Reconstructing early Buddhism

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Bibliographic Information

Reconstructing early Buddhism

Roderick S. Bucknell

Cambridge University Press, 2023

  • : hardback

Available at  / 3 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references (p. 269-277) and index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Buddhist origins and discussion of the Buddha's teachings are amongst the most controversial and contested areas in the field. This bold and authoritative book tackles head-on some of the key questions regarding early Buddhism and its primary canon of precepts. Noting that the earliest texts in Pali, Sanskrit and Chinese belong to different Buddhist schools, Roderick S. Bucknell addresses the development of these writings during the period of oral transmission between the Buddha's death and their initial redaction in the first century BCE. A meticulous comparative analysis reveals the likely original path of meditative practice applied and taught by Gautama. Fresh perspectives now emerge on both the Buddha himself and his Enlightenment. Drawing on his own years of meditative experience as a Buddhist monk, the author offers here remarkable new interpretations of advanced practices of meditation, as well as of Buddhism itself. It is a landmark work in Buddhist Studies.

Table of Contents

  • Part I. Background and Context: 1. Introducing the project
  • 2. The Sangha and the oral transmission
  • 3. Scriptural sources
  • Part II. The Path: 4. The stepwise training
  • 5. Derivative accounts of the path
  • 6. The eightfold path
  • Part III. The Practice: 7. Mindfulness
  • 8. Concentration
  • 9. The three knowledges
  • Part IV. In Conclusion: 10. Summary and implications.

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