Buddhism: Its Various Manifestations

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This Book contains twenty articles which have been contributed by scholars who are prominent figures in their own field. They deal with various aspects of Buddhism including the early life of Lord Buddha before he attained enlightenment, his main teachings i.e. the four Noble truths, the eight-fold Noble path, the middle path, moral precepts, three fold training in attaining nirvana i.e. prajna, sila and samadhi, the philosophy of Buddhism, its different branches, cause of its rise and fall in India and recent insurgence, its humanistic aspect, reasons for its expansion in countries outside India, role of Buddhism in the field of Art and Architecture including painting, music and dance, its impact in providing welfare services particularly by King Asoka, its impact on ecological environments, similarities and differences between Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and some other world religions and future of Buddhism in the present world as depicted by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

This is the first book of its kind which reflects the views of Indian scholars who have special knowledge of different aspects of Buddhism and gives comprehensive view of Buddhism to the reader.

PROF. G.R. MADAN (b. 1923). M.A. (Econ. & Socio), Dip in Com., LLB, Ph.D. had been teaching in the Department of Sociology and Social Work, University of Lucknow till his retirement in 1984. A widely travelled person Prof. Madan has privilege of working with distinguished sociologists viz. Prof. Radhakamal Mukerjee, Harold F. Kaufman and S.L. Andreski at J.K. Institute of Sociology and Human Relations, University of Lucknow, Social Science Re- search Centre, Mississippi State University (USA) and University of Reading (UK) respectively. A keen researcher, Prof. Madan visited various universities to deliver lectures. A prolific writer Prof. Madan has over two dozen outstanding books on india's social and economic problems to his credit, besides a score of articles published in journals and magazines. He has been associated with a number of social welfare and voluntary organisations including Indian Council of Social Welfare. Radhakamal Mukherjee Memorial Society and Association of Voluntary Agencies and Workers (India).

Bharatiya Sanskriti Bhavan, Lucknow, since its inception in 1965 has been organising various activities Including seminars, cultural programmes and adult education classes. Professor Radha Kamal Mukerjee, an eminent social scientist, saint and a renowned social worker was the founder President of this Bhavan. He was associated with a number of social and cultural organisations connected with art, music, social work, adult education, cooperatives, education etc. besides his own academic pursuits. As his disciple he involved rne in some of these organisations particularly three, the Youth Social Welfare Society, Lucknow, Bharatiya Sanskriti, Bhavan and the Indian Council of Social Welfare, U.P., Branch, Lucknow. First of all I was made incharge of Youth Social Welfare Society and appointed as its Secretary.

In this Society we organised various activities for the welfare of children, women and youth besides bringing out two publications on Social Welfare. These were 'Aspects of Women Welfare in India' (1967) and 'Report of the Conference of Voluntary Social Workers of Lucknow District' which we organised in 1969. Later on as Secretary and the Vice President and President of Indian Council of Social Welfare, U.P. Branch, Lucknow we organised State Level Conferences, seminars and research projects in the field of Social Welfare and brought out certain number of publications and research reports. Some of these are 'Report of the State Level Conference of Social Workers and Social Welfare Agencies of Uttar Pradesh' (1975), 'Social Welfare in Uttar Pradesh' (1978), 'Family Planning Programmes in Chinhat C.D. Block, Distt. Lucknow (Two Reports 1978, 1983) and Integrated Rural Development Programme in Chinhat C.D. Block, District Lucknow (Three Reports 1984, 1985 and 1987).

In the Bharatiya Sanskriti Bhavan of which I was the treasurer and later on President we organised seminars, cultural programmes and adult education classes. The cultural programmes were organised with the help of talented students in the Department of Sociology and Social Work. Lucknow University, where I was teaching or students who joined adult education classes and later on in collaboration with Uttar Pradesh Sangeet Natak Akademi. Under the Adult Eduction Classes, we head two programmes. One was Condense Course for Adult Women, who could appear in High School Examination after two years Training which was run with assistance from the Central Social Welfare Board and the other programme was Adult Education Classes under the National Adult Education Programme run by the Ministry of Education, Government of India in 1985-86.

Some of the seminars organised were 'Ways and Means of Imparting Moral values in the Modern Society'. 'Problem of Rising Prices In India', 'Current Trends in the field of Art and Architecture in India', 'Cultural Heritage of Himalayas', and 'Declining Popularity of Hindustani Music'. We also regularly celebrated Dr. Radhakamal Mukherjee's Birth Anniversary on Dec. 7, where some persons close to him spoke on his life and also had some light cultural programmes. This function was mostly held in the All-India Sanskrit Parishad Bhawan in Hazaratganj.

Inspite of so many seminars organised by the Bhavan in which many important personalities in their respective field took part we could not bring out any publication. Therefore, while organising the Seminar on 'Buddhism and Its Various Manifestations', In March 1991, we decided to have papers presented by participants published in the form of a book.

Book's Contents and Sample Pages