The author is an acknowledged Indologist, from Sri Lanka to win international recognition for his scholarly contributions to Vedic Studies and Buddhism. In the essays brought together in this volume, he discusses various aspects of the Philosophy and Psychology of `Early Buddhism', as well as its Social Philosophy and Ethical Teachings, and brings out their singular contributions to the history of human thought and ideas. The essays on Vedic topics are no less original and brilliant, and cannot but fascinate the discerning reader. If any one impression is conveyed by these essays, it is that in the history of Indian (and Buddhist) thought, ideas, concepts and formulations can best be understood if they are studies in their historical perspectives. Students of comparative religion, sociologists and anthropologists will find these essays to be refreshingly original and stimulating. About the Author: OLIVER HECTOR DE ALWIS WIJESEKERA was a prolific researcher in Early Buddhism and Vedic Studies. He travelled widely both in Asia and in Western countries as a guest Professor in Buddhist and Vedic studies. He was one of the six panel speakers at the XIth Conference of the International Congress for the History of Religions held at Claremont, U.S.A. His important contributions to the advancement of knowledge in these fields are reproduced in this volume.
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