[Download] "Amitabha" by Paul Carus # eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Amitabha
- Author : Paul Carus
- Release Date : January 28, 2015
- Genre: Buddhism,Books,Religion & Spirituality,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 7150 KB
Description
Amitabha is the story of three histotorical personalities, Charaka thelegendary physician, Kanishka the famous Kushana King who ruled central Asia and parts of northern India and Asvaghosha of Milindapatha fame. The story details the early days of Charaka as a Buddhist monk, his doubts regarding Buddhist theology, his friendship with Kanishka and his subsequent conversations with Asvaghosha. The story depicts the greatness of Kanishka as a king of great valor and sagacity, his conquest of Magadha and his subsequent alliance with the defeated king Subhahu from whom he demanded and collected in lieu of a ransom the bowl which the Tathagata, the Blessed Buddha, carried in his hand during his days of wanderings on earth. He also wanted to take Asvaghosha, who at that time was living in Magadha, along with him to Gandhara, but could do not do so on account of the latter's old age. Equally interesting in this book is the story about a Shiva shrine and the intention of some Buddhists to destory it, which shows the animosity that prevailed between the Buddhists and the Saivites. Kanishka displayed exemplary tolerance when he refused to comply with the request and allowed the shrine to stay. Equally interesting is the allegory of the white elephant and the kingdom of blind people, a story which subsequently found its way into the western hemisphere in different forms. In the latter part of the book we come across the description of Amitabha as the embodiment of dharma, creativity and bliss and his comparison with the gods of Hinduism. The book is useful both for its historical value and its religious content.