ABOUT THE BOOK
This book offers a serious exploration of many different aspects of ancient Indian Buddhism. In the recent past controversy relating to date of the Buddha has been resurrected. The author has discussed this issue in detail and has suggested his own date for the Mahăparinibbãna. Buddhist attitude towards women and ahimsã have also been analyzed from a new perspective. The book examines in detail the background to the origin of Buddhism especially the so-called role played by iron technology in it. The issue as to what extent Buddhism was an urban religion has also been discussed. Most of the arguments in the book have been based on extensive data gleaned from the Pãli Vinaya and Sutta Pitaka. This data is provided in the form of appendices at the end of the book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
K.T.S. Sarao is currently a Visiting Professor of Păli and Indian Buddhism at the Chung-Hwa Institute of Buddhist Studies. Fagu-Shan. Taiwan. He has published widely on Indian Buddhism. He holds doctorates from the universities of Delhi and Cambridge. Professor Sarao has taught as a visiting professor at various universities in Asia. Western Europe and North America.
PREFACE
The first edition of this book was based on my work of the late 1970s and early 1980s, when I was a student. After the appearance of the first edition, I have had not only the opportunity of having a more closer look at Buddhism, but have also learnt a lot more from many of my students and colleagues. As a result of this, I have revised my opinion on most aspects of ancient Indian Buddhism. I have received help from various persons. My friends Dr Anita Sharma, Dr S.C. Goswami and Dr T.R. Sharma read the revised manuscript at various stages and made valuable suggestions. Sunita, Neha and Nidhi helped not only in compiling the bibliography but also took great care and pains in preparing the index. I am indebted to all of them.
March 2003 K.T.S. Sarao
CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS
CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION
CHAPTER 2 PROBLEMS OF CHRONOLOGY
CHAPTER 3 IRON, URBANIZATION AND BUDDHISM
CHAPTER 4 ANCIENT INDIAN BUDDHISM AND AHIMSÃ
CHAPTER 5 ANCIENT INDIAN BUDDHIST ATTITUDE TOWARDS WOMEN
CHAPTER 6 THE DILEMMA OF DEVADATTA AND BUDDHIST VIEW OF GOD
CHAPTER 7 SOCIAL THOUGHT OF ANCIENT INDIAN BUDDHISM
APPENDIX: I BUDDHIST CHRONOLOGY
APPENDIX: 2 FREQUENCY OF URBAN SETTLEMENTS IN THE PÃLI VINAYA AND SUTTA PITAKA
APPENDIX: 3 DEVADATTA IN THE JÃTAKAS
APPENDIX: 4 JATAKA DATA ON THE BODHISATTAS
APPENDIX: 5A MALE PERSONALITIES MENTIONED IN THE
PÃLI VINAY A AND SUTTA PITAKA
APPENDIX: 5B FEMALE PERSONALITIES MENTIONED IN THE PÃLI VINAYA AND SUTTA PITAKA
BIBLIOGRAPHY