Theravada Buddhism: Social History from Ancient Benares to Modern Colombo (Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices)
Description
Theravada is the branch of Buddhism found in Sri Lanka and parts of South East Asia. The Buddha preached in north-east India in the fifth-century BC. He claimed that human beings are responsible for their own salvation, and put forward a new ideal of the holy life, establishing a monastic Order to enable men and women to pursue that ideal. For most of its history, the fortunes of Theravada have been identified with those of that Order. Under the great Indian emperor, Asoka, himself a Buddhist, Theravada reached Sri Lanka in about 250 BC. There it became the religion of the Sinhala state and...
ISBN(s)
0710213190, 9780710213198
