Buddhist Saints in India: A Study in Buddhist Values and OrientationsThe issue of saints is a difficult and complicated problem in buddhology. This study is the first comprehensive examination of the figure of the Buddhist saint in a wide range of Indian Buddhist evidence. Drawing on an extensive variety of sources, Ray seeks to identify the prototypical Buddhist saint as a "renunciant of the forest". This classical type, Ray argues, provides the presupposition for, and informs the different major Buddhist saintly types and subtypes, including the buddha, pratyekabuddha, arhant, and bodhisattva. Discussing the nature, dynamics, and history of Buddhist hagiography, Ray surveys the ascetic codes, conventions, and traditions of Buddhist saints, and the cults both of living saints and of those who have "passed beyond". He traces the role of the saints in Indian Buddhist history, particularly at the times of Buddhist origins and the formation of the Mahayana. Calling for a reconceptualization of Indian Buddhist history that takes into account the essential role played by the saints of the forest, Ray proposes a new three-fold model of Buddhism, that adds the forest renunciant to the well-known figures of the Buddhist monastic and layperson. Of primary concern to scholars of Buddhism, Indian religions, Asian studies, and religious studies, Buddhist Saints in India will also interest those who study hagiography. |
Contents
Introduction | 3 |
The Buddhist Saints and the TwoTiered Model of Buddhism | 15 |
Buddha Śākyamuni as a Saint | 44 |
Copyright | |
13 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Buddhist Saints in India: A Study in Buddhist Values and Orientations Reginald A. Ray Limited preview - 1999 |
Buddhist Saints in India: A Study in Buddhist Values and Orientations Reginald A. Ray Limited preview - 1994 |
Buddhist Saints in India: A Study in Buddhist Values and Orientations Reginald A. Ray Limited preview - 1999 |
Common terms and phrases
Ananda appears arhants ascetic Aśoka attainment Bareau behavior bhikkhus bhiksus bodhisattva Buddha Buddhaghosa Buddhist monasticism Buddhist saints chapter charisma context Conze cremation cult of saints cultic depicted Devadatta developed dharma Dharmaguptaka dhism dhutagunas disciples discussion doctrine dwelling earliest enlightenment evidence example Fa-hsien fact forest Buddhism forest renunciation forest saint hagiography Hirakawa Hsüan-tsang ideal important Indian Buddhism king laity Lamotte legend living magical powers Mahākāśyapa Mahāparinirvāṇa Sūtra Mahāsāmghika Māra meditation mentioned Milindapañha monastery monastic monks Mps-p Nikaya nirvāṇa normative Old Skandhaka original Pāli canon particularly person Pindola practice prajñā Prajñāpāramitā pratyekabuddha present PTSD realization reference reflect religious remarks robe Śākyamuni samgha Sanskrit Śāriputra Sarvāstivādin Schopen seen settled monasticism six versions sixteen arhants Sn-c specific spiritual śrāvakas story stūpa suggests Sutta tathāgata teacher teaching term texts textual theme Theragāthā Theravada Tibetan tion town-and-village tradition translation two-tiered model typically Upagupta Vajrayāna veneration vinaya worship