BUDDHIST SCRIPTURES

While Buddhism has no central text comparable to the Bible or Koran there is a powerful body of scripture from across Asia that encompasses the dharma or the teachings of the Buddha. In this rich anthology eminent scholar Donald S. Lopez Jr. brings together works from a broad historical and geographical range and from such languages as Pali Sanskrit Tibetan Chinese and Japanese. There are tales of the Buddha’s past lives a discussion of qualities and qualifications for a monk and an exploration of the many meanings of enlightenment. Together they provide a vivid picture of the Buddha and of the vast and profound nature of the Buddhist tradition.