Buddhist Scriptures
1959
A volume of key writings on the Buddha, collected from a variety of languages and traditions While Buddhism has no central text comparable to the Bible or Koran, there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma, or the teachings of the Buddha. In this rich anthology, eminent scholar Donald S. Lopez, Jr. brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range, and from such languages as Pali, Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha's past lives, a discussion of qualities and qualifications for a monk, and an exploration of the many meanings of enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast and profound nature of the Buddhist tradition. For more than seventy years, Penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the English-speaking world. With more than 1,700 titles, Penguin Classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. Readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.
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A most excellent book. Buddhism is a difficult subject as it is so vast and varied, much more so than most realise. This brilliant work provides a fantastic insight and perspective into what comprises Buddhism without becoming constrained by the various branchings and specializations within the Buddhist mantle. I made an effort to read all the scriptures of all the major religions, and this work is the only one that stood out and made it onto my desert island bookshelf, which was just one shelf. From the thousands of books I read, (About 10-15% listed here.) so very very few stood out. This book is one of them. It's been a long time since I read this book and all those others, but what I remember is joy to the reading, rare in scriptures, a sophisticated innocence, which is even more rare.
