The Gospel of Buddha, Compiled from Ancient Records

Description

Paul Carus presents a monumental reconstruction of the earliest Buddhist teachings in The Gospel of Buddha, Compiled from Ancient Records. Drawing from the oldest known Buddhist texts and early Chinese records, Carus recovers the original message of the Buddha before it was systematized into later Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions. He argues that the Buddha's original message was a radical call to personal spiritual awakening rather than the ritualistic religion that developed later.\n\nThis historical investigation challenges modern perceptions of Buddhism by revealing the philosopher-king's original intent. Carus meticulously compares the oldest Chinese translations with later Indian versions to reconstruct the Buddha's actual teachings. The result is a provocative readable history that strips away centuries of tradition to reveal the core of Buddhist philosophy. Ideal for students of religion, history buffs, and anyone interested in the origins of Eastern thought.