Buddhism in Perspective

by Moti Lal Pandit

The author in this book has made an attempt to explain, in simple terms, the intricate doctrinal framework of Buddhism. Whatever doctrinal framework of Buddhism may have developed in the course of its history, it has its roots in the basic assumptions of the Buddha, which he enunciated upon the attainment of supernal enlightenment. The basic assumption of the Buddha is that everything, including existence in the world, is characterised by the ill of suffering. There is existential suffering not because of God, but because of wrong views. The wrong views, according to the Buddha, have their source in the concept of an eternal and substantial self. Insofar as this belief in a permanent self persists, suffering is bound to occur. As no permanent stuff exists on account of fluxional nature of phenomenal reality, so the purpose of the Dhamma is to point out the way that would terminate in the eradication of belief in a substantial self. It is this a priori thesis of the Dhamma of the Buddha which has determined the worldview of Buddhism, and thereby of Buddhists. In the book it is this vision of the Buddha that has been discussed threadbare.MOTI LAL PANDIT has been in Indological research for last three decades. He has contributed more than three hundred papers on Comparative Religion, Theology, spirituality and Mysticism. In 1986 he delivered the Gurudeva Ranade Memorial Lectures on Mysticism. At present he is the Secretary for Research and Dialogue of Dialog Center International, Aarhus, Denmark.