Hans Penner takes a new look at the classic stories of the life of the Buddha. In the first part of the book; he presents a full account of these stories; drawn from various texts of Theravada Buddhism; the Buddhism of South and Southeast Asia. Penner allots one chapter to each of the major milestones in Buddha's life; with titles such as: Birth and Early Life; Flight from the Palace; Enlightenment and Liberation; Last Watch and Funeral. In the process; he brings to the fore dimensions of the myth that have been largely ignored by western scholarship. In Part II; Penner offers his own original interpretations of the legends. He takes issue with Max Weber's assertion that "Buddhism is an other-worldly ascetic religion;" a point of view that remains dominant in the received tradition and in most contemporary studies of Buddhism. His central thesis is that the "householder" is a necessary element in Buddhism and that the giving of gifts; which creates merit and presupposes the doctrine of karma; mediates the relation between the householder and the monk. Penner argues that the omission of the householder - in his view one-half of what constitutes Buddhism as a religion - is fatal for any understanding of Buddha's life or of the Buddhist tradition. This boldly revisionist and deeply learned work will be of interest to a wide range of scholarly and lay readers.
#1319829 in Books Oxford University Press; USA 2011-11-09 2011-11-09Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.10 x .60 x 9.20l; .70 #File Name: 0195370007240 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Essential reading about the roots of Korea - U.S. relationsBy Emily ZimmermanThis engaging narrative about Koreans who organized overseas against Japanese colonialism provides crucial insights into U.S.-Korea relations and little-known causes of the Korean War. Considering that Korea is currently the most militarized spot on earth; with U.S. military forces stationed there continuously for almost seven decades; it is critical that Americans gain a better grasp of the facts of Koreas's 20th-century history; so we can understand our role and responsibility as taxpaying citizens of a global superpower. Written as a series of episodes focused on the key players among Korean nationalist ex-pats; "Quest for Statehood" also supplies a vital and indispensable missing piece of history about Koreans in America. Without understanding events between 1905-1945; we cannot make sense of Korean-American history; which; when focused primarily on post-1965 immigrant experience; exists suspended in dissociated narratives about "model minority" entrepreneurial success stories; victimization in the Los Angeles riots; Christian ethnic enclaves; and strange oppressive silence about geopolitics. I can't praise "Quest for Statehood" highly enough for filling key gaps in our understanding.
