Buddhist Books Database

MahabharataIndian thought, culture and history

Mizuho Okita, "Introduction to the Mahabharata: An Introduction to Indian Mythology" - A commentary recommended to grasp the whole picture of the great epic, the source of Indian culture.

This book is a recommended introduction to the Mahabharata, the great Indian epic poem that provides an overview of the Mahabharata.

The Mahabharata is also famous for the Bhagavat Gita, the pinnacle of Indian thought, which is preached in this great epic poem.

I will discuss the "Bhagavat Gita" in the next article, but it is because of the story of the "Mahabharata" that this gem of thought was born.

I will be reading this epic and the Bhaktabat Gita as well. I found this book very helpful to get the whole picture of this epic that is so long. I recommend this book for beginners to learn its flow with ease. I highly recommend this work to anyone interested in India.
Monastic Life in IndiaBuddhism in India

G. Schopen, "Monastic Life in India during the Rise of Mahayana Buddhism" - A shocking theory that overturned the established theory of the origin of Mahayana stupas! What is the actual state of Indian Buddhism?

Mahayana Buddhism arose in criticism of the Lesser Vehicle Buddhism from the post-A.D. period, became a major force, and eventually came to Japan via China. We tend to think of Mahayana Buddhism in these terms, but it is a surprising fact that there is no evidence that the Mahayana cult itself existed until the 5th or 6th century. Although the Mahayana scriptures themselves date from the first century A.D., according to Schopen, there is no evidence of a separate Mahayana cult from the Small Vehicle cult.

What do you mean there is a scripture but no cult?" You may be wondering, "How is it that there is a scripture but no cult? I was wondering the same thing.

But Schopen vividly reveals how it works in this book. I can honestly say that I am shocked.
What is Mahayana Buddhism?Buddhism in India

Series on Mahayana Buddhism, Volume 1: What is Mahayana Buddhism - A reference book examining Mahayana from various perspectives based on the latest research.

The Series on Mahayana Buddhism is unique in that it reflects the latest research findings.

It was published in 2011, which may seem like more than a decade ago now, but compared to Buddhist studies in the 1900s, its theories have changed a great deal.

The changes were also introduced in "History of New Asian Buddhism 02 India II: The Formation and Development of Buddhism," which was previously published on this blog, and there is a lot of overlap with this book, but since this is a collection of articles by different authors from the "History of New Asian Buddhism" series, a broader perspective can be gained from this book.

The book also contains a wealth of information about current Buddhist studies and reference books. So, as can be said here, this work is a "sure guidepost" for those who wish to study Mahayana Buddhism in the future.
Rig Veda (collection of hymns in Vedic Sanskrit)Indian thought, culture and history

Naoshiro Tsuji's translation of "Hymns to the Rig Veda" - The Source of Indian Religion! To praise the gods and to capture the atmosphere of the rituals

As the title "Rig Veda Hymn" suggests, the scripture repeats the praise of the gods anyway.

And there are just so many variations of these gods. It is also very interesting that the ranking and order of the gods is ambiguous. A truly polytheistic world is unfolding there.

One of the most interesting points was that Vishnu and Shiva, who later became the main deities in Hinduism, are overshadowed in this "Rig Veda Hymn". It was very interesting to note that Shiva, whose predecessor was named Rudra, was not that popular in ancient India.
New Asian Buddhist History 03Buddhism in India

New Asian Buddhist History 03 India III: The Buddhist World from the Perspective of Buddhist Scriptures" - To what extent can the historical facts taught in Buddhist biographies and scriptures be considered historical facts?

It is impossible to approach the real picture of Buddhism of 250 years ago by relying on the descriptions in the scriptures now available to us, and even through the filter of objective and critical research, the task is extremely difficult."

We have all seen and heard about the life of Buddha in various places. However, as discussed here, there are many historical facts about Buddha that we do not actually know.

This is what this book looks at carefully using sutras and documents. I found the commentary on the Buddhist tradition in the first half of this book particularly stimulating.

