Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience by Donald W. Mitchell (2013-10-30)
Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience by Mitchell, Donald W., Jacoby, Sarah H. (2013) Paperback
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Buddhism Introducing the Buddhist Experience (Paperback, 2007) 2ND EDITION2007
Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience by Donald W. Mitchell (2013-10-30)
3.0 out of 5 starsGood details
ByNeil Wilsonon January 18, 2010
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I read this book for part of my Master's Degree in International Relations: Asian Studies...
I felt it was informative but DRY at times. I guess that is a common thread with all text books. For a basic understanding of Buddhism, this is a good place to start, but I could also recommend a book call "Buddha" by Karen Armstrong...it is a little less "technical" and a bit easier to read than this book...
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5.0 out of 5 stars
Review of the fine 2007/8 2nd ed.
ByJohn L MurphyTOP 1000 REVIEWERon August 19, 2008
This introductory textbook on Buddhism covers the essentials that a Western reader might expect, but it goes deeper than a recitation of facts, dates, and names from the past 2,500 years. Anyone curious about the beliefs, the culture, and the practitioners of dharma will benefit from this attractively designed presentation. It covers its origins, Theravada and Mahayana "vehicles," and then explores in separate sections how Buddhism spread into Southeast Asia, Korea, Japan, China, and Tibet.
Included you'll find additional aids for understanding what can be for a newcomer like me (therefore I cannot pass judgment on doctrinal or academic debates that may arise from a specialized familiarity with this subject) daunting obstacles. The textual legacy of each national expression of Buddhism gains elucidation, with excerpts from verses, illustrations (unfortunately all monochrome, but the costs are kept down as a result), and the best part: testimonies from current practitioners of the Thai, Tibetan, Chinese, Korean, Japanese and American-- from a convert who became a monk-- "cultural experiences." These, as well as panel sidebars with brief narratives or anecdotes by scholars and believers that retell stories or lessons, enrich this volume.
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I also like the attention given to morality throughout the text; this concentration, blended with more focus in the second edition on the U.S. transformation of Buddhist practice, makes the mentions of the influences of feminism, ecumenism, ecology and globalization also relevant. In fact, I wish more space had been devoted to each of these topics, but the limit to eleven chapters, so as to fit a semester or even a quick quarter of a course, may have necessitated a narrower scope. However, each part concludes with an up-to-date reading list. There's also a technical glossary of terms with accent and vowel markings to guide pronunciation of what can be formidable terms for teachers and students alike.
Again, while I cannot weigh in on the demerits (if any) of this textbook's scholarly claims, for an introduction, this deserves attention beyond the required textbook list on a syllabus. Libraries and seekers and followers all can find, I predict, valuable information made more accessible. Westerners often think Buddhism's detached, secretive, or nihilistic, but a careful grasp of the multiplicity of how its precepts come into daily practice to assist others, and its emphasis on the social impact of its teachings, may help change many prejudices we may have about this ancient, resilient, and flexible approach towards compassionate wisdom and spiritual fulfillment.
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Introducing the Buddhist Experience Second Edition
by
Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience, Second Edition, focuses on the depth of Buddhist experience as expressed in the teachings and practices of its religious and philosophical traditions. Taking a broad and inclusive approach, this unique work spans over 2,500 years, offering chapters on Buddhism's origins in India; Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism; and Buddhism in Southeast Asia, Tibet, China, Korea, and Japan. It also includes an extensive discussion of modern, socially engaged Buddhism and a concluding chapter on the spread of Buddhism to the West. Author Donald W. Mitchell provides substantial selections of primary text material throughout that illustrate a great variety of moral, cultural, psychological, meditative, and spiritual Buddhist experiences.
