BUDDHA: HIS LIFE, HIS DOCTRINE, HIS ORDER

This book is an English translation of a German book by Professor Hermann Oldenberg. It is a review of the original doctrines of Buddhism which also demolished certain sceptical theories by various authors on Buddha and Buddhism. The German professor has examined the roots of Buddhism in Pre-Buddhist Brahmanism works and the original teachings of Lord Buddha. The introductory chapters provide information on Buddhism in India followed by three parts of the book. Part one is on Buddha's life and work. Part two and three discuss the doctrines of Buddhism and the order of Buddha's disciples. The writer has gifted the legendary elements of Buddhist tradition, and has given the reliable residuum of facts concerning Buddha’s life! He has examinedthe original teaching of Buddha, shown that .the cardinal tenets of the pessimism which he preached are “the truth of suffering and the truth of the deliverance from suffering he has expounded the ontology of Buddhism and placed the Nirvana in a true light”. To do this he has gone to the roots of Buddhism in pre-Buddhist Brahmanism and he has given Orientalists the original authorities for his views of Buddhist dogmatics in Excursus at the end of his work. To thoughtful men who evince an interest in the comparative study of religions beliefs, Buddhism, as the highest effort pure intellect to solve the problem of being, is attractive. It is not less so to the metaphysician and sociologist who study the philosophy of the modern German pessimistic school and observe its social tendencies. The main object of this translation has been to reproduce the thought of the original in clear English.