Overview

To this day, Buddhist holidays and rituals are pinned to the arc of the Buddha's biography, celebrating his birth, awakening, teaching, and final nirvana. His story is the model that exemplary Buddhists follow. Often, there is a moment of insight akin to the Buddha's experience with the Four Sights, followed by a great departure from home, and a period of searching that it is hoped will lead to final awakening. The Buddha's story is not just the Buddha's story; it is the story of Buddhism. In this book, twelve leading scholars of South Asian texts and traditions articulate the Buddha-life blueprint--the underlying and foundational pattern that holds the life story of a buddha together. They retell the episodes of Buddha Gautama's extended life story, while keeping in mind the cosmic, paradigmatic arc of his narrative. The contributors have dedicated their careers to exploring hagiographical materials, each applying their own methodological and theoretical interests to shed new light on the enduring story of Buddhism. Using multiple perspectives, voices, and sources, this volume underscores the multivalent centrality of this story. The book will be an invaluable resource to practicing Buddhists and students of Buddhist Studies to help them engage in the most foundational story of the tradition.

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9798874636036

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Vanessa R. Sasson is professor of religious studies at Marianopolis College, research fellow at the University of the Free State, and research member of Centre d'etudes et de recherches sur l'Inde, l'Asie du Sud et sa diaspora at Universite du Quebec à Montreal. She is the author or editor of numerous books. Vanessa R. Sasson is professor of religious studies at Marianopolis College, research fellow at the University of the Free State, and research member of Centre d'etudes et de recherches sur l'Inde, l'Asie du Sud et sa diaspora at Universite du Quebec à Montreal. She is the author or editor of numerous books. Kristin Scheible is professor of religion and humanities at Reed College. She is the author of Reading the Mahavamsa: The Literary Aims of a Theravada Buddhist History. Kristin Scheible is professor of religion and humanities at Reed College. She is the author of Reading the Mahavamsa: The Literary Aims of a Theravada Buddhist History. Leslie Howard is a talented audiobook narrator with a background in intensive yoga study, metaphysics, and fiber arts who lives on a small farm sanctuary where she's raised six homeschooled children. She performs nonfiction, YA, sci-fi, and literary fiction and has trained with notable coaches like Sean Pratt and Paul Allen Ruben. She brings creativity, empathy, and a lifelong love of performance to her work.

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