Buddhist Myths is an accessible, engaging, and highly informative exploration of the fascinating mythology underlying one of the world's oldest and most influential religions.
Practiced today by more than 500 million adherents, Buddhism emerged from India between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. Based around the original teachings of the Buddha, key texts emerged to promote a true understanding of Buddhist ethics and spiritual practices. The Buddhist traditions created a vast body of mythological literature, much of it focused on the life of the Buddha. For example, the 550 Jataka tales tell of Buddha's early life and renunciation, as well as his previous human and animal incarnations. Buddhist Myths discusses these tales as well as cosmology, the life of the Buddha, various teachings (such as the Pali Canon), divine and extraordinary beings, and kings, heroes, and saints.
Practiced today by more than 500 million adherents, Buddhism emerged from India between the sixth and fourth centuries BCE. Based around the original teachings of the Buddha, key texts emerged to promote a true understanding of Buddhist ethics and spiritual practices. The Buddhist traditions created a vast body of mythological literature, much of it focused on the life of the Buddha. Buddhist Myths discusses these tales as well as cosmology, the life of the Buddha, various teachings (such as the Pali Canon), divine and extraordinary beings, and kings, heroes, and saints.
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Illustrated guide to the fascinating mythology underlying one of the worlds oldest and most influential religions.
Contents include:
Introduction
The birth and spread of Buddhism from its origins in northern India in the
sixth century BCE.
1. Concepts and Cosmology
Spatial cosmology: Formless Realm; Form Realm; Desire Realm; Sahasra
cosmology. The Four Great Elements; the Seven Ranges; Great Outer Ocean; the
Great Lakes; the Great Trees; Kamavacara (plane of sense desire); Manussaloka
(the human realm); the Animal realm; the Lower realm
Temporal cosmology: Vivatakalpa; Vivartasthayikalpa; Samvartakalpa;
Samvartasthayikalpa.
2. Life of the Buddha
The life of the Buddha is described in a number of sacred texts, including
the Buddhacarita, Lalitavistara Stra, Mahvastu, and the Nidnakath. Other
texts include: the Mlasarvstivda Vinaya, the Abhinikramana Stra and the
Theravada. Typical motifs: The Buddhas mother, My, dreaming of a white
elephant; lotuses springing up under the feet of the bodhisattva as he walked
immediately after birth; seeing the four signs; the bodhisattva leaving his
wife and child, often on the night of the birth; the bodhisattva's horse,
Kahaka, who carried him away, but later died of grief; the offering of milk
rice by Sujt; the attack by Mras armies.
3. The Jataka Tales
A part of the Pali Canon, the 550 Jataka Tales are a huge body of work
outlining the previous births of Gautama Buddha in both human and animal
form. Often, Jtaka stories include an extensive cast of characters who
interact and get into various kinds of trouble whereupon the Buddha
character intervenes to bring about a resolution. Includes the story of Rama
(Ramayana) in the Dasaratha Jataka.
4. Teachings of the Buddha
The Pali Canon: The Tripitaka and the Sutras. Sutras are aphorisms and
stories designed to demonstrate some part of Buddhist doctrine.
Sutta Pitaka: discourses and sermons of Buddha.
Mahayana sutras: such as the Lotus sutra and the Avatamsaka Sutra contain
popular stories and parables that have been widely influential in Mahayana
Buddhism.
Ten Principal Disciples (Mahayana tradition) Kangyur: holy Tibetan scripts
5: Divine and Extraordinary Beings
Buddhism includes a wide array of divine beings that are venerated in various
ritual and popular contexts. Key figures: Bodhisattvas; Yidam, or
Ishta-devata (personal meditation deity); Devas; Asuras; Maras; Yakshas;
Kinnaras; Nagas.
Goddesses include: Prthivi Mother Earth; Sri Lakshmi goddess of good
fortune; Hariti goddess of motherly love. Mahayana goddesses:
Prajnaparamita mother of perfect wisdom; Marici lady of sunrise; Cunda
saving grace; Tara universal saviour; Tantric female Buddhas
6: Notable Figures
Indian kings feature in many Buddhist stories and myths. The earliest texts
speak of various kings paying respects to the Buddha. The Buddhist myths
which developed around the famed Mauryan emperor Ashoka are also important
sources of Buddhist mythology. These stories serve as morality tales and as
models for Buddhist kingship, which were emulated and used by later Buddhist
monarchies throughout the Buddhist world.
Glossary
Index
Martin J. Dougherty is the author of Hindu Myths, Norse Myths and Greek Myths, among many other books. A former defence consultant, he also writes on personal self-defence and modern military technology. He lives in northern England.
