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Beyond Enlightenment

Buddhism, Religion, Modernity

Richard Cohen author

Format:Hardback

Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd

Published:3rd May '06

Currently unavailable, and unfortunately no date known when it will be back

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Beyond Enlightenment cover

The vast majority of books on Buddhism describe the Buddha using the word enlightened, rather than awakened. This bias has resulted in Buddhism becoming generally perceived as the eponymous religion of enlightenment.

Beyond Enlightenment is a sophisticated study of some of the underlying assumptions involved in the study of Buddhism (especially, but not exclusively, in the West). It investigates the tendency of most scholars to ground their study of Buddhism in these particular assumptions about the Buddha’s enlightenment and a particular understanding of religion, which is traced back through Western orientalists to the Enlightenment and the Protestant Reformation.

Placing a distinct emphasis on Indian Buddhism, Richard Cohen adeptly creates a work that will appeal to those with an interest in Buddhism and India and also scholars of religion and history.

'This book has ambitious scope, it explores and critiques Western notions of enlightenment that have structured the study of Buddhism.'

-Nayanjot Lahiri, Professor of History, Delhi University, India

ISBN: 9780415372947

Dimensions: unknown

Weight: 612g

240 pages