The British Discovery of Buddhism

Download or read book The British Discovery of Buddhism written by Philip C. Almond and published by Cambridge University Press. This book was released on 1988 with total page 200 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This is the first book to examine the British discovery of Buddhism during the Victorian period. It was only during the nineteenth century that Buddhism became, in the western mind, a religious tradition separate from Hinduism. As a result, Buddha emerge from a realm of myth and was addressed as a historical figure. Almond's exploration of British interpretations of Buddhism--of its founder, its doctrines, its ethics, its social practices, its truth and value--illuminates more than the various aspects of Buddhist culture: it sheds light on the Victorian society making these judgements.