PDF From Viracocha to the Virgin of Copacabana: Representation of the Sacred at Lake Titicaca by Verónica Salles-Reese in History

Description

In The Buddha in the Jungle; real-life stories about 19th and early 20th century Buddhist monks in Thailand are ingeniously intermingled with experiences recorded by their Western contemporaries. Stories tell of giant snakes; bandits; boatmen; midwives; and guardian spirits and collectively portray a Buddhist culture in all its imaginative and geographical concreteness. By juxtaposing these eyewitness accounts; Kamala Tiyavanich presents a new and vivid picture of Buddhism as it was lived and of the natural environments in which the Buddha's teachings were practiced.Kamala Tiyavanich is a Thai Buddhist and the author of Forest Recollections: Wandering Monks in Twentieth-Century Thailand. She lives in Ithaca; New York."Reading The Buddha in the Jungle is a wondrous journey to an exotic land; full of magic chants; wise grandmothers; ghosts; elephants; snakes; and compassionate Buddhist monks. This is a book of history; anthropology; and Buddhist teachings; and it is delightfully easy and fun to read." - Wes Nisker; co-editor of Inquiring Mind"This is one of the most remarkable; honest; and rich accounts of how Theravada Buddhism actually flourished in Thailand. It gives us a new picture of the true breadth and fullness of the tradition in every part of life." - Jack Kornfield; author of A Path with Heart"This is a wonderful work of scholarship and storytelling. By introducing nearly every tale with comments by one or more western writers; Kamala helps English-reading students of Thailand and Buddhism understand the translated material." - John Badgley; Cornell University"An absorbing and totally different yet highly readable survey of a little-known period of relitious and social history." - Russell Webb; editor of Buddhist Studies Review; London"A very interesting and engaging account of living Buddhism in the last centuries and a valuable contribution to the increasing knowledge of the many and varied forms of Buddhist practice." - Venerable Tiradhammo; abbot of Dhammapala Monastery; Switzerland"Throws an intersting light upon Dharma as it was practiced in Siam; certainly a light that differs in many respects from the state-imposed Buddhism of Bangkok." - Laurence Khantipalo; cofounder of the Bodhi Citta Buddhist Centre; Australia