Unmasking Buddhism

UNMASKING BUDDHISM Can we talk of Buddhism as a unified religion or are there many Buddhisms? Is Buddhism a religion of tolerance and pacifism as many people think? Is Buddhism a religion without god(s)? Or is it more of a philosophy than a religion? Renowned Buddhist scholar Bernard Faure answers these and other questions about the basic history, beliefs and nature of Buddhism in easy-to-understand language. It is an ideal introduction for anyone who has unanswered questions about one of the world’s largest and most popular religions.

Introduction 1 Part I Buddhism in History 5 “Buddhism is both one and many” 7 “The Buddha is only a man who achieved Awakening” 11 “Buddhism is an Indian religion” 18 “Buddhism is the cult of nothingness” 23 “Buddhism is a philosophy, not a religion” 27 “All Buddhists are seeking to achieve Awakening” 34 “Buddhism teaches the impermanence of all things” 39 “The belief in karma leads to fatalism” 44 “Buddhism denies the existence of a self” 49 “Buddhism teaches reincarnation” 52 Part II Buddhism and Local Cultures 57 “Buddhism is an atheistic religion” 59 “Buddhism is above all a spirituality” 66  “The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Buddhism” 71 “To be Buddhist is to be Zen” 76 Part III Buddhism and Society 83 “Buddhism is a tolerant religion” 85 “Buddhism teaches compassion” 89 “Buddhism is a peaceful religion” 93 “Buddhism affirms that we are all equal” 99 “Buddhism is compatible with science” 104 “Buddhism is a kind of therapy” 112 “Buddhism advocates a strict vegetarianism” 118 “Buddhism is a universalist teaching” 122 “Buddhism is a religion of monks” 129 Conclusion: Buddhism or Neo-Buddhism? 139 Glossary 143 A Short Bibliography 151 Index 153