The Origin Of Sorrow

For more than 300 years, from the 15th through the 18th century, there existed in the independent European city of Frankfurt an enclosed Jewish ghetto, one street wide and a quarter mile long, surrounded by high walls and locked gates, overcrowded, teeming with both the stench and the joy of human life. Once notorious, this Judengasse - Jews Lane - a passionate place infused with love and hate, with frustration, ambition and desire, has been largely forgotten. Now, in this dramatic, moving, and at times wildly comic novel, Robert Mayer brings to vivid life in fictional form what is essentially a true story: how a 16 year old girl named Guttle Schnapper married a 26 year old coin dealer named Meyer Rothschild, bore him ten living children - and how, incredibly, from this sordid ghetto emerged the richest family in the history of the world, before or since.

For more than 300 years, from the 15th through the 18th century, there existed in the independent European city of Frankfurt an enclosed Jewish ghetto, one street wide and a quarter mile long, surrounded by high walls and locked gates, overcrowded, teeming with both the stench and the joy of human life. Once notorious, this Judengasse - Jews Lane - a passionate place infused with love and hate, with frustration, ambition and desire, has been largely forgotten. Now, in this dramatic, moving, and at times wildly comic novel, Robert Mayer brings to vivid life in fictional form what is essentially a true story: how a 16 year old girl named Guttle Schnapper married a 26 year old coin dealer named Meyer Rothschild, bore him ten living children - and how, incredibly, from this sordid ghetto emerged the richest family in the history of the world, before or since.

This book analyses a group of Buddhist sculptures from ancient Southeast Asia, putting them into their historical, religious, and artistic context and then traces their relationship with art from India and elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Many of the popular, often prophetic, phrases that we use on a day-to-day basis have their roots in traditional folklore. For example: 'One swallow doesn't make a summer'; 'March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb'; 'One for sorrow, two for joy'. Such common idioms are familiar to most people, but their history and origins are far from well known. However, in One for Sorrow readers will discover that there is a wealth of fascinating stories and history behind them. This charming book is filled with sayings, legends and proverbs derived from the oral history of the countryside and unveils how they came about, what they mean, and how they came to be such a big part of the language we use today. Written with a light touch and expert knowledge, it will entertain and inform in equal measure - perfect for anyone with an interest in the rich and varied heritage of the English language.

This brief survey tells the story of Buddhism as it unfolds through the narrative of the Brahmanical cosmology from which Buddhism emerged, the stories and myths surrounding the Buddha's birth, the Buddha's path to enlightenment, and the eventual spread of his teachings throughout India and the world. Jacob N. Kinnard helps readers understand complex concepts such as the natural law of cause and effect (Karma), the birth/life/death/rebirth cycle (samsara), the everchanging state of suffering (dukkha), and salvation or the absence of all states (Mivana). Several illustrations, together with biographical sketches and primary sources, help to illuminate the extraordinary richness of the Buddhist traditon. "At last, a textbook on Buddhism that integrates new and old methods for telling the story of Buddhism's development in India and its expansion into other parts of Asia; this book is a jewel. Kinnard's skill as an interpreter of material culture in the history of South Asian religions gives him insight into content students of Buddhism should know. Students will appreciate the towering personalities and dramatic choices of the men and women who shaped the story of buddhism in India and Other parts of Asia." Elizabeth Wilson Professor and Chair of comparative Religion Maimi University, Ohio "In an admirably succint fashion, Jacob Kinnard traces the development of Buddhism in India during the first fifteen hundred years of its history there. In so doing he sets the stage for the consideration of Buddhist traditions elsewhere, always attened to the Social, economic, political, and relious contexts in which this development occurred, the author pays particular attention to the lifestory of the buddha and to the evolution of his ongoing presence in his teachings, his relics, his images, and the pilgrimage sites associated with him. All of this is nicely complemented by brief teachings his relics, his images, and the pilgrimages sites associated with him. All of this is nicely complemented by brief biographics of prominent Buddhist historical figures and by a judicious selections of translations of pali and Sanskrit texts. Clearly and engagingly written, this classroom-friendly volume will also be of interest to scholars of religion. John Strong Charles A. Dana Professor of Asian Studies, Bates College Author of The Experience of Buddhism and The Buddha: A Beginner's Guide

Annotation Originally developed for introductory courses on Eastern religious traditions, this popular anthology offers readings from primary texts of India, China, and Japan. With this second edition, the editors have expanded on existing texts and added new introductions to provide a better context for the excerpts as well as a better sense of historical developments. A section on Ch'an/Zen and excerpts from the writings of Ge Hong, representing the central concerns of Daoism, have been included. A section on modern China includes a poem written by Mao, exhibiting his Daoist sensibilities; there's also material about Falun Gong. A revised chapter on Buddhism presents the voices of modern Buddhist writers, including the Dalai Lama. Throughout the volume, women's voices have been added.

The Sacred Books of the East, a 50-volume series, encompasses the seven non-Christian religions of Asia: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Zoroastrianism, Jainism, and Islam. Translated into English by authorities in their respective fields, these sacred texts have been edited by F. Max Muller and have profoundly influenced civilization. Buddhist Suttas (1881) translated by T.W. Rhys Davids, is volume XI of The Sacred Books of the East, a series available from Cosimo Classics. This book focuses on Buddhism and includes the Book of the Great Decease, similar to Christian Gospel, as well as truths and mysticism central to the Buddhist faith, a must-read for anyone interested in Buddhism.