The Buddha
Life, Legend and Legacy
Mario PoceskiA concise exploration of the Buddha and his tradition
For hundreds of millions of people, the Buddha is still an object of worship. For countless others, he is a figure of quiet admiration and inspiration, someone to reflect on, learn from and return to. InThe Buddha, Mario Poceski brings this towering figure into focus, exploring the Buddha’s path of spiritual cultivation, his teachings on the Dharma, and the social, cultural and religious world that shaped his life. Poceski also follows the Buddha’s legacy forward, tracing how later generations – monastic male and female disciples and his most prominent lay followers – reshaped his story to fit their own beliefs and times. The result is a vivid, accessible introduction to Buddhist history, philosophy and practice, and the many ways the Buddha has been represented and reimagined around the world and across the centuries.
A concise exploration of the Buddha and his tradition
For hundreds of millions of people, the Buddha is still an object of worship. For countless others, he is a figure of quiet admiration and inspiration, someone to reflect on, learn from and return to. InThe Buddha, Mario Poceski brings this towering figure into focus, exploring the Buddha’s path of spiritual cultivation, his teachings on the Dharma, and the social, cultural and religious world that shaped his life. Poceski also follows the Buddha’s legacy forward, tracing how later generations – monastic male and female disciples and his most prominent lay followers – reshaped his story to fit their own beliefs and times. The result is a vivid, accessible introduction to Buddhist history, philosophy and practice, and the many ways the Buddha has been represented and reimagined around the world and across the centuries.
-
'
Mario Poceski has written the ideal modern biography of the Buddha: balanced, insightful, and beautifully crafted. Combining rigorous scholarship with compelling storytelling, this is an indispensable guide to one of humanity’s most influential figures.
'Michael Zimmerman, Numata Center for Buddhist Studies, University of Hamburg
Introduction
Part I: Life
1 Early Life
2 Spiritual Quest and Great Awakening
3 Preaching and Training of Disciples
4 Passing Away and the Aftermath
Part II: Vision and Legacy
5 Vision and Teachings
6 Buddha’s Disciples
7 Evolving Conceptions of Buddhahood
References
Bibliography
Acknowledgements
Photo Acknowledgements
Index
Mario Poceski is Professor and Chair of the Department of Religion at the University of Florida. His numerous publications include The Records of Mazu and the Making of Classical Chan Literature (2015).