The Buddha: Life, Legend and Legacy (Great Lives of the Ancient World)

To this day the Buddha remains an object of worship for hundreds of millions of people. For many others he is the subject of quiet admiration, reflection or inspiration. Exploring this iconic figure, his vision of spiritual cultivation and his teachings on the Dharma, Mario Poceski considers the social, cultural and religious contexts that shaped the major stages of the Buddha’s life. He also examines the Buddha’s enduring legacy, shaped by the evolving beliefs and ideas of later generations of Buddhists, including the main monastic disciples, male and female, as well as prominent lay followers. Aimed at general readers, The Buddha offers a view into Buddhist history, philosophy and practice, as well as the ways the Buddha has been represented and reimagined worldwide over subsequent centuries.