The Light Of Asia Or The Great Renunciation Mah Bhinishkramana Being The Life And Teaching Of Gautama Prince Of India And Founder O

This study presents details about the life and philosophy of the founder of Buddhism, Prince Gautama of India or the Buddha, in the form of a poem as told from an imaginary Buddhist character. When originally published in 1926, little was known of Buddhism in Europe and Arnold aimed to inform the west of basic Buddhist concepts and the effects this had on India and Hinduism. This title will be of interest to students of Religion and Asian studies.

The Light of Asia, subtitled The Great Renunciation, weaves through its poetic verses the life and philosophy of Prince Siddhartha Gautama who attained enlightenment under the bodhi tree and became the Buddha. Receiving high acclaim since its publication in 1879, Edwin Arnold's work was adapted from the Lalitavistara Sutra (The Unfolding of the Play.) In the time before this work came out, little was known about Buddhism or the Buddha outside of Asia.