Damien Keown

This Very Short Introduction introduces the reader to the teachings of the Buddha and to the integration of Buddhism into daily life. What are the distinctive features of Buddhism? Who was the Buddha, and what are his teachings? How has Buddhist thought developed over the centuries, and how can contemporary dilemmas be faced from a Buddhist perspective? Words such as 'karma' and 'nirvana' have entered our vocabulary, but what do they mean? Damien Keown's book provides a lively,informative response to these frequently asked questions about Buddhism.

Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction

A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)

Buddhism

Buddhism Vsi

With over 520 million followers, Buddhism is now the world's fourth largest religion. Over the last seventy years or so there has been a growing interest in Buddhism, and it continues to capture the imagination of many in the West, who see it as either an alternative or a supplement to their own religious beliefs. For complex cultural and historical reasons, ethics has not received as much attention in traditional Buddhist thought as it has in the West. In this Very Short Introduction, Damien Keown explores how Buddhism approaches a range of moral issues of our age, including our relationship with our environment, our treatment of animals, and our stance on abortion, on sexuality and gender, on violence and war. This new edition also includes a discussion of the ethical challenges posed by cutting-edge developments in science and biomedical technologies, including neuroscience, artificial intelligence, transhumanism, and gene editing. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Buddhist Ethics: A Very Short Introduction

Charles S. Prebish

The key teachings of Buddhism are explained clearly in this text, and the historical development and spread of the religion is traced from its beginnings.

Introducing Buddhism

From its origins in India over two millennia ago, Buddhism spread throughout Asia and the world. This far-reaching and accessible introduction explains how Buddhism began, developed into its present-day form, and evolved in the West—where it now exerts increasing cultural influence. Complete with maps, diagrams, and illustrations, Buddhism provides detailed coverage of key topics such as karma, rebirth, meditation, and ethics, along with the distinguishing features of the main schools.

In this book the author considers data from both early and later schools of Buddhism in an attempt to provide an overall characterization of the structure of Buddhist ethics. The importance of ethics in the Buddha's teachings is widely acknowledged, but the pursuit of ethical ideals has up to now been widely held to be secondary to the attainment of knowledge. Drawing on the Aristotelian tradition of ethics the author argues against this intellectualization of Buddhism and in favour of a new understanding of the tradition in terms of which ethics plays an absolutely central role. In the course of this reassessment many basic concepts such as karma, nirvana, and the Eightfold Path, are reviewed and presented in a fresh light. The book will be of interest to readers with a background in either Buddhist studies or comparative religious ethics.

The Nature of Buddhist Ethics

Christopher S. Queen

Action Dharma charts the emergence of a new chapter in an ancient faith - the rise of social service and political activism in Buddhist Asia and the West. Fourteen new essays treat the historical origins, global range, teachings and practices, and leaders and organizations that make up the latest turning of the Dharma. Environmentalism and peace walks through the minefields of Southeast Asia, the future of the 'untouchables' of Japan, and outreach to minorities and inmates of the criminal justice system in the West are some of the challenging topics considered.

New Studies in Engaged Buddhism

Action Dharma

Buddhism and Bioethics discusses contemporary issues in medical ethics from a Buddhist perspective. The issues examined include abortion, embryo research and euthanasia. Drawing on ancient and modern sources, the book shows how Buddhist ethical principles can be applied consistently to a range of bioethical problems. It is suggested that moral judgements can be objective and that there can be a 'Buddhist view' on ethical issues.

Buddhism and Bioethics

Wayne R. Husted

It is difficult to think of a more urgent question for Buddhism in the late twentieth century than human rights. The political, ethical and philosophical questions surrounding human rights are debated vigorously in political and intellectual circles throughout the world and now in this volume.

Buddhism and Human Rights

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.

Encyclopedia of Buddhism

These essays chart the emergence of a new chapter in an ancient faith - the rise of social service and political activism in Buddhist Asia and the West. Engaged Buddhists have sought new ways to comfort society's oppressed communities.

Damien Keown

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