Area Studies; Buddhism and Eastern Religions; Asian Studies; Religion
摘要
Buddhism and Jainism share the concepts of karma, rebirth, and the desirability of escaping from rebirth. The literature of both traditions contains many stories about past, and sometimes future, lives which reveal much about these foundational doctrines. Naomi Appleton carefully explores how multi-life stories served to construct, communicate, and challenge ideas about karma and rebirth within early South Asia, examining portrayals of the different realms of rebirth, the potential paths and goals of human beings, and the biographies of ideal religious figures. Appleton also deftly surveys the ability of karma to bind individuals together over multiple lives, and the nature of the supernormal memory that makes multi-life stories available in the first place. This original study not only sheds light on the individual preoccupations of Buddhist and Jain tradition, but contributes to a more complete history of religious thought in South Asia, and brings to the foreground long-neglected narrative sources.
目次
Preface ix A note on sources and terms xi Chapter 1 - Introduction 1 Chapter 2 - Karma and the realms of rebirth 20 Chapter 3 - Karma and human potentiality 60 Chapter 4 - Jinas and Buddhas 90 Chapter 5 - Karma and community 126 Chapter 6 - Memory and omniscience 157 Chapter 7 - Conclusion 191 Appendix: texts referred to in this book 201 Bibliography 209 Index 225
