Abstract

This book was translated from the French by Marco Pallis. It is divided into three parts: in The Tracks of Buddhism, Buddhism's Ally in Japan Shintö or the Way of the Gods, and Vistas of the Mahäyäna. The first has ten short essay chapters, Originality of Buddhism, Message and Messenger, Charity and Existence, The Question of Illusion, A Buddhist Eye on Science, Cosmological and Eschatological Viewpoints, More About Human Destinies--the Function of Mercy, What is Matter and Who is Mära?, Some fallacies and facts concerning Buddhism, and Glimpses into Zen. These essays do not present the philosophical systems of Buddhism but rather attempt to give a picture of the spirit of Buddhism. The second part has three short essay chapters: Science, Myth, and the Meaning of Ancestors, Ethics and Mythology of Shinto, and The Noble Virtues: Some lessons of Shinto. The third part contains four essay chapters: Treasures of Buddhism, Mystery of the Bodhisattva, The Feminine Element in Mahayana, and Synthesis of the Päramitäs. Contrary to the trend of recent books which are attempting to differentiate the acceptances of the various schools within Buddhism, this book tends to stress similarities even with non-Buddhist Indian systems. It is best suited for those who would like to enter into the general spirit of Indian religions without necessarily concentrating on Buddhism.--P. J. H.