A Concise Encyclopedia Of Buddhism

From the teachings of the early masters to the growth of the tradition in the West, this authoritative new reference tool contains over 900 entries supplying information on all the key doctrines, practices, and figures central to Buddhism.

Reflects the current state of scholarship in Buddhist Studies, its entries being written by specialists in many areas, presenting an accurate overview of Buddhist history, thought and practices, most entries having cross-referencing to others and bibliographical references. Contain around 1000 pages and 500,000 words, totalling around 1200 entries.

This richly illustrated book introduces and explains Buddhist history, philosophy and practice, from its very beginnings to the present time. The first two chapters of the book deal with the life of the Buddha and his teachings. The third chapter covers the gradual spread of Buddhism and the interpretation of Buddhist scriptures over time. The fourth chapter deals with the practice of Buddhism today, country by country around the world. The final chapter discusses the major Buddhist schools and the key masters and interpreters within these schools, such as Theravada, Zen, Pure Land and Nichiren.

A detailed introduction to Buddhist philosophy and teachings, history, and Buddhism around the world today.

With over fifteen hundred entries and forty-six illustrations, A Concise Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen is the most complete compact reference work of its kind available in the English language. It is designed not only for students and meditators but also as a tool to help familiarize all readers with Buddhist terms and concepts—such as chakra, karma, koan, nirvana, and tantra—that are encountered with increasing regularity in the literature of a wide range of fields today. The lives and teachings of important philosophers and meditation masters, the variety of practices, the basic texts and scriptures, and the range of sects and schools of thought are among the subjects covered. Pronunciation tables, a comprehensive bibliography, and a Ch’an/Zen lineage chart are also provided.