About Book
"Discourses in Buddhist Classics" is primarily designed with twofold objective viz., to serve as the tool for post-graduate teaching of the Course in "Philosophy of the Buddha"; and to sustain the interest of the enterprising student by providing comprehensive understanding of Theravada and Mahayana schools of Buddhism. Divided into six chapters, the first chapter gives an account of the missionary life and object of Buddha's teachings from Pali and Sanskrit sources; the second surveys the evolution of Pali language and its significant contribution; the third and fourth provide a brief sketch of Pali Tripitakas, the salient features as well as the Philosophical doctrines of Theravada and Mahayana Buddhism by comparison and contrast. The last two chapters discuss the historiography of the two representative Buddhist Classics each from Theravada and Mahayana philosophical schools of Buddhism viz., Dhammapada, Sutta-Nipata, Vajracchedika Prajnaparamita and Saddharma Pundarika Sutra while throwing light on their central teachings.
This work serves as a useful companion for the scholars and researchers who are seriously interested in the history of Buddhist literature; who wish to probe into Buddhist Textual Studies and who desire to have a lucid understanding of the philosophy of the two major Buddhist traditions of Theravada and Mahayana.
About Author
Dr. Saibaba V.V.S. (1947-) Professor at Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam wherefrom he holds his Master's degree (1973), and PhD degree (1985). He was Head of the Centre for Mahayana Buddhist Studies at Acarya Nagarjuna University (1987-89). He taught Buddhist Sanskrit texts, philosophy of the Buddha, Scriptural readings, Indian philosophy and Sankaradvaita. He has participated in several International and National Conferences and supervised research on Jaina and Buddhist Philosophical texts, Buddhist history, Art, Architecture, Literature, Judaism, catholic Christianity, Hatha Yoga and Dvaita Vedanta. His other publications include Facets of Buddhist Philosophy: Theravada and Mahayana; Faith and Devotion in Theravada Buddhism; Theravada Buddhist Devotionalism in Ceylon, Burma and Thailand; Studies in Vedanta (co-editor); many research papers in international and national journals of Buddhism and philosophy.