Buddhism and its Social Significance

Loseries-Leick, Andrea (Hrsg.):
Buddhism and its social significance for the Asian world : proceedings of the first international conference of the Centre for Buddhist Studies 2007 / editor, Andrea Loseries ; advisory board, Suniti Kumar Pathak ... [et al.]. - Delhi : Buddhist World Press, in association with Centre for Buddhist Studies, Visva-Bharati, 2009. - xxiv, 159 S. : Ill.
ISBN 81-908212-5-3 / 978-81-908212-5-4
US$ 57,45 (D.K. Agencies)
US$ 79,20 (K.K. Agencies)
US$ 82,80 (Bagchee)

Beschreibung
The work reflects the Buddhist scenario and philosophic guidelines that over a period of many centuries have marked the customs and practices of the Asian world along with its arts and sciences. The diversity of Buddhist Asian cultures expressed in various styles and languages is a rich palette with congruent and non-congruent layers, collectively presenting a picture of unchallenged beauty, similar to a peacok's feather which very charm is the variety in an ensemble of unity.
   In the course of time the holistic Buddhist framework of living based on the philosophical views and practical approaches of various gateways or vehicles (Yanas) developed models or ideals for enlightened mind and action. These syncretistic strategies have infiltrated Asian thought and culture in various ways. Buddhist Asian societies in the past and present reflect the plurality of a value system, which can help to pre-empt the negative, emotional, social and economic conditions of life.
   The book presents a selection of papers held at the occasion of the First International Conference of Buddhist Studies organized by the Department of Indo-Tibetan Studies, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan (September 2007) on the topic, focusing on the cultural changes of strategies based on source materials and case studies, art and archaeology, women studies and solution models in Asian societies in the mirror of Buddhist ideals.

Inhalt
Governor's Message / Gopal Krishna Gandhi
Message / Mr. Manop Mekprayoothing, Consul-General Thailand
Message / Prof. Rajat Kanta Ray, Upacharya - Visva-Bharati
Introduction / Andrea Loseries
Keynote Address / Suniti Kumar Pathak
Contributors
SECTION 1: STRATEGIES AND SOURCE MATERIALS
    1. Buddhist Social Stratification / K. Sankarnarayan
    2. The Concept of Sat in Buddhism / Raghunath Ghosh
    3. Prajnaparamitavadin's Influence on Proto-Mahayana in its incipient Stage : An Hypothetical Approach / Sangwhan Shin
SECTION 2: CASE STUDIES
    4. THe Bodhs of Spiti, Himachal Pradesh : A Case Study / R. K. Bhattacharya
    5. The Chakma : A Missing Link of the Sakya Tribe? / Prajnalankar Bhikkhu
    6. Russian Scholar's Contribution to Buddhist Studies / Aruna Mukherjee
SECTION 3: ART AND ARCHAEOLOGY
    7. Ratnatraya in Inscriptions and Archaeological Remains of Ancient Bangladesh / Enamul Haque
    8. Socio-Religious Significance of Buddhist Art in Santiniketan / Kalpika Mukherjee
    9. Treasures of Buddhist Art at Visva-Bharati : The Tibetan Thanka Collection / Andrea Loseries
SECTION 4: WOMEN STUDIES
    10. Historical Women in Buddhist India : A Theravadin Tradition / Meena V. Talim
    11. Women in Indian Society : A Buddhist View / Vakul Mitta
    12. Tagore's Candalika and its Buddhist Background / Bela Bhattacharya
SECTION 5: BEST PRACTICES - SOLUTION MODELS
    13. Buddhist Economics : Where People not Goods matter / K. T. S. Sarao
    14. Dr. Ambedkar's Contribution to Social Buddhist Philosophy / Chandra D. Naik
    15. Tradition, Globalisation and Cultural Identity / Asha Mukherjee

Herausgeberin

(Bildquelle: Interreligiöse Verständigung & Zusammenarbeit)
ANDREA LOSERIES-LEICK, an Austrian National, has studied in Paris, Santiniketan and Vienna Tibetology, Indology, History of Asian Arts and Ethnology. Fluent in four European and four Asian Languages she is an expert in field studies, focusing in her research on the cultural history of Tibet and India. As a Buddhist practitioner since 1971 she is specialized in Higher Tantras and Iconography. Since 2006 she is holding the post of Professor and head of the department of Indo-Tibetan and Buddhist Studies at Visva Bharati, Santiniketan, West Bengal.

Quellen: Bagchee; K.K. Agencies; D.K. Agencies; WorldCat.

Rückschau
Von der Herausgeberin haben wir in Indologica bereits das folgende Werk erfaßt:
[04.02.2008] Loseries-Leick: Tibetan Mahayoga Tantra