Books by Donald S. Lopez

In a remote Himalayan village in 1721, the Jesuit priest Ippolito Desideri wrote a treatise in classical Tibetan intended to refute key Buddhist doctrines and dispel the darkness of idolatry from Tibet. Dispelling the Darkness provides extended excerpts from this unfinished masterpiece and a full translation of a companion work.

The fascinating account of how the story of the Buddha was transformed into the legend of a Christian saint.

This book tells the story of the Scientific Buddha, "e;born"e; in Europe in the 1800s but commonly confused with the Buddha born in India 2,500 years ago. The Scientific Buddha was sent into battle against Christian missionaries, who were proclaiming across Asia that Buddhism was a form of superstition. He proved the missionaries wrong, teaching a dharma that was in harmony with modern science. And his influence continues. Today his teaching of "e;mindfulness"e; is heralded as the cure for all manner of maladies, from depression to high blood pressure.In this potent critique, a well-known chronicler of the West's encounter with Buddhism demonstrates how the Scientific Buddha's teachings deviate in crucial ways from those of the far older Buddha of ancient India. Donald Lopez shows that the Western focus on the Scientific Buddha threatens to bleach Buddhism of its vibrancy, complexity, and power, even as the superficial focus on "e;mindfulness"e; turns Buddhism into merely the latest self-help movement. The Scientific Buddha has served his purpose, Lopez argues. It is now time for him to pass into nirvana. This is not to say, however, that the teachings of the ancient Buddha must be dismissed as mere cultural artifacts. They continue to present a potent challenge, even to our modern world.

Illustrates the vast scope of Buddhist practice in Asia. This work presents a selection of thirty-five translated texts - each preceded by a substantial introduction by its translator. It demonstrates the many continuities among the practices of Buddhist cultures widely separated by both history and geography.

"The Heart Sutra" is perhaps the most famous Buddhist text, traditionally regarded as a potent expression of emptiness and of the Buddha's perfect wisdom. This work explores the elaborate philosophical and ritual uses of the "Heart Sutra" in India, Tibet, and the West. It also includes full translations of the eight extant Indian commentaries.

This groundbreaking new Norton Anthology enables the six major, living, international world religions to speak to students in their own words.