Amesbury Public Library

Eastern religions, origins, beliefs, practices, holy texts, sacred places, general editor, Michael D. Coogan ; [contributors] Vasudha Narayanan [and others]

eng

Includes bibliographical references and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Eastern religions

bibliography

57311481

general editor, Michael D. Coogan ; [contributors] Vasudha Narayanan [and others]

origins, beliefs, practices, holy texts, sacred places

Buddhism, one of the world's great religious traditions, attracts millions of modern-day followers. Hinduism, one of the most ancient of all belief systems, is increasingly well known in the West through expatriate Indian communities. Taoism has been an important influence on Western thinking, especially through the impact of the Tao Te Ching. Confucianism, less metaphysical in its principles, emphasizes family values and the role of the individual within the state. And Shinto, distinctively Japanese in character, is the most animistic of the great religions, based on a belief in numerous individual spirits. The contributors explore a great variety of topics within these religions, including: the life of the Buddha; karma and rebirth; inspiring teachers and gurus; the life of Confucius; sacred Taoist texts; the epics of the Ramayana and Mahabharata; holy landscapes, shrines, and festivals; enlightenment; and--for all the faiths--the spiritual and ethical teachings, art and architecture, sacred writings, ritual and ceremony, and death and the afterlife. Also included are extracts from or summaries of historical texts, with author commentaries that explain the significance of each piece and place in its full context. Authoritative and accessible, Eastern Religions provides a gateway for all those in the West who wish to move one step closer to the spirit of the East. --Publisher

Hinduism / Vasudha Narayanan -- Buddhism / Malcolm David Eckel -- Taoism / Jennifer Oldstone-Moore -- Confucianism / Jennifer Oldstone-Moore -- Shinto / C. Scott Littleton