John S. Strong is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Religion, Bates College, in Maine, USA. Specializing in history of religions, Asian religions, and Buddhist Studies, with a focus on Buddhist legendary and cultic traditions in India and South Asia. He is the author of numerous books and articles including The Buddha: A Beginner¿s Guide (Oneworld).
Preface
Schemes and Themes
Technicalities
Note on abbreviations
Chapter 1 Introduction: Lumbini, a Buddhist World Exposition
1.1 Theravada and Mahayana
1.2 Lumbini's Eastern Monastic Zone: South and Southeast Asian Traditions
1.2.1 The Maha Bodhi Society
1.2.2 The Sri Lanka Monastery
1.2.3 The Gautami Center for Nuns
1.2.4 Myanmar (Burma)
1.2.5 Meditation Centers
1.3 Lumbini's Western Monastic Zone: East Asian Traditions
1.3.1 China
1.3.2 Korea
1.3.3 Japan
1.3.4 Vietnam
1.4 Lumbini's Western Monastic Zone: Tibetan Vajrayana Traditions
1.4.1 The Great Lotus Stupa
1.4.2 The Lumbini Udyana Mahachaitya
Part I: Foundations of the Triple Gem: Buddha/s, Dharma/s, and Sa gha/s
Chapter 2 Sakyamuni, Lives and Legends
2.1 The Historical Buddha
2.2 The Buddha's World
2.3 The Buddha of Story
2.4 Past Buddhas and the Biographical Blueprint
2.5 The Start of Sakyamuni's Career
2.6 Previous Lives (Jatakas)
2.6.1 The Donkey in the Lion's Skin
2.6.2 Vessantara Jataka
2.6.3 The Tigress Jataka
2.7 A Lifestory of Sakyamuni
2.7.1 Birth and Childhood
2.7.2 Life in the Palace
2.7.3 The Beginnings of Discontent
2.7.4 The Great Departure
2.7.5 Paths Not Taken
2.7.6 Awakening
2.7.7 After Enlightenment
2.7.8 The First Sermon
2.7.9 Various Conversions and Miracles
2.7.10 Death and Parinirvana
Chapter 3 Overcoming the Buddha's Absence
3.1 Seeing the Buddha in the Dharma
3.1.1 Excursus on the Buddhist Canon/s
3.2 Places of Pilgrimage
3.3 Relics
3.4 Buddha Images
3.5 The Masters of the Dharma
3.6 The Arhat Dharma-Protectors
3.7 Meeting Maitreya
Chapter 4 Some Permutations of the Middle Way
4.1 The Middle Way
4.2 Karma and Sa sara
4.2.1 Why Do Good Deeds?
4.2.2 Contexts of Karma I: Neither Free Will nor Determinism
4.2.3 Contexts of Karma II: Both Jain and Upanisadic Views
4.3 The Doctrine of Non-Self (Anatman)
4.3.1 Breaking Down the False Sense of Self: the Five Aggregates and Impermanence
4.3.2 The Elements (Dharmas)
4.3.3 Countering the Breakdown of Self: Personal Continuity
4.3.4 Explications of Continuity: Pseudo-Selves and Ersatz Atmans
4.4 Summary
Chapter 5 The Four Truths
5.1 The First Truth: Stress
5.2 The Second Truth: the Continual Arising of Stress and Interdependent Origination
5.2.1 The Double Bind of Sa sara
5.3 The Third Truth: the Cessation of Stress - Nirvana
5.4 The Fourth Truth: the Path to the Cessation of Stress
5.4.1 Moral Discipline
5.4.2 Meditation
5.4.3 Wisdom
5.5 Other Systematizations of the Path
5.5.1 The Seven Factors Conducive to Enlightenment
5.5.2 The Graduated Training
5.5.3 The Four Divine Abidings
5.5.4
