| A nicely laid out hardback book with many photos from the folks at Lonely Planet. There is a good amount of text describing the different types of stupas seen in Asia. It is not a scholarly tome, but a handsome coffee table book that is a pleasure to peruse. | ||
| Printed in India, this is a helpful book with a number of separate articles from different scholars. All are captivating. There is a very interesting read on Sanchi and its environs. The author makes the case that more archaeology is needed to help paint a picture of what was happening in the area, which was very dynamic with irrigation works and other developments. In the desire to focus on the significance of solitary stupas, scholars have failed to see the bigger picture. A fascinating window into studies that are yet to occur. | ||
| This dense book, printed in India, has a lot of detailed information on the development of the early monastic orders, the schisms that occurred, and the teachings that defined these schools. Akira, as a Japanese scholar, offers a different perspective as a representative of the “Northern School”. There is an interesting discussion on the Buddha’s birthdate debate. Akira credits the laity with an involvement in early Buddhism that is being challenged by contemporary scholars, as are his views on the formation of the Mahayana. A classic book first printed in 1990. | ||
| Love this resource! This book is an eye opener for stupa afficionados and is being used as a basis for many of the articles on ancient stupas in this web site. This is a self-published book from an author who has made an exhaustive study of most of the important stupas in India and Gandhara. As an architect he has re-created a number of drawings of stupas that are quite pleasing to look at. He is breaking some new ground and has brought a lot of information together in one place. First published in 2010. | ||
| An exploration of the foundation of Mahayana, this book reviews a number of texts and schools that are central to this period of Buddhism, and follows it through to Tibetan Vajrayana and the Pure Land schools of the East. It is meant to be comprehensive, and has been a primer for university courses for many years. A little dry and winding, but lots of information. Printed first in 1989. | ||
| Gregory Schopen’s second book of his ‘trilogy’, this one is equal to the first as an inspiration into what was really going on at the street level in ancient India. His focus on archaeology and epigraphy has opened doors to new interpretations. His scholarship is impeccable and he challenges his readers and fellow scholars to check the factual basis of his theories. He is a fresh wind blowing through academic circles and loves to take on stuffy old theories based solely on textual materials. He’s a real eye opener. Buy all three of his books. | ||
| The third in his trilogy, this book is a little harder to wade through than the others, but still contains a lot of important observations. All of Schopen’s books are important reads if you really want to get a grip on what went down in ancient India. You know he is writing to his peers when he preserves so many quotes in French. I’m impressed, but would rather read the English translation. Buy his first two books, and then if you’re still hungry, get this. | ||
