Buddhists : Understanding Buddhism Through the Lives of Practitioners.
- 1st ed.
- 1 online resource (347 pages)
- New York Academy of Sciences Series .
- New York Academy of Sciences Series .
Cover -- Title Page -- Copyright -- Contents -- Notes on Contributors -- Preface -- Acknowledgments -- Introduction -- The Eightfold Path and the Gradual Path -- Pragmatic and Transcendental Buddhism -- Part I Buddhists in the Earliest and Medieval Eras -- Chapter 1 The Female Householder Mallika -- Introduction:Mallika's Historical, Geographical, and Cultural Context -- Mallika's Biography -- Reflections on How This Individual's Life Relates to the Buddhist Community -- Chapter 2 Bhadda Kundalakesa: The Ex-Jain -- Introduction -- The Biographical Details of Bhadda Kundalakesa in Other Texts -- Conclusion -- Chapter 3 Two Noted Householders of the Buddha's Time: Upasika Vishakha and Upasaka Anathapindika -- Anathapindika the Upasaka -- Vishakha the Upasika -- Chapter 4 Nagarjuna: The Great Philosopher -- Introduction -- Second-Century Mathura -- Mahayana Traditions in Mathura -- Monastic Life in Mathura -- Nagarjuna, a Brahmin Monk -- Nagarjuna in Andhra Pradesh -- Conclusion -- Chapter 5 Who Is Uncle Donpa? -- Introduction -- Uncle Donpa and Trickster Tales in Tibet -- Traditional Interpretations -- Contemporary Interpretations -- Conclusions -- Chapter 6 Ma-chig Lab-dron: Mother of Tibetan Buddhist Chod -- The Life Story of Ma-chig Lab-dron -- Ma-chig Lab-dron's Teachings -- Spiritual Innovator: Chod Tradition -- The Legacy of Ma-chig Lab-dron -- Part II Buddhist Lives in the West -- Chapter 7 I.B. Horner and the Twentieth-Century Development of Buddhism in the West -- Introduction: Colonial Context, the Centrality of Texts, and the Authority of European Scholarship -- Theravada Buddhism and the Pali Canon -- The Rhys Davids and the Pali Text Society -- Joining the Pali Text Society -- Assuming Leadership of the Pali Text Society -- Participation in Buddhist Groups -- Was Horner a Buddhist or just an Advocate of Buddhist Views? -- Conclusion. Chapter 8 Takyu: A Young Buddhist Nun at a Ch'an Temple in the English Midlands -- Introduction -- Life History -- The Monastery -- The Ordination -- Monastic Temple Religious Practices -- Forms of Pragmatic Buddhism -- Conclusion -- Chapter 9 Refuge and Reconnection: One Lao Woman's Story -- Introduction -- Refuge and Reconnection -- Conclusion -- Chapter 10 Conversion, Devotion, and (Trans-)Mission: Understanding Ole Nydahl -- Introduction -- Early Life: Conversion, Training, and Mission -- First Charismatic Phase: Foundations (1972-1982) -- Second Charismatic Phase: Transition (1982-1992) -- "Twenty Years on the Road": The Making of a Lama -- Third Charismatic Phase:The Global Schism and Diamond Way Expansion (1992-2007) -- Conclusion: Observations on a Late-Charismatic Movement in Transition -- Chapter 11 Noah Levine: Punk Rocker and Buddhist Meditation Teacher -- The Religious Biography of Noah Levine -- Early Life: Drugs, Alcohol, Jail, and Punk Rock Music -- Turning Point: Becoming a "Spiritual Person" -- Committing to Buddhism -- Mixing Punk with Buddhism: The Teaching Style of Noah Levine -- Noah Levine's Life Story and Its Relation to the Buddhist Tradition -- Chapter 12 Legendary Beat Poet: Allen Ginsberg -- Introduction -- A Poet's Jewish Roots and Buddhist Beginnings -- Asian Pilgrimage, Tibetan Influences, Antiwar Expressions -- Problems at Naropa Institute and with Chogyam Trungpa -- Last Years -- Chapter 13 Dr. Stephen John Fulder: Founder of Vipassana in Israel -- Background -- Western Meditation -- From One Man's Project to a Community -- Influenced by yet Ambivalent toward Goenka -- Relation to Judaism -- Politics -- Some Concluding Remarks -- Chapter 14 Amala Sensei: Zen Priest -- Background -- Coming to the Path -- Conclusion -- Part III Buddhist Lives in South and Southeast Asia. Chapter 15 Pawinee Bunkhun: The Life of a Thai Buddhist Upasika -- Introduction -- Lay Buddhism in Thailand -- Gender and Buddhism -- Conclusion -- Chapter 16 Mahasi Sayadaw of Burma -- The Early Life of Mahasi Sayadaw -- Monastic Ordination and Ascetic Practices -- The Lay Meditation Movement -- Missionary