Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience - Softcover

"Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience has only strengths, as unbelievable as that sounds. It is probably the best introduction to Buddhism available. Mitchell presents not only the rich historical development of Buddhism, its major texts and doctrines right up to the present; he also guides us through the enormous variety of Buddhist cultures, sects, and schools in a clear and engaging fashion. Brief autobiographical narratives of well-known Buddhist practitioners and scholars as well as individual essays on the contemporary lived experience of Buddhism in various countries add greatly to this book's uniqueness and value. We get real Buddhism, not just textbook Buddhism."―Bradley Malkovsky, University of Notre Dame

"Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience uses a very broad historical and cultural framework to introduce and accommodate a whole wide spectrum of 'Buddhist experiences'―across 2,500 years and the entire continent of Asia and beyond. Such an endeavor, to my knowledge, is perhaps the most ambitious and comprehensive treatment given to the subject. This book is truly one of a kind."―Wei Zhang, University of South Florida

"The author has done an excellent job of presenting a clear and accurate exposition of Buddhism."-Paul J. Griffiths, University of Illinois at Chicago

"Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience is among the most clearly written and even-handed treatments of the whole of Buddhist history for undergraduate classroom use on the market today."―Linda Penkower, University of Pittsburgh

Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience, Second Edition, focuses on the depth of Buddhist experience as expressed in the teachings and practices of its religious and philosophical traditions. Taking a broad and inclusive approach, this unique work spans over 2,500 years, offering chapters on Buddhism's origins in India; Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism; and Buddhism in Southeast Asia, Tibet, China, Korea, and Japan. It also includes an extensive discussion of modern, socially engaged Buddhism and a concluding chapter on the spread of Buddhism to the West. Author Donald W. Mitchell provides substantial selections of primary text material throughout that illustrate a great variety of moral, cultural, psychological, meditative, and spiritual Buddhist experiences.
Buddhism features twenty-two boxed personal narratives by respected Buddhist leaders and scholars, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharma Master Sheng Yen, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Jeffrey Hopkins, Sulak Sivaraksa, Rita M. Gross, Chatsumarn Kabilsingh, and Robert Aitken. The text also includes photographs, maps, a pronunciation guide, and a glossary of technical terms. Integrating more information about how Buddhism is actually practiced around the world today, the second edition adds six brief end-of-chapter essays by scholars and practitioners on cultural experiences of Buddhism in Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, and America. Ideal for courses in Buddhism, Asian religions, and Asian philosophy, this edition also offers additional photographs, new sections on topics like Buddhist cosmology, expanded coverage of Buddhism and globalization, and updated suggestions for further reading.