New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

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tiltbillings
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New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

Post by tiltbillings »

From H-Buddhism e-list:
  • On behalf of my co-editors, I am pleased to announce the publication
    of our new book "How Theravada is Theravada. Exploring Buddhist
    Identities". This volume has been edited by Peter Skilling, Jason
    A. Carbine, Claudio Cicuzza, and Santi Pakdeekham, published by
    Silkworm Books (Chiang Mai), and is now available through Silkworm
    Books Website ( <http://www.silkwormbooks.com/>
    http://www.silkwormbooks.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).


    Its bibliographic data are:

    ISBN 978-616-215-044-9

    2012. 640 pp.

    Paperback, 14 x 21 cm

    50 black and white illustrations,
    100 color illustrations, footnotes,
    bibliography, index

    USD 60
    THB 950


    Contents:

    - Introduction

    - Acknowledgements

    - Conventions

    - Map of South and Southeast Asia

    1.Was Buddhaghosa a Theravadin? Buddhist Identity in the Pali Commentaries
    and Chronicles. Rupert Gethin

    2. The Teachings of the Abhayagiri School. L.S. Cousins.

    3. Sthavira, Thera and '*Sthaviravada' in Chinese Buddhist Sources. Max
    Deeg.

    4. The King and his Bhagava: The Meanings of Pagan's Early Theravadas.
    Lilian Handlin.

    5. Sasanasuddhi/Simasammuti: Comments on a Spatial Basis of the Buddha's
    Religion. Jason A. Carbine.

    6. Lineage, Inheritance, and Belonging: Expressions of Monastic Affiliation
    from Lanka. Anne M. Blackburn.

    7. King Rama I and Wat Phra Chetuphon: the Buddha-sasana in Early Bangkok.
    Peter Skilling.

    8. The Benefits of Ordination according to the Paramatthamangala. Claudio
    Cicuzza.

    9. Circulation of Texts in Mid-Nineteenth Century Cambodia: A new reading of
    Inscription K. 892 (Vatt Ta Tok, CE 1857). Olivier de Bernon.

    10. King Mongkut's Invention of a Universal Pali Script. Venerable Phra Anil
    Sakya.

    11. Thai Ideas about Hinayana-Mahayana: Correspondence between King
    Chulalongkorn and Prince Narisranuvattiwong. Arthid Sheravanichkul.

    12. Whence Theravada? The Modern Genealogy of an Ancient Term. Todd LeRoy
    Perreira.


    - Description of plates
    - Contributors and editors
    - Indexes

    From the back cover:

    "Our understanding of the history of Buddhism in Southeast Asia has often
    been oversimplified, biased, or vague. The twelve innovative essays
    presented here shed new light upon terms such as sthavira, theravada,
    theriya, or theravamsa, each of which may carry a variety of meanings and
    connotations. Some of the contributors reconsider known data to present new
    and challenging perspectives on the complicated history of the Mahavihara
    and Abhayagiri schools in Sri Lanka, or the Indian historiographical
    tradition on the formation of Buddhist orders/schools (nikaya/acariyavada).
    Others stress the central role of lineages and their transmission, as well
    as the dynamic impulse, that this problematic provokes in terms of
    long-distance exchanges.

    Topical inquiries based on epigraphical material reveal the force of
    institutional practices, or invite scholars to analyze the textual
    traditions of Southeast Asia more deeply, particularly its "transitive" mode
    of translation. Essays range across Buddhism in early Lanka, in Burma during
    the Pagan and Dhammachedi periods, in nineteenth-century Cambodia, and in
    Thailand from the late eighteenth to early twentieth centuries. This richly
    illustrated volume should figure in all academic programs of Buddhist
    Studies."


    With my (our) best regards,

    Claudio Cicuzza
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
Nyana
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Re: New Book

Post by Nyana »

Thanks. Should be a good read for anyone interested in such things.

Here's the Silkworm Books website page for the book: How Theravāda is Theravāda? Exploring Buddhist Identities.
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hanzze_
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Re: New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

Post by hanzze_ »

"How Theravada is Theravada. Exploring Buddhist
Identities"
Sounds as would it be a quest of identification. Did anybody read it? Is the general intention or the feeling one could get a splitting or an uniting one?
plwk
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Re: New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

Post by plwk »

Boy oh boy I must get this book... first chapter and it goes 'Was Buddhaghosa a Theravadin?' :lol:
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tiltbillings
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Re: New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

Post by tiltbillings »

plwk wrote:Boy oh boy I must get this book... first chapter and it goes 'Was Buddhaghosa a Theravadin?' :lol:
At least unlike some who have been quoted here in regards to Buddhaghosa, with Gethin we can expect, whatever the conclusion, even handed and excellent scholarship.
>> Do you see a man wise [enlightened/ariya] in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.<< -- Proverbs 26:12

This being is bound to samsara, kamma is his means for going beyond. -- SN I, 38.

“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?” HPatDH p.723
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Kumara
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Re: New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

Post by Kumara »

hanzze_ wrote:Sounds as would it be a quest of identification. Did anybody read it? Is the general intention or the feeling one could get a splitting or an uniting one?
I've not got the book (though we've ordered) but has read Skilling's earlier draft for his part. It's neither splitting or an uniting. It's truth-seeking. My kind of book.
daverupa
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Re: New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

Post by daverupa »

I read the book with interest and satisfaction. I highly recommend it.
  • "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting oneself one protects others? By the pursuit, development, and cultivation of the four establishments of mindfulness. It is in such a way that by protecting oneself one protects others.

    "And how is it, bhikkhus, that by protecting others one protects oneself? By patience, harmlessness, goodwill, and sympathy. It is in such a way that by protecting others one protects oneself.

- Sedaka Sutta [SN 47.19]
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gavesako
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Re: New Book: How Theravada is Theravada?

Post by gavesako »

Having received a copy of "How Theravada is Theravada", I have been reading through some of the chapters describing the history of "Pali imaginaire" in SE Asia and Thailand in particular. This book is loaded with lots of historical information opening up a whole new perspective on what we generally understand by "Theravada Buddhism" -- so I expect a few revisions will have to be made. But how many people will take the trouble to read it? It is attractively presented with many photographs as well, so this should make the book more readable, even if one is not going to read it from cover to cover. The chapter on simas is quite relevant for me, as is the chapter on the Thai kings and their understanding of Buddhism influenced by Western scholars.

Here is one interesting table from the book illustrating the use of the term "Theravada":

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-HmIbP ... 2012-10-20" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Bhikkhu Gavesako
Kiṃkusalagavesī anuttaraṃ santivarapadaṃ pariyesamāno... (MN 26)

Access to Insight - Theravada texts
Ancient Buddhist Texts - Translations and history of Pali texts
Dhammatalks.org - Sutta translations
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