Buddhism -- Chapter 17 Corporal Monk: Venerable Sudinna's Journey from the Sri Lankan Army to the Buddhist Sangha -- Introduction -- A Forest Monastic Sanctuary -- Chapter 18 The Lure of Renunciation and the Ways of the World: Maechii Wabi of Thailand -- Introduction -- The Path to Ordination -- Chapter 19 Becoming a Theravada Modernist Buddhist in Contemporary Nepal -- Introduction -- Childhood: Newar Buddhist Critic -- Theravada Buddhism as a Reformist Movement in Nepal -- Becoming a Theravada Devotee -- Vipassana Meditation and the Practice of "Pure Buddhism" -- Remaining a Householder: Marriage and Family Life -- Conclusion -- Part IV Buddhist Lives in the Himalayan Region -- Chapter 20 Tenpe Gyaltsen: The Fifth Jamyang Zhepa -- Introduction: 1916-1924 -- Exile: 1924-1927 -- Early Adulthood: 1928-1937 -- Pilgrimage to Lhasa: 1937-1940 -- Return to Labrang: 1940-1947 -- Why a Biography of Tenpe Gyaltsen? -- Chapter 21 A Female Tibetan Buddhist Diviner in Darjeeling -- Introducing Mo Sukey -- Returning from Death -- A Professional Mopa -- Devotion to a Lama -- Conclusion -- Chapter 22 Tsultrim Zangmo: A Twenty-First-Century Tibetan Buddhist Woman in South Asia -- Introduction -- Return to Her Parents' Home in Nepal -- The Loss of a Father -- Mother and Lama as Spiritual Guides -- Chapter 23 Bakula Arhat's Journeys to the North: The Life and Work of the 19th Kushok Bakula in Russia and Mongolia -- Background -- Birth and Early Life of a Reincarnate Lama -- Outreach and Missionary Activities in the Soviet Union and Mongolia. Monk-Ambassador to Mongolia -- Revitalizing Buddhism in Mongolia -- Death, Commemoration, and the Perpetuation of the Tradition -- Chapter 24 Hunger, Hard Work, and Uncertainty: Tashi Dondrup Reminisces on Life and Death in a Tibetan Village -- Background: Practicing Buddhism and the Complexities of Subsistence Farming -- Context and Early Life -- A Life of Struggle, New Opportunities, Tragedy -- Elder Years and Religious Orientation -- Chapter 25 Benefiting the Doctrine and Sentient Beings: The Life of a Tibetan Lineage Master and the Ethos of Altruistic Action -- Introduction -- Methodology and Context -- Ts'ampa Nawang: The Formative Years -- Ever Broader Activities -- Altruistic Action -- Conclusion -- Chapter 26 Living Practical Dharma: Chomo Khandru and the Himalayan Bon Tradition -- Introduction -- Locating Lubra and the Bon Tradition -- Life as a Chomo: Birthright or Burden? -- On Writing and Weaving: Gender-Bending Identities -- Changing Religious, Economic, and Educational Landscapes -- Continuing the Lineage -- Chapter 27 Excavating the Stories of Border-Crossing Women Masters in Modern Buddhism: The Oral Biography of Pelling Ani Wangdzin and Her Family -- Introduction -- Sikkim: Religious and Historical Context -- Part V Buddhist Lives in East Asia -- Chapter 28 The Life of a Contemporary Japanese Buddhist Priest: Protecting the Dharma and Ensuring Its Flow with All of One's Strength -- Introduction -- Pure Land in the Context of Modern Japanese Buddhism -- The Life of Rev. Keishin Ogi -- Chapter 29 Toshihide Numata: Igniting the Flame of the Dharma -- Background -- Early Life and Formative Influences -- Chapter 30 Seno'o Giro: The Life and Thought of a Radical Buddhist -- Introduction -- Early Life and Its Context -- Education and Formative Influences -- Immersion in the Nichiren Buddhist Tradition. New Movements: Merging Nichiren Buddhism and Western Radical Traditions -- Repression, Imprisonment, and Postwar Activities -- Chapter 31 Building a Culture of Social Engagement: Nichiren Buddhism and Soka Gakkai Buddhists in Japan -- Nichiren Buddhism in Practice: The Experience of Keiko Yonamine -- Conclusion: Religion as a Life Philosophy and Practice of Value-Creation -- Chapter 32 Blood and Teardrops: The Life and Travels of Venerable Fazun -- Introduction -- Translations of Fazun's Autobiography -- Chapter 33 A Modern Chinese Laywoman: Dumplings, Dharani, and Dedication-Honest Auntie Li Tries to Be a Good Buddhist -- Introduction -- Introducing Auntie Li -- Practicing Buddhism -- Pathway into Buddhism -- Defining a "Good Buddhist" -- Balancing Business and Buddhism -- Conclusion -- Index.