Every time I read this "New Asian Buddhist History" series, I am always surprised by new discoveries. Moreover, the reference materials in the book give me a guideline for future study. This is another point I appreciate very much.
Dawn of Indian CivilizationIndian thought, culture and history

Naoshiro Tsuji, "The Dawn of Indian Civilization: The Vedas and the Upanishads" - Recommended reference book for an overview of the Brahmanic scriptures.

This book is intended to introduce the non-specialist to an overview of the Vedas. Therefore, this is not a study of the Vedas, but an introduction to the Vedas as common sense."

The Vedas and the Upanishads" may sound incredibly difficult, but as described here, this book is a primer written for non-specialists to understand.

This book provides an insight into what was believed in ancient Indian religion and how it was believed.

This book is recommended as an introduction to the Vedas and Upanishads, which are inescapable when studying ancient India and primitive Buddhism.
Himalayan TemplesBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Masahiko Sato, "Temples of the Himalayas: Religious Architecture in Nepal, Northern India, and China" - Amazing work to learn more about Buddhist architecture in Kathmandu.

This book will be a work dedicated to religious architecture in Nepal. This is a rather geeky book. It is a book for those who want to learn more about Nepal's unique religious architecture.

Nepal's atmosphere and religious architecture are different from both India and China.

And the fact that a lot of wood is used may be familiar to Japanese people. I am planning to visit Nepal at some point in the future, so I would like to take a closer look at it then.

There are also plenty of photos to help you visualize the local area.

This is a rather geeky book, but I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Nepalese religion and architecture.
Nepalese BuddhismBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Kimiaki Tanaka/Kazumi Yoshizaki, "Nepalese Buddhism" - A country where wife-oriented Buddhism has taken root, just like in Japan! Recommended to learn about its teachings and history.

This book is a tremendously valuable gem.

For us Japanese, Nepal has a strong image of the Himalayas, but in reality, we know very little about the religion of this country. I myself knew almost nothing about this country until recently.

However, the more one learns about the religious situation in this country, the more interesting it becomes...!

First of all, although Hinduism is the main religion in this country, Buddhism is still alive and well. Moreover, some of the Buddhists in this country are wife-oriented, just like ours in Japan. This is interesting.

This book provides a unique history of Buddhism that is different from India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, or China! Highly recommended!
Become a fatalist in Sri LankaBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Yoshio Sugimoto, "Becoming a Fatalist in Sri Lanka: An Island of Buddhism and Caste" - recommended for learning about Theravada Buddhist funerals and local religion and life!

著者は実際に現地に赴き、そこで人々と接しながら現地の宗教や生活文化そのものについて見ていきます。文献だけではわからない現地の微妙な問題や曖昧な部分まで見ていけるのが本書の魅力です。

特にスリランカにおける葬儀や結婚などの儀礼についてのお話は非常に興味深かったです。

It was very interesting to see from the perspective of fieldwork that Buddhism is deeply connected to the issue of "life and death" in Sri Lanka as well.

Another gratifying aspect of this book is that you can learn about Sri Lanka's religion and real life not only from a religious perspective, but also from a political and economic one. If you look at Sri Lanka only as "a devout Buddhist country," you will be mistaken. In fact, the background of Sri Lanka is quite complex. It is also fascinating to learn about the complexity of the society.
Introduction to Thai BuddhismBuddhism in Sri Lanka, Nepal and Southeast Asia

Yoneo Ishii, "An Introduction to Thai Buddhism" - A recommended introduction to Buddhism in Thailand, where Theravada Buddhism still lives and breathes.

The appeal of this book is that it provides a realistic picture of Buddhism in Thailand, as only the author, who has spent a long time in the country and conducted research and surveys, can provide.

The book does not discuss esoteric philosophies and doctrines, but rather, as an introductory book, describes the daily lives of the local people and Buddhist monks.

You can also learn what Thai Buddhists consider salvation and why they are so devoutly devoted to Buddhism.

This book is a very exciting glimpse into a different Buddhism from Japanese Buddhism. We encourage you to pick up a copy.