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Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations (The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices) 2nd Edition

by Paul Williams (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 43 ratings
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Originating in India, Mahayana Buddhism spread across Asia, becoming the prevalent form of Buddhism in Tibet and East Asia. Over the last twenty-five years Western interest in Mahayana has increased considerably, reflected both in the quantity of scholarly material produced and in the attraction of Westerners towards Tibetan Buddhism and Zen.

Paul Williams’ Mahayana Buddhism is widely regarded as the standard introduction to the field, used internationally for teaching and research and has been translated into several European and Asian languages. This new edition has been fully revised throughout in the light of the wealth of new studies and focuses on the religion’s diversity and richness. It includes much more material on China and Japan, with appropriate reference to Nepal, and for students who wish to carry their study further there is a much-expanded bibliography and extensive footnotes and cross-referencing. Everyone studying this important tradition will find Williams’ book the ideal companion to their studies.

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  1. ISBN-10
    0415356539
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0415356534
  3. Edition
    2nd
  4. Publication date
    August 31, 2008
  5. Part of series
    The Library of Religious Beliefs and Practices
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    6.14 x 1.03 x 9.21 inches
  8. Print length
    456 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"As a reference book, which guides readers through the labyrinth of the enormous Buddhist textual tradition, this work is unsurpassed... Summing up: Recommended." -- A.L. Miller, Miami University, Choice



‘The publication of Paul Williams’ Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal Foundations in 1989 was a milestone in the development of Buddhist Studies, being the first truly comprehensive and authoritative attempt to chart the doctrinal landscape of Mahayana Buddhism in its entirety. Previous scholars like Edward Conze and Etienne Lamotte had set themselves this daunting task, but it had proved beyond them. Williams not only succeeded in finishing the job, but did it so well that his book has remained the primary work on the subject, and the textbook of choice for teachers of university courses on Buddhism, for 20 years. It is still unrivalled. This makes a second edition all the more welcome. Williams has extensively revised and updated the book in the light of the considerable scholarship published in this area since 1989, at the same time enlarging many of his thoughtful discussions of Mahayana Buddhist philosophical issues. The result is a tour de force of breadth and depth combined. I confidently expect that Williams’ richly detailed map of this field will remain for decades to come an indispensable guide to all those who venture into it.’ - Paul Harrison, Stanford University, USA

About the Author

Paul Williams is Professor of Indian and Tibetan Philosophy and Co-director of the Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol. The author of six books and an editor of a further eight, he is a former President of the UK Association for Buddhist Studies. Among his other books for Routledge is Buddhist Thought: A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition (2000).

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 0415356539
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge; 2nd edition (August 31, 2008)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 456 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9780415356534
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0415356534
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.52 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.14 x 1.03 x 9.21 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 43 ratings

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HLT
5.0 out of 5 stars Here, Finally in the second edition is a great work on one of the greatest religions, Mahayana Buddhism. This is a masterpiece.
Reviewed in the United States on November 25, 2016
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PERFECT. When something is perfect, agile and also accurate in what it explains about the greater and lesser Buddhism you know it is good. I was long a Mahayana Buddhist before the publication of this work. All I read were books of the sayings of the Buddha, Buddhist scholars, books written for initiates tend to turn me off but this is both good for home and as a textbook. Can I, do I recommend you read this? Yes. Over and over. Aside from books in Buddhist monasteries written by Buddhas following our Gautama Buddha there was little that was truly understood. I would always get mad when someone would flippantly, so perfectly jaded and bathed in irony, say Buddhism is not a religion, that there is no God is Buddhism is a fool. Read and learn. Do not accept the lies and fake wisdom of others. Paul Williams, I applaud him in his research and presentation of this greatest of Buddhist sects. I do not like Zen. I think Zen is the Pentecostal side of Buddhism and many will argue with me about it, but if I were Zen then I would be compelled to urinate on them during the argument if I were so inclined. Mahayana Buddhism is the cradle of knowledge. Do not let this die on the shelf. Buy it. Read it. You need not be Buddhist to consume and use the knowledge, you just need a mind capable of understanding cause and effect. Buy this book.
3 people found this helpful
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Melinda McAdams
5.0 out of 5 stars Very clear writing style - great!
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2009
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After a few years of practicing Buddhism and reading Dharma books, I am reading this as my first scholarly text, and I'm very impressed by it. It certainly is NOT an introduction for beginners, but Williams is careful to include just enough explanation to keep me reading without feeling a need to resort to Wikipedia (heh!).

