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An End To Suffering: The Buddha In The World Hardcover – Illustrated, 8 December 2004
by Pankaj Mishra (Author)
4.5 out of 5 stars 176
An End to Suffering is a deeply original and provocative book about the Buddha's life and his influence throughout history, told in the form of the author's search to understand the Buddha's relevance in a world where class oppression and religious violence are rife, and where poverty and terrorism cast a long, constant shadow.
Mishra describes his restless journeys into India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, among Islamists and the emerging Hindu middle class, looking for this most enigmatic of religious figures, exploring the myths and places of the Buddha's life, and discussing Western explorers' "discovery" of Buddhism in the nineteenth century. He also considers the impact of Buddhist ideas on such modern politicians as Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.
As he reflects on his travels and on his own past, Mishra shows how the Buddha wrestled with problems of personal identity, alienation, and suffering in his own, no less bewildering, times. In the process Mishra discovers the living meaning of the Buddha's teaching, in the world and for himself. The result is the most three-dimensional, convincing book on the Buddha that we have.
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422 pages
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Dave Singleman
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and profound
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 15 October 2020
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Quite the best book on Buddhism I’ve ever read. Deeply thoughtful and consistently stimulating. The author has read and assimilated a vast amount of material - cultural, philosophical, theological and more - and writes in a beautiful, clear and subtle way. Recommended.
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ernest g fechner.
5.0 out of 5 stars A refreshing comparison..
Reviewed in Canada on 3 June 2017
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Bringing Buddhism into the modern world of turmoil and redefinition.... well done and well researched. No hiding behind myth or theology, just a transparent logic derived through experience and self reflection. Written by a person who understands both the western and Asian cultures and can make good comparisons between both philosophies.
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April
5.0 out of 5 stars READ PANKAJ MISHRA
Reviewed in India on 4 June 2017
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bought this because Nadeem Aslam picked Mishra as one of the interesting authors and chose An End to Suffering as one of his favourites. What I am reading is very important from the various point of views. If you are trying to understand the India as a place as well as Buddhism, it is surprisingly informative and leaves you with a sense of ignorance and motivation that there are neglected dimensions in history, to explore, to write and to read. A well-written and well-researched piece of literature that should be praised and endorsed. Praise to our bright author for such a wonderful book, looking forward to reading his work, all of them. :)
5 people found this helpful
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FM
5.0 out of 5 stars Passionnant
Reviewed in France on 5 September 2014
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Je recommande ce livre a tous. C est passionnant et permet de comprendre comment le Buddhisme s est transforme dans les differents pays et surtout pourquoi l Inde l a rejete
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Arango
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
Reviewed in Germany on 17 November 2013
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Great book. Highly recommended as an introduction to Buddhism for those who didn't know much about it before.
The author did a great job. He is a good writer and writes very clearly. He also carried out a lot of research in many related domains.
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