– The Buddha was born in a small kingdom in the foothills of the Himalayas over two thousand years ago. Within 500 years of his death, his teaching has spread far beyond the confines of India. How did the teaching of one man influence Asia so profoundly? What was the role of Buddhism in the geography of ideas in the pre-modern period and was Buddhism in Asia the vanguard of globalization?
Peter Skilling – Professor Peter Skilling is the 2009 University Buddhist Education Foundation Visiting Professor at the School of Languages and Cultures, University of Sydney. He has traveled extensively throughout Asia and is the author of numerous books and publications including Mahasatras: Great Discourses of the Buddha and Wat Si Chum, Sukhothai: Art, Architecture and Inscriptions.
- 1. Introduction
- 2. What is Asia ? Anatolia
- 3. Man and Superman: The Figure of the Buddha
- 4. Biographies of the Buddha
- 5. Buddha : The Man
- 6. What did the Buddha Teach?
- 7. Travels of the Buddha
- 8. The cult of Relics
- 9. The Spread of Buddhism
- 10. Why Buddhism Was Successful
- 11. Rediscovery and Resurgence
- 12. Return to Indian Conscience
- 13. Inconclusions
- 14. Q1 : Clearing the Mind / Disagreeing with Ramakrishna
- 15. Q2 : Buddha’s Last Words
- 16. Q3 : Links Between Egypt and Buddhism
- 17. Q4 : Biography of the Buddha
- 18. Q5 : Relation to Judeo-christian Religions
- 19. Q6 : Historical Life vs. Teachings
- 20. Q7 : Tracing the scriptures of the Buddha
