An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (Introduction to Religion)
 
 

An Introduction to Buddhism: Teachings, History and Practices (Introduction to Religion) (Paperback)

by Peter Harvey (Author) "Indian culture has not been as concerned with recording precise dates as have Chinese or Graeco-Roman culture, so datings can not always be arrived at..." (more)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 396 pages
  • Publisher: Cambridge University Press (25 May 1990)
  • Language English
  • ISBN-10: 0521313333
  • ISBN-13: 978-0521313339
  • Product Dimensions: 21.3 x 13.7 x 2.3 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.co.uk Sales Rank: 27,549 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories:

    #3 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Other Religions > Oriental Churches
    #21 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Philosophy
    #42 in  Books > Society, Politics & Philosophy > Philosophy > Non-Western

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Product Description

Review

"Harvey's An Introduction to Buddhism is an admirably lucid, concise, and comprehensive exposition of the historical development and spread of Buddhism." Teaching Philosophy

"...the most comprehensive and detailed English-language introduction to the entirety of Buddhism in its historical development." Adris

"Peter Harvey's Introduction to Buddhism is to be recommended; in its breadth and scope it is without serious rival as an introductory volume...Harvey is to be congratulated on a rounded and sensitive presentation of Buddhist thought and practice." Times Literary Supplement


Product Description

This book is a comprehensive introduction to the Buddhist tradition as it has developed in three major cultural areas in Asia, and also developed in the West. It is intended to be a textbook for students of religious and Asian studies respectively, but will also be of interest to those who want a general survey of Buddhism and its beliefs. Unlike many other general books about Buddhism, it not only explores Buddhist beliefs, but also seeks to show as a set of practices. It thus includes chapters on devotion, ethics, monastic practices and meditation. Such practices are related to Buddhist teachings and historical developments. Emphasising as it does the diversity found within different Buddhist traditions, the book aims to underline common threads of belief, practice and historical continuities which unify the Buddhist world. Dr Harvey has sought to answer questions that are often asked by people on first meeting the tradition, and in his section on Nirvana offers a novel interpretation of this ultimate, transcendent mystery.

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Indian culture has not been as concerned with recording precise dates as have Chinese or Graeco-Roman culture, so datings can not always be arrived at with accuracy. Read the first page
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Customer Reviews

3 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
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18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A definitive academic introduction, 1 Sep 2002
By A Customer
The author is probably the UK's leading academic in Buddhist Studies based at Sunderland University. Accordingly this is an academic style of book, but easy enough to read for all that, and quite useful for browsing. For those just curious about Buddhism I would recommend 'Principles of Buddhism' by Kulananda, rather than this book. For a hagiography Schumann's 'The Historical Buddha' is a classic. However, for a very good foundation in Buddhism as a world religion in all its flavours this book is hard to beat.
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16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Comprehensive, authoritative, excellent!, 10 Jan 1999
By A Customer
Peter Harvey delivers an introduction to all of the major concepts and developments of Buddhism in one volume. It has an academic, technical tone pitched at a level perfect for the undergraduate or A-level student (it was written for his own students I think). If your interested in a book on Buddhism without all of the aethereal clap-trap this is the one to go for as there is no speculation only opinion and fact. A brillant buy!
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A balanced perspective, 16 Nov 2006
By Sarakani (Harrow United Kingdom) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   
Most books available on Buddhism on bookshelves at the popular level leave a great deal to be desired. Either they are written by people who have had no contact with Buddhism, culturally or by practice (or at best very little practice of the wrong sort) thus taking a literalist approach to translated Buddhist scripts or they are too specialist, providing a view of Buddhism based on only one school or a narrow emphasis, often hawking for influence.

Professor Harvey has both contacted Buddhism culturally and continues to make an honest attempt to put Buddhism into practice. An introduction to Buddhism is one of the best overall introductions to this vast subject now available, superseding equivalent good books which are by now up to 50 years too old. Harvey combines scholarship including a knowledge of Pali and Sanskrit along with sensitivity to the contexts in which the various scriptures can be seen.

In the forest of competing books out now, this one can be recommended without reservation.
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