Buddhism as in Performance

by David E.R. George

It explores the art and concept of performance in varied Buddhist traditions - Chinese, Japanese, Sri Lankan and others. It explains theatrical performances representing Hinayana, Mahayana and Vajrayana cultures with extensive endnotes and bibliographical references.

Table of Contents:

• Preface
• Part I - The theory: Buddhism as performance
  • The epistemology of performance
  • Buddhist epistemology: the world as performance
• Part II - The case studies: Buddhism in performance
  • Karma drama: the Hinayana; Sri Lanka
  • Theatre of compassion: the Vajrayana; Tibet
  • Bodhi-drama: the Mahayana; Japan
• Bibliography
• Index.

About the Author:

After completing a Doctorate in Comparative Drama at Cambridge University in 1964, David George began a peripatetic career which has seen him teach and live in California, Germany, France, Malaysia, China and Australia. There he took advantage of the proximity of Asia to undertake a further 21 field trips - to India, Bali, Java, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal.

These led to a series of books, monographs and papers on Asian and comparative theatre, and 21 theatre production, some of them similarly intercultural in their ambition and inspiration.

He is currently Professor and Chair of Drama Theatre and Dance at Queens College, City University of New York where he is working on a Buddhist Musical ("Sky Dancer"), establishing a multicultural theatre company, and continuing his research on Buddhist theatre and Philosophy.