Foreword by Alex Wayman v List of Illustrations x Preface xi Note on Chronology xv Guide to Pronunciation xvi Abbreviations xvii
563–528 B.C. I. Youth, Quest and Enlightenment Landscape and politics in North India in the sixth century B.C. 1 Siddhattha’s origins and birth 6 Problems of dating 10 The city of Kapilavatthu and its rāja 13 Siddhattha, the rāja’s son 21 An ancient Indian city 24 The Vedic sacrificial cult 29 The religious liberation movement 34 Siddhattha’s path to the homeless life 44 Siddhattha the ascetic 49 Siddhattha the Buddha 53 The ‘sacred’ tree 58
528 B.C. 2. The Foundation of the Order and the Beginning of the Mission First sermons 61 Sārnāth – the archaeological site 67 Growth of the community 70 Benares orthodoxy versus the samaṇa movement . 72 The rains retreat in Isipatana . 80 Back in Uruvelā 83
528–508 B.C. 3. The First Twenty Years The conversion of King Bimbisāra 88 Sāriputta and Moggallāna become disciples 93 The rains in Rājagaha 96 The Buddha visits his hometown 98 Back in Rājagaha 101 King Pasenadi becomes a lay follower 105 Pasenadi and the Kingdom of Kosala 108 Rain retreats in Rājagaha and Vesāli 112 Foundation of the order of nuns 115 Problems with Kosambī 117 The second decade of the mission 121
4. The Doctrine, the Order, the Laity The doctrine 130 The Order 153 The Order and the laity sociologically considered 187 The Buddha and caste 191
5. Gotama – Psychological Aspects His appearance 194 The development of his personality 195 How the Buddha regarded himself 197 Emotional disposition 202 Gotama’s dealings with lay followers 206 The Master 210
6. Later Years Rival philosophies 215 Gotama the wanderer 229 A decade of crises 232
483 B.C. 7. The Great Return Home Last journeys 244 The great passing 247 The cremation 251 Kusināra - the archaeological site 254
