Rating: 0 out of 5 stars
0 ratings
Ebook250 pages8 hours
Relics of the Buddha
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
()
About this ebook
Buddhism is popularly seen as a religion stressing the truth of impermanence. How, then, to account for the long-standing veneration, in Asian Buddhist communities, of bone fragments, hair, teeth, and other bodily bits said to come from the historic Buddha?
Early European and American scholars of religion, influenced by a characteristic Protestant bias against relic worship, declared such practices to be superstitious and fraudulent, and far from the true essence of Buddhism.
John Strong's book, by contrast, argues that relic veneration has played a serious and integral role in Buddhist traditions in South and Southeast Asia-and that it is in no way foreign to Buddhism.
The book is structured around the life story of the Buddha, starting with traditions about relics of previous buddhas and relics from the past lives of the Buddha Sakyamuni. It then considers the death of the Buddha, the collection of his bodily relics after his cremation, and stories of their spread to different parts of Asia.
The book ends with a consideration of the legend of the future parinirvana (extinction) of the relics prior to the advent of the next Buddha, Maitreya. Throughout, the author does not hesitate to explore the many versions of these legends and to relate them to their ritual, doctrinal, artistic, and social contexts.
Author
John S. Strong
John S. Strong is Charles A. Dana Professor of Religious Studies at Bates College in Maine, USA. He is the author of four other books on Buddhism.
Read more from John S. Strong
Related to Relics of the Buddha
Related ebooks
Nagarjuna on the Six Perfections Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Nagarjuna's Treatise on the Ten Bodhisattva Grounds: The Dasabhumika Vibhasa Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Holy Land Reborn: Pilgrimage and the Tibetan Reinvention of Buddhist India Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsGreat Disciples of the Buddha: Their Lives, Their Works, Their Legacy Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Five Aggregates: Understanding Theravada Psychology and Soteriology Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Wisdom of the East: Buddhist Scriptures Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuddhist Literature of Ancient Gandhara: An Introduction with Selected Translations Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Divine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 2 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Bodhisambhara Treatise Commentary Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBodhisattva Doctrine in Buddhism Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsThe Theravada Abhidhamma: Inquiry into the Nature of Conditioned Reality Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Pure Land of the Patriarchs Rating: 2 out of 5 stars2/5Landscapes of Wonder: Discovering Buddhist Dharma in the World Around Us Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Lotus Sūtra: A Biography Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5Vasubandhu's Treatise on the Bodhisattva Vow Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsBuddhism: In Its Connexion with Brāhmanism, and Hindūism, and In Its Contrast with Christianity Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsPractical Ethics and Profound Emptiness: A Commentary on Nagarjuna's Precious Garland Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Ten Bodhisattva Grounds: The Avatamsaka Sutra Chapter 26 Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsLonging for Certainty: Reflections on the Buddhist Life Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsEarly Buddhist Teachings Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5The Ten Grounds Sutra: The Dasabhumika Sūtra Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsDivine Stories: Divyavadana, Part 1 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Records of the Transmission of the Lamp: Volume 7 (Books 27-28) Biographies and Extended Discourses Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsIntroduction to the History of Indian Buddhism Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Sutta-Nipata Rating: 0 out of 5 stars0 ratingsA Strand of Dharma Jewels Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Marvelous Stories from the Perfection of Wisdom Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5
Buddhism For You
The Art of Communicating Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buddhism 101: From Karma to the Four Noble Truths, Your Guide to Understanding the Principles of Buddhism Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Art of Living: Peace and Freedom in the Here and Now Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Refuge Recovery: A Buddhist Path to Recovering from Addiction Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/530-Day Meditation Challenge: Exercises, Resources, and Journaling Prompts for a Better Life Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Buddha's Guide to Gratitude: The Life-changing Power of Everyday Mindfulness Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Buddhism for Beginners Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Buddhism For Dummies Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Approaching the Buddhist Path Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Dream Yoga: Illuminating Your Life Through Lucid Dreaming and the Tibetan Yogas of Sleep Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Lotus Sutra: A Contemporary Translation of a Buddhist Classic Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Tibetan Book of the Dead Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Fear: Essential Wisdom for Getting Through the Storm Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Japanese Death Poems: Written by Zen Monks and Haiku Poets on the Verge of Death Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Dhammapada Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Peace Is Every Breath: A Practice for Our Busy Lives Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Think Like a Monk: Train Your Mind for Peace and Purpose Every Day Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5What Is Zen? Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5In the Buddha's Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mindfulness in Plain English: 20th Anniversary Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The 12-Step Buddhist 10th Anniversary Edition Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5The Collected Letters of Alan Watts Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Buddhism for Beginners: All you need to start your journey Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5The Occult Anatomy of Man Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Walking Meditation Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5
Related podcast episodes
Icons and Iconoclasm in Japanese Buddhism 0% found this document usefulLama Glenn Mullin - Buddhist Pilgrimage to the Power Places of Nepal | Wisdom Keeper E2 0% found this document usefulThe Diamond Sutra 0% found this document usefulTypes of Buddhism: Theravada 0% found this document usefulOldest Temple in The World Gobekli Tepe Turkey Built By Brahmins? 0% found this document useful97: St. Christine the Astonishing and St. Lucia of Syracuse 0% found this document useful
Related articles
Lessons Of The Gandharan Manuscripts Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's QuarterlyArticle
Lessons Of The Gandharan Manuscripts
Feb 5, 2019
10 min readThe Sutta Pitaka Lion's RoarArticle
The Sutta Pitaka
Jul 19, 2022
6 min readSteadfast In The Midst Of Samsara Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's QuarterlyArticle
Steadfast In The Midst Of Samsara
Feb 11, 2020
11 min readFor Life’s Big Questions, Tibetan Buddhist Monks And Nuns Try A Scientific Approach STATArticle
For Life’s Big Questions, Tibetan Buddhist Monks And Nuns Try A Scientific Approach
Jul 26, 2018
A program teaching Buddhist monks about neuroscience and related fields was inspired by a personal relationship between the Dalai Lama and a psychological anthropologist in the U.S.
