Introducing Buddhism. Kodo Matsunami

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      INTRODUCING BUDDHISM

      INTRODUCING BUDDHISM

      REVISED EDITION

      by

       KODO MATSUNAMI

      CHARLES E. TUTTLE COMPANY

       Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan

      Representatives

       Continental Europe: BOXERBOOKS, INC., Zurich

       British Isles: PRENTICE-HALL INTERNATIONAL, INC., London

       Australasia: BOOK WISE (AUSTRALIA) PTY. LTD.

       104-108 Sussex Street, Sydney 2000

       Canada: HURTIG PUBLISHERS, Edmonton

      This edition is published by the Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc.

       of Rutland, Vermont & Tokyo, Japan

       with editorial offices at

       Osaki Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141-0032

      All rights reserved by Kodo Matsunami

      Library of Congress Catalog Card No. 75-28970

      ISBN: 978-1-4629-0961-2 (ebook)

      First edition, February, 1965

       Second edition, 1966

       Revised edition, 1973

       Fourth edition, 1973

       First Tuttle edition, 1976

      0215-000408-4615

       PRINTED IN JAPAN

      This book is dedicated

       to

       the Pioneers of Buddhism

       in the West

      Contents

Preface	9
Part One: Buddhism in Thought
1.	What is Buddhism?	13
2.	Buddhism for the Modern World	16
3.	Buddhism and Other Religions	35
4.	Is Buddhism an Atheism?	44
Part Two: Buddhism in History
1.	Gautama Buddha: the Founder of Buddhism	51
2.	A Short History of Early Buddhism in India	56
3.	A Short History of Buddhism in China	58
4.	A Short History of Buddhism in Japan	61
5.	A Short History of Buddhism in Asia	81
6.	A Short History of Buddhism in the West	91
Part Three: Buddhism in Tradition
1.	The Teaching of the Jodo Mission	115
2.	Jodo Mission Service Order	129
3.	Selected Scriptures of the Jodo Mission	135
4.	Explanation of Buddhist Services	150
5.	Explanation of Buddhist Annual Events	155
6.	Explanation of Buddhist Symbolic Objects	168
Part Four: Buddhism in Action
1.	Buddhist Sermons in 5 minutes	179
2.	Buddhist Words of Wisdom	217
3.	True Buddhist Stories	246
4.	The Significance of Pure Land Buddhism	257
Appendix: What to Read on Buddhism	273
Index: Glossary	291
Title Index	301

      Preface to the Revised Edition

      This little book does not attempt to give an exposition of any particular thought from the authoritative standpoint of view. It is, on the other hand, a collection of essays on Buddhism which are understood by a Japanese student who sets out for a journey in search of his true self.

      Although there are many English books on Buddhism which are written by the Eastern and Western scholars, they are rather difficult to read by the general public, and are sometimes misleading from the Buddhist point of view. It was my long cherished hope to write a comprehensive book on Buddhism from within, so that the readers may understand the accurate form of Buddhism as it existed, and is existing today. It is an undeniable fact that Buddhism still remains in a showbox to be displayed. It is often regarded by Westerners as nothing but one of the exotic religions of the Orient, and real interest in it is only seen in the academic fields in the West.

      The time has come for us to think of Buddhism not in terms of temples old and new, or of traditional rituals, but in terms of injecting more vitality to make Buddhism more meaningful to all of us. We of this generation must make it known to the world that Buddhism has a living significance as a great world religion and can contribute to the enrichment of world culture.

      When I heard of the coming of the 800th Anniversary of the founding of the Jodo denomination of Buddhism in 1974,1 felt more than anything else the pressing