Maitreya Buddha In I Kuan Tao

Maitreya Buddha in I-kuan Tao is a comprehensive account of how the Early Buddhist concept of Bodhisattva Maitreya, residing in Tusita heaven abiding time to descend to earth to become the next Buddha, developed and evolved to be the second most important deity of I-kuan Tao. It has been purposely written to answer questions raised by my reader and audiences on the importance of Maitreya Buddha in I-kuan Tao. It traces how Maitreya Buddha gained this most prestigious position through over two millennia of history in Theravada, Mahayana, and Vajrayana traditions, utilizing the major literary works and objects of Buddhist Art of India, Sri Lanka, China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Tibet, Ladakh, Nepal, Indonesia, and Thailand. The book ends with a brief summary of the beliefs and principles of I-kuan Tao.

I-kuan Tao is an important religious movement founded seventy years ago. During this period, its stature grew along with a rapid increase of believers all over the world. Harper Collins Dictionary of Religion in 1995 classified I-kuan Tao in the new category of religions "emerging out of the mainstream Chinese religious traditions or out of the complex universe of the Chinese sectarian tradition." It further states that "I-kuan Tao has proven most attractive to a wide range of Taiwan citizens in both the countryside and the cities by providing them with a Chinese-centered belief system that allows them to confront the stresses of an increasingly secularized and Westernized East Asian society." With over seven millions of believers--with two million in Taiwan and 4.8 million in Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. I-kuan Tao has a significant record of success. The present volume, by one of its prominent church leaders is a pioneering effort to document its rise and development. It is the only authoritative work available to English readers on this most important religious development of recent decades.

This 1988 book is a multidisciplinary and cross-cultural study of the legend that has evolved around the figure of Maitreya.

By far one of the most important objects of worship in the Buddhist traditions, the bodhisattva Avalokitesvara is regarded as the embodiment of compassion. He has been widely revered throughout the Buddhist countries of Asia since the early centuries of the Common Era. While he was closely identified with the royalty in South and Southeast Asia, and the Tibetans continue to this day to view the Dalai Lamas as his incarnations, in China he became a she—Kuan-yin, the "Goddess of Mercy"—and has a very different history. The causes and processes of this metamorphosis have perplexed Buddhist scholars for centuries. In this groundbreaking, comprehensive study, Chün-fang Yü discusses this dramatic transformation of the (male) Indian bodhisattva Avalokitesvara into the (female) Chinese Kuan-yin—from a relatively minor figure in the Buddha's retinue to a universal savior and one of the most popular deities in Chinese religion. Focusing on the various media through which the feminine Kuan-yin became constructed and domesticated in China, Yü thoroughly examines Buddhist scriptures, miracle stories, pilgrimages, popular literature, and monastic and local gazetteers—as well as the changing iconography reflected in Kuan-yin's images and artistic representations—to determine the role this material played in this amazing transformation. The book eloquently depicts the domestication of Kuan-yin as a case study of the indigenization of Buddhism in China and illuminates the ways this beloved deity has affected the lives of all Chinese people down the ages.

A study of the history of Buddhism in China.

The book talks about the spirit of the Laughing Buddha which is a state of ultimate relaxation, happiness and contentment. Sakshi Chetana brings in this book the rare combination of ancient Buddhist wisdom and its practical use in our daily lives in the modern world for living in joy. Buddha has had an immeasurable influence on the human race. The Laughing Buddha is a practical aspect of the Buddha, who, after enlightenment, showed us the way to a euphoric living right in the middle of our daily chores and responsibilities. In other words, Sakshi has brilliantly introduced the wisdom of Buddhism for ecstatic living in a market-place. This book wonderfully explores the legends and lessons from the life of Laughing Buddha, whose spirit we can imbibe for a delightful living. Lucidly and beautifully written, the Laughing Buddha" contains the wisest spirit of Buddhism in a readily understandable and accessible form, often in a question-answer format, for even those, who are new to Buddhism. The book is an enjoyable read for everyone who aspires to live a joyful and meaningful life.

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