The 547 Buddhist jatakas, or verse parables, recount the Buddha's lives in previous incarnations. In his penultimate and most famous incarnation, he appears as the Prince Vessantara, perfecting the virtue of generosity by giving away all his possessions, his wife, and his children to the beggar Jujaka. Taking an anthropological approach to this two-thousand-year-old morality tale, Katherine A. Bowie highlights significant local variations in its interpretations and public performances across three regions of Thailand over 150 years. The Vessantara Jataka has served both monastic and royal interests, encouraging parents to give their sons to religious orders and intimating that kings are future Buddhas. But, as Bowie shows, characterizations of the beggar Jujaka in various regions and eras have also brought ribald humor and sly antiroyalist themes to the story. Historically, these subversive performances appealed to popular audiences even as they worried the conservative Bangkok court. The monarchy sporadically sought to suppress the comedic recitations. As Thailand has changed from a feudal to a capitalist society, this famous story about giving away possessions is paradoxically being employed to promote tourism and wealth.

The 547 Buddhist jatakas, or verse parables, recount the Buddha's lives in previous incarnations. In his penultimate and most famous incarnation, he appears as the Prince Vessantara, perfecting the virtue of generosity by giving away all his possessions, his wife, and his children to the beggar Jujaka. Taking an anthropological approach to this two-thousand-year-old morality tale, Katherine A. Bowie highlights significant local variations in its interpretations and public performances across three regions of Thailand over 150 years. The Vessantara Jataka has served both monastic and royal interests, encouraging parents to give their sons to religious orders and intimating that kings are future Buddhas. But, as Bowie shows, characterizations of the beggar Jujaka in various regions and eras have also brought ribald humor and sly antiroyalist themes to the story. Historically, these subversive performances appealed to popular audiences even as they worried the conservative Bangkok court. The monarchy sporadically sought to suppