Skilful means : a concept in Mahayana Buddhism

Author(s)

Bibliographic Information

Skilful means : a concept in Mahayana Buddhism

Michael Pye

Routledge, 2003

2nd ed

  • : pbk

Available at  / 4 libraries

Search this Book/Journal

Note

First published in 1978

Includes bibliographical references and index

HTTP:URL=http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancements/fy0651/2003045942-d.html Information=Publisher description

Description and Table of Contents

Description

'Skilful Means' is the key principle of Mahayana, one of the great Buddhist traditions. First described in the Lotus Sutra, it originates in myths of the Buddha's compassionate plans for raising life from the ceaseless round of birth and death. His strategies or interventions are 'skilful means' - morally wholesome tricks devised for the purpose of enabling nirvana or enlightenment. Michael Pye's clear and engaging introductory guide investigates the meaning and context of skilful means in Mayahana Buddhist teachings, whilst tracing its early origins in ancient Japanese and Theravada thought. First published in 1978, and still the best explanation of the concept, it illuminates a core working philosophy essential for any complete understanding of Buddhism.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements, Conventions, Preface to the Second Edition, 1 GENERAL INTRODUCTION, 2 THE INITIAL TEACHING OF SKILFUL MEANS IN THE LOTUS SUTRA, 3 STORIES ABOUT SKILFUL MEANS IN THE LOTUS SUTRA, 4 MYTHOLOGY AND SKILFUL MEANS IN THE LOTUS SUTRA, 5 SKILFUL MEANS IN THE TEACHING OF VIMALAKhRTI, 6 SKILFUL MEANS IN THE PERFECTION OF INSIGHT LITERATURE, 7 SKILFUL MEANS IN PRE-MAHAYANA BUDDHISM, 8 THE TERM HiBEN IN MODERN JAPANESE, 9 GENERAL OBSERVATIONS, APPENDIX A: BRIEF NOTE ON THE MAIN TEXTS USED, APPENDIX B: HISTORICO-CRITICAL PERSPECTIVE ON THE LOTUS SUTRA, APPENDIX C: OCCURRENCES OF FANG-PIEN IN THE LOTUS SUTRA, APPENDIX D: OCCURRENCES OF FANG-PIEN IN THE TEACHING OF VIMALAKhRTI, APPENDIX E: OCCURRENCES OF FANG-PIEN IN THE PERFECTION OF INSIGHT SUTRAS, ETC, APPENDIX F SKILFUL MEANS IN THE SURAMGAMASAMADHI SUTRA, Bibliography, Index

by "Nielsen BookData"

Details

  • NCID
    BA77727945
  • ISBN
    • 0415314275
  • LCCN
    2003045942
  • Country Code
    uk
  • Title Language Code
    eng
  • Text Language Code
    eng
  • Place of Publication
    London
  • Pages/Volumes
    xi, 209 p.
  • Size
    24 cm
  • Classification
  • Subject Headings
Page Top