Buddhism features twenty-two boxed personal narratives by respected Buddhist leaders and scholars, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharma Master Sheng Yen, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Jeffrey Hopkins, Sulak Sivaraksa, Rita M. Gross, Chatsumarn Kabilsingh, and Robert Aitken. The text also includes photographs, maps, a pronunciation guide, and a glossary of technical terms. Integrating more information about how Buddhism is actually practiced around the world today, the second edition adds six brief end-of-chapter essays by scholars and practitioners on cultural experiences of Buddhism in Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, and America. Ideal for courses in Buddhism, Asian religions, and Asian philosophy, this edition also offers additional photographs, new sections on topics like Buddhist cosmology, expanded coverage of Buddhism and globalization, and updated suggestions for further reading.(less)
Buddhism features twenty-two boxed personal narratives by respected Buddhist leaders and scholars, including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Dharma Master Sheng Yen, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, Jeffrey Hopkins, Sulak Sivaraksa, Rita M. Gross, Chatsumarn Kabilsingh, and Robert Aitken. The text also includes photographs, maps, a pronunciation guide, and a glossary of technical terms. Integrating more information about how Buddhism is actually practiced around the world today, the second edition adds six brief end-of-chapter essays by scholars and practitioners on cultural experiences of Buddhism in Thailand, Tibet, China, Korea, Japan, and America. Ideal for courses in Buddhism, Asian religions, and Asian philosophy, this edition also offers additional photographs, new sections on topics like Buddhist cosmology, expanded coverage of Buddhism and globalization, and updated suggestions for further reading.(less)
Apr 29, 2018Hannah rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
A really good and in-depth overview! There's a ton of information packed in so I'm planning on going back through some chapters.
This book is a very high-level overview of the history and current practice of Buddhism in the world. It's a very broad topic, so the book doesn't get very in-depth into any particular topic. There's a /very/ brief introduction to Buddhist philosophy at the beginning -- a description of the life of the Buddha, and some of the key concepts in Buddhist thought. The idea of Karma gets about half a page, which gives you an idea how much detail there is.
The largest section of the book is an overview of the history of Buddhism, organized by country. It highlights the appearance of different schools of Buddhism, how they interacted with governments, and how they were influenced and changed by existing culture in those countries. When Buddhism enters a new culture, it has always changed a bit, picking up some of the beliefs and customs of the new culture, while maintaining its core teachings.
The last section of the book describes modern Buddhist customs around the world. It talks about how individual Buddhists practice their religion, which is not the scholarly monasticism and search for enlightenment that people in the west often associate with Buddhism. This section is also organized by country, finishing with "Buddhism in the West", which itself concludes with a description of Buddhism in America.
"Introducing the Buddhist Experience" is a useful introduction to the history of Buddhism in the world, and how it's practiced today. I have two criticisms to highlight
The largest section of the book is an overview of the history of Buddhism, organized by country. It highlights the appearance of different schools of Buddhism, how they interacted with governments, and how they were influenced and changed by existing culture in those countries. When Buddhism enters a new culture, it has always changed a bit, picking up some of the beliefs and customs of the new culture, while maintaining its core teachings.
The last section of the book describes modern Buddhist customs around the world. It talks about how individual Buddhists practice their religion, which is not the scholarly monasticism and search for enlightenment that people in the west often associate with Buddhism. This section is also organized by country, finishing with "Buddhism in the West", which itself concludes with a description of Buddhism in America.
"Introducing the Buddhist Experience" is a useful introduction to the history of Buddhism in the world, and how it's practiced today. I have two criticisms to highlight
-- First, it doesn't get in-depth in any particular subject. At times, the histories degenerate into lists of names, which isn't very useful for the casual student. The broad-brush strokes also surely leave out a lot, which leads to the second criticism
-- the descriptions of history and practice are intentionally skewed toward the positive. One can be left with the impression that, apart from a few isolated incidents among rank-and-file monks, Buddhists are all very virtuous people, and Buddhism is a very positive influence on cultures. My personal bias is to believe that yes, Buddhism is very positive, but I'm sure it's not quite as perfect as what this text would let one believe.
Overall -- this is a helpful high-level primer to the history of Buddhism, which would give you a base of vocabulary and rough historical outline for further studies. Don't expect anything in-depth, and be aware that the viewpoint is a bit skewed. (less)
Overall -- this is a helpful high-level primer to the history of Buddhism, which would give you a base of vocabulary and rough historical outline for further studies. Don't expect anything in-depth, and be aware that the viewpoint is a bit skewed. (less)
Dec 16, 2015Talbot Hook rated it it was amazing
This is a remarkably dense book, but it can be used to good ends. If you are looking for Buddhist history, there is history; if you are looking for the cultural and lived experience of Buddhism, there is that, too; and if you are looking to understand those tenets and thoughts which underpin this most venerable of belief systems, then this book is exemplary in that regard. I learned a great, great deal from the initial chapters of this book, and the explanations of basic Buddhist beliefs were clearer than any I have yet read. Highly-recommended, and necessary. (less)
A good overview of a historical and morphing process of the development of Buddhism. (Read as part of a course introducing Buddhism.)
