The Essential Guide to Buddhism: (The Essential Guides to Religion)

Beginning with an overview of Buddhism, this book explores the religion’s origins in northern India and Nepal, through to its development and spread across Asia, to its vibrant and sometimes contradictory present. The book covers key topics in the study of Buddhism, including its rituals and its scriptures, meditation and monasticism, and death and afterlife. The book also includes contemporary issues such as Buddhism and economics and socially engaged Buddhism. Over 70 illustrations are included throughout, and each chapter contains suggested further reading and a glossary of key terms and concepts. The chapters in this book were first published in the digital collection Bloomsbury Religion in North America. Covering North America’s diverse religious traditions, this digital collection provides reliable and peer-reviewed articles and ebooks for students and instructors. Learn more and get access for your library at www.theologyandreligiononline.com/bloomsbury-religion-in-north-america

Table of Contents:
1. Overview, Gwendolyn Gillson (Illinois College, USA) 2. Buddhist Ritual, Matthew Hayes (University of California, Los Angeles, USA) 3. Buddhist Deities, AW Barber (University of Calgary, Canada) 4. Buddhist Scripture, Ronald Green (Coastal Carolina University, USA) 5. Buddhist Meditation, Napakadol Kittisenee (University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA) 6. Buddhist Monasticism, David Divalerio (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, USA) 7. Death and the Afterlife in Buddhism, Alyson Prude (Georgia Southern University, USA) 8. Buddhism and Women, Gurmeet Kaur (Panjab University, India) 9. Buddhism and Economics, Courtney Bruntz (Doane University, USA) 10. Socially Engaged Buddhism, James Deitrick (University of Central Arkansas, USA) Glossary Index

About the Author :
Gwendolyn Gillson is Assistant Professor of Asian Studies at Illinois College, USA.

Review :
This volume provides a broad yet detailed overview of Buddhist history, doctrine, and practice. As part of a larger series on major religions, it effectively balances historical context with contemporary developments, making it a valuable resource for students of religious studies. This is sure to become an invaluable resource for the teaching of Buddhism at undergraduate level. Rather than limiting Buddhism to the conceptual categories of ‘world religions’ textbooks, each chapter presents clearly written explorations of key issues in the study of Buddhism including monasticism, ritual, economics, and engaged Buddhism. It would be impossible to create an exhaustive guide to Buddhism, but somehow the authors have managed to truly gather the essentials into one readable volume. The balance of accessibility, detail, historical context, and nuance is beyond what I have found in other textbooks.