Introducing Buddhism. Kodo Matsunami
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INTRODUCING BUDDHISM
INTRODUCING BUDDHISM
REVISED EDITION
by
KODO MATSUNAMI
CHARLES E. TUTTLE COMPANY
Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan
Representatives
Continental Europe: BOXERBOOKS, INC., Zurich
British Isles: PRENTICE-HALL INTERNATIONAL, INC., London
Australasia: BOOK WISE (AUSTRALIA) PTY. LTD.
104-108 Sussex Street, Sydney 2000
Canada: HURTIG PUBLISHERS, Edmonton
This edition is published by the Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.
of Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan
with editorial offices at
Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032
All rights reserved by Kodo Matsunami
Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 75-28970
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0961-2 (ebook)
First edition, February, 1965
Second edition, 1966
Revised edition, 1973
Fourth edition, 1973
First Tuttle edition, 1976
0215-000408-4615
PRINTED IN JAPAN
This book is dedicated
to
the Pioneers of Buddhism
in the West
Contents
| Preface | 9 | |
| Part One: Buddhism in Thought | ||
| 1. | What is Buddhism? | 13 |
| 2. | Buddhism for the Modern World | 16 |
| 3. | Buddhism and Other Religions | 35 |
| 4. | Is Buddhism an Atheism? | 44 |
| Part Two: Buddhism in History | ||
| 1. | Gautama Buddha: the Founder of Buddhism | 51 |
| 2. | A Short History of Early Buddhism in India | 56 |
| 3. | A Short History of Buddhism in China | 58 |
| 4. | A Short History of Buddhism in Japan | 61 |
| 5. | A Short History of Buddhism in Asia | 81 |
| 6. | A Short History of Buddhism in the West | 91 |
| Part Three: Buddhism in Tradition | ||
| 1. | The Teaching of the Jodo Mission | 115 |
| 2. | Jodo Mission Service Order | 129 |
| 3. | Selected Scriptures of the Jodo Mission | 135 |
| 4. | Explanation of Buddhist Services | 150 |
| 5. | Explanation of Buddhist Annual Events | 155 |
| 6. | Explanation of Buddhist Symbolic Objects | 168 |
| Part Four: Buddhism in Action | ||
| 1. | Buddhist Sermons in 5 minutes | 179 |
| 2. | Buddhist Words of Wisdom | 217 |
| 3. | True Buddhist Stories | 246 |
| 4. | The Significance of Pure Land Buddhism | 257 |
| Appendix: What to Read on Buddhism | 273 | |
| Index: Glossary | 291 | |
| Title Index | 301 |
Preface to the Revised Edition
This little book does not attempt to give an exposition of any particular thought from the authoritative standpoint of view. It is, on the other hand, a collection of essays on Buddhism which are understood by a Japanese student who sets out for a journey in search of his true self.
Although there are many English books on Buddhism which are written by the Eastern and Western scholars, they are rather difficult to read by the general public, and are sometimes misleading from the Buddhist point of view. It was my long cherished hope to write a comprehensive book on Buddhism from within, so that the readers may understand the accurate form of Buddhism as it existed, and is existing today. It is an undeniable fact that Buddhism still remains in a showbox to be displayed. It is often regarded by Westerners as nothing but one of the exotic religions of the Orient, and real interest in it is only seen in the academic fields in the West.
The time has come for us to think of Buddhism not in terms of temples old and new, or of traditional rituals, but in terms of injecting more vitality to make Buddhism more meaningful to all of us. We of this generation must make it known to the world that Buddhism has a living significance as a great world religion and can contribute to the enrichment of world culture.
When I heard of the coming of the 800th Anniversary of the founding of the Jodo denomination of Buddhism in 1974,1 felt more than anything else the pressing