4 min readWe Must Act As One To Preserve Our World Time Magazine International EditionArticle
We Must Act As One To Preserve Our World
Jul 10, 2020
2 min readThe Sakyadhita Movement Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's QuarterlyArticle
The Sakyadhita Movement
Aug 13, 2019
9 min readTeacher of Teachers Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's QuarterlyArticle
Teacher of Teachers
Nov 6, 2018
5 min readMalaysia Detained Turkish Scholar Mustafa Akyol for ‘Unauthorized Teaching’ of Religion Global VoicesArticle
Malaysia Detained Turkish Scholar Mustafa Akyol for ‘Unauthorized Teaching’ of Religion
Sep 28, 2017
3 min readThe Longstanding Debate over Vegetarianism in Tibet Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's QuarterlyArticle
The Longstanding Debate over Vegetarianism in Tibet
Jun 5, 2020
7 min readThanks To Guanyin Lion's RoarArticle
Thanks To Guanyin
Mar 23, 2021
2 min readWho Will Decide On The Dalai Lama's Successor — His Supporters Or Beijing? NPRArticle
Who Will Decide On The Dalai Lama's Successor — His Supporters Or Beijing?
Nov 10, 2019
5 min readThousand Years Of Tibetan Masterpieces Revealed For First Time The GuardianArticle
Thousand Years Of Tibetan Masterpieces Revealed For First Time
May 6, 2018
2 min readAncient Chinese alchemy All About HistoryArticle
Ancient Chinese alchemy
Feb 28, 2020
3 min readAlchemy from India All About HistoryArticle
Alchemy from India
Feb 28, 2020
3 min readSelf-empowerment Through Sacred Sites GoodArticle
Self-empowerment Through Sacred Sites
Aug 25, 2021
6 min readThe Making Of A Mummy You South AfricaArticle
The Making Of A Mummy
May 28, 2021
3 min readA History Of Faith Travel & Leisure India & South AsiaArticle
A History Of Faith
Sep 9, 2019
5 min readThink Again Before You Dismiss Magic Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's QuarterlyArticle
Think Again Before You Dismiss Magic
Aug 4, 2020
7 min readUttarakhand Abode Of Gods India TodayArticle
Uttarakhand Abode Of Gods
Jun 17, 2023
2 min readSimon Says Chat It's FateArticle
Simon Says
Aug 3, 2021
4 min readJourney Into A Timeless Land… Buddhadharma: The Practitioner's QuarterlyArticle
Journey Into A Timeless Land…
Mar 11, 2024
4 min readThe Saintliness of Undecayed Corpses The AtlanticArticle
The Saintliness of Undecayed Corpses
Oct 27, 2017
5 min readSECRETS OF The Stones Chat It's FateArticle
SECRETS OF The Stones
Aug 3, 2021
2 min readGuidebook To The Afterlife BBC History MagazineArticle
Guidebook To The Afterlife
Mar 2, 2020
6 min readThe Magic Of The Heart Sutra Lion's RoarArticle
The Magic Of The Heart Sutra
May 18, 2021
Among the various genres of Mahayana sutras, perhaps the most famous are the perfection of wisdom (prajnaparamita) texts, renowned for their exposition of emptiness. Rather than having ornate names like so many Mahayana sutras, these tend to be known
5 min readRaseśvara, Mercury And Immortality All About HistoryArticle
Raseśvara, Mercury And Immortality
Feb 28, 2020
1 min readThe Ancient Pots That Hint at Cannabis’s Early Use as a Drug The AtlanticArticle
The Ancient Pots That Hint at Cannabis’s Early Use as a Drug
Jun 12, 2019
4 min readMadhya Pradesh Cosmopolitan IndiaArticle
Madhya Pradesh
Apr 6, 2022
3 min readThe Dharma Was Built on These Bricks Lion's RoarArticle
The Dharma Was Built on These Bricks
Nov 20, 2018
3 min readLiving By Ritual ARCHAEOLOGYArticle
Living By Ritual
Feb 13, 2024
2 min read
Related categories
Reviews for Relics of the Buddha
Rating: 4.416666666666667 out of 5 stars
4.5/5
6 ratings0 reviews
Book preview
Relics of the Buddha - John S. Strong
Enjoying the preview?
Page 1 of 1