Description
Buddhism has been very popular in the West for many years. The Buddha can be found in interiors and gardens, words like "Mindfulness" and "Zen" are well established and meditation courses come in countless varieties, from intensive retreat weekends to "Buddhism light" in wellness centres.
What do modern Westerners - who so often consider themselves "non-religious" - actually look for in Buddhism? One thing is certain: the ideas we have about it are more often incorrect than they are correct. Buddhism is not the anti-stress religion that the West likes to make it out to be.
Although the Buddha is often depicted with a subtle smile, he was certainly not a cheerful person. Paul van der Velde returns to the source and takes the reader in search of the essence of Buddhism, the many legends, the countless schools, the different visions that have emerged over time. He finds the multi-coloured teachings and its excesses. Husbands and wives equal? No way! Peaceful and non-violent? Certainly not!
In the footsteps of the Buddha is a fascinating quest through a world that Van der Velde has been studying for a lifetime, and which always leads to new discoveries. It is enlightening and deep, enriching and very accessible.
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Rights Information
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Author Biography
Paul van der Velde is professor of Hinduism and Buddhism at Radboud University in Nijmegen. He studied Indian languages and cultures in Utrecht and Leiden and has published numerous books and articles.
Balans Publishers
Balans is an independent publisher of quality non-fiction in the areas of history, politics, economy, biography, science, nature writing, memoirs, current affairs, religion and psychology. With our dedicated team, we publish approximately 40 new titles per year.
View all titlesBibliographic Information
- Publisher Balans Publishers
- Orginal LanguageDutch
- ISBN/Identifier 9789463821247
- Publication Country or regionNetherlands
- Publish StatusUnpublished
- Original Language TitleIn het voetspoor van de Boeddha- Een zoektocht
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