The Living Buddha: An Interpretive Biography

by Daisaku Ikeda, Burton Watson (Translator)

Overview

An intimate portrayal of one of history's most important and obscure figures, the Buddha, this chronicle reveals him not as a mystic, but a warm and engaged human being that was very much the product of his turbulent times. This biographical account traces the path of Siddhartha Gautama as he walked away from the pleasure palace that had been his home and joined a growing force of wandering monks, ultimately making his way towards enlightenment beneath the bodhi tree, and spending the next 45 years sharing his insights along the banks of the Ganges. The Buddhist canon is expertly harvested to provide insight into the Buddha's inner life and to grant a better understanding of how he came to play his pivotal role as founder of one of the world's largest religions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780977924523
Publisher:	Middleway Press
Publication date:	10/01/2008
Series:	Soka Gakkai History of Buddhism
Pages:	150
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Daisaku Ikeda is the author and coauthor of more than 60 books on Buddhism and the founding president and leader of the Soka Gakkai International, one of the largest lay Buddhist organizations in the world. He is the recipient of the United Nations Peace Award, the Rosa Parks Humanitarian Award, and the International Tolerance Award of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. Burton Watson is a translator of Chinese and Japanese literature. His translations include Chuang Tzu, The Lotus Sutra, Ryokan, Saigyo, and The Vimalakirti Sutra. He received the PEN Translation Prize in 1981.

Table of Contents

Preface to the English edition Daisaku Ikeda ix Translator's Note xiii
1 The Young Shakyamuni 1 Shakyamuni 1 Shakyamuni's Names 4 The Shakya Tribe 5 The Historical Setting 7 Shakyamuni's Family 9 Shakyamuni's Early Years 11
2 The Great Departure 15 The Ascetic and Indian Society 20 The Departure and Wanderings 23 The Rise of a New Culture 28 The Six Non-Buddhist Teachers 31
3 The Years of Austrerity 37 The Encounter with King Bimbisara 37 The Two Brahman Hermits 40 The Practice of Austerities 45 The Rejection of Austerities 49
4 The Enlightenment 53 Buddhagaya 53 The Temptation of Mara 55 What Is Englishtenment? 58 The Content of Shakyamuni's Englightenment 61 The Law of Causation 65
5 Shakyamuni the Teacher 69 The Decision To Propagate the Law 69 Turning the Wheel of the Law 71 Shakyamuni's Disciples 76 Preaching at Uruvilva 81
6 The Company of Disciples 87 Shariputra and Maudgalyayana 87 Mahakashyapa 93 Sudatta 96 Shakyamuni's Visit to Kapilavastu 98 Ananda 101 Upali and Aniruddha 103
7 The Growth of the Order 105 The Other Major Disciples 105 The City of Shravasti 108 Management of the Order 115 Devadatta's Revolt 119
8 The Entry into Nirvana 125 The Sad Events of Shakyamuni's Closing Years 125 The Last Journey 129 Chunda the Blacksmith 133 Parinirvana 134 Glossary 137 Index 147