The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana Doctrine
The New Buddhism
📘 About This Book
Excerpt from The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana Doctrine: The New Buddhism The book is Brahministic and Buddhistic, Indian and Western in some aspects of philosophic thought. It is profoundly philosophic, reminding one strongly of Hegel, Berkeley and G.Gore in the earlier part, and is as hard to understand as Bishop Butlers famous Analogy; yet very practical in the latter part, therefore it has great importance arising from its high and extensive range of view. If it be, as it is more and more believed that the Mahayana Faith is not Buddhism, properly so-called, but an Asiatic form of the same Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in Buddhistic nomenclature, differing from the old Buddhism just as the new Testament differs from the old, then it commands a world-wide interest, for in it we find an adaptation of Christianity to ancient thought in Asia, and the deepest bond of union between the different races of the East and the West, viz., the bond of a common religion. Both Christianity and the New Buddhism hold to the transcendent and the immanent forms of God; but the East emphasises more of the immanent form while the West emphasises more of the transcendent. The almost universal reception of the doctrines contained in this book by both the East and the West constitutes to my mind its highest claim to our attention; for thereby we are brought face to face with a solution of the stupendous practical problem of uniting all races in one bond of religious charity! II. The Evolution and Devolution of Buddhism. The evolution of Buddhism is seen in the new Buddhism superseding the old, and the devolution in the attempt by later writers to combine the primitive with the advanced, an absurd anachronism and impossibility. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
📖 Summary
The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana Doctrine, authored by Asvaghosa and published in a modern edition in 2015, stands as a profoundly philosophical text that bridges complex religious thought systems. Spanning 108 pages, the book explores the depths of Mahayana Buddhism while offering surprising parallels to both Brahministic traditions and Western philosophical frameworks. The text is divided into distinct sections, moving from abstract metaphysical concepts in its earlier chapters to intensely practical guidance in its latter half. In the beginning, readers encounter rigorous intellectual arguments that recall the idealistic and absolute philosophies of Western thinkers like Hegel and Berkeley, requiring careful study akin to classic theological treatises. Asvaghosa examines the fundamental essence of the Mahayana faith, exploring the ultimate nature of reality, the mind, and existence through a rich, intricate Buddhistic nomenclature. Despite its intellectual density, the book transitions smoothly into a very practical manual for spiritual life, making its sweeping worldview applicable to everyday practice. The text has long invited fascinating comparative studies, with some historical commentators noting conceptual bridges between its Asiatic formulation of the Mahayana Gospel and Western theological perspectives, drawing analogies to the structural shift from the Old Testament to the New. This blending of deep ontological inquiry with practical religious application grants the work a wide-ranging, universal significance. Readers approaching this text will find a challenging yet rewarding exploration of faith, doctrine, and the human mind that transcends simple sectarian boundaries, inviting a contemplation of ultimate truths from a uniquely broad and comprehensive horizon.
🎯 Key Lessons
⚖️ Pros & Cons
✅ Pros
Offers a profoundly deep philosophical perspective on Mahayana doctrine.
Transitions effectively from abstract metaphysics to practical guidance.
Sparks rich comparative analysis with Western philosophies.
Presents a broad and extensive range of view on spiritual matters.
⚠️ Cons
The early part of the book is exceptionally hard to understand.
Requires significant effort and close study similar to dense theological treatises.
❓ FAQ
Who is the author of The Awakening of Faith in the Mahayana Doctrine? +
The book is attributed to Asvaghosa.
When was this particular edition published? +
This edition was published in 2015.
How many pages does the book contain? +
The book contains 108 pages.
What genres does the book fall under? +
The book falls under the religion genre, specifically focusing on Buddhist philosophy and comparative theology.
What is the general structure of the book? +
It features a profoundly philosophical and abstract first half, followed by a very practical second half.