His footnotes (endnotes) are amazing -- the book proper is only 266 pages, followed by 121 pages of endnotes. I'm skipping most of these, but when I do dip into them, I'm even more impressed by Williams's unusual ability to stick to a central idea and successfully separate out the interesting surrounding ideas (which need not muddy up the main text).

I also appreciate his ability to steer clear of Western philosophy. He is presenting the history, central texts and teachings, and disputes of the Mahayana with well-focused discipline. He does this with clarity, occasional stunning insights, and sometimes even a touch of humor! (I especially like it when he refers to "old and basic" ideas of Buddhism; he seems to have a particularly good sense of his audience for this book.)

It's very nice to get a sense of how certain issues were divisive (or not) without being lost in excessive detail about each and every school's (or lineage's) take on the matter. That is not to say Williams is treating the subject superficially but rather another indication of his clear focus.

Don't consider this book if you know very little about Buddhism at present. But if you are well-grounded in the teachings and have some idea of the "place" of Mahayana, and you want to experience an academic approach to the subject, this book will not disappoint you.

P.S. I'm reading (more than halfway through) the new second edition.
19 people found this helpful
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LostMarble
5.0 out of 5 stars Some caveats for the would-be lector.
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2015
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There are already several capable reviews on this thread. However, I add a few remarks.

1. The book does not cover Zen or Tantric Buddhism. It focuses on Indian and Chinese Buddhism, with discussions of selected (non-tantric) doctrines of Tibetan Buddhism.

2. The title means what it says about emphasis on doctrine. There is little or no discussion of practice as such.

3. For most readers the book may be primarily useful as a reference work. It is, as other reviewer noted, thoroughly academic, philological, and detailed. The author truly leaves no stone unturned in the topics he treats. I read all the endnotes, which fill a large part of the book, and there is an enormous amount of valuable material in them as well as in the text.

4. The best parts are on Indian Buddhism, which are superb, especially the sections on Madhyamika. The parts on East Asian Buddhism are very good but not as encyclopedic as the Indian sections. IMO the author did not present an adequate grasp of the Taoist elements in Chinese Buddhism. And of course the limitation on the discussion of Chan and Zen is a drawback.

5. Despite my caveats, I recommend this book highly to anyone who feels interested in the challenge.
10 people found this helpful
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Chris S Warnick
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2014
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A beautiful and informative introduction to Buddhism.
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Francisco
5.0 out of 5 stars I would recommend this book for all those who are willing to ...
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2015
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I would recommend this book for all those who are willing to have a deep knowledge about Buddhism. After reading many books about meditation, and comments about sutras by people like D.Lama and T.Deshimaru, M. Ricard, J Kornfied I thought that it was mandatory to look for the history that was behind those texts that many buddhism's writers talk about. This book was the right answer for my inquietud.
3 people found this helpful
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Robert E. Kauffman
5.0 out of 5 stars Essential text for understanding Mahayana Buddism.
Reviewed in the United States on October 7, 2013
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Essential text to understanding Mahayana Buddhism. The Second edition was worth waiting for. Williams provides a short history of the Indian background to Buddhism and then covers such important events as the Prajnaparamita and the development of the Madhyamika.
5 people found this helpful
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Ganesha K U
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent scholarly volume
Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2014
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It is an excellent volume elaborating the Mahayana Buddhism accepted universally as an authority.
Style is clear. References are dependable. Covers all aspects.
You would certainly love it if you are seriously into Mahayana Buddhism.
3 people found this helpful
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Tiancheng
5.0 out of 5 stars I have a problem!
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018
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Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2018
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SJRod
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent resource
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 27, 2016
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Delivered a day ahead of schedule. As described and packaged well. Excellent bok not only for students but also those interested in Buddhism
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James C. Alexander
4.0 out of 5 stars So technically advanced for me. I could only just ...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 12, 2017
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So technically advanced for me. I could only just follow, a few years ago I couldn't. Even now I don't feel in a position to be able to evaluate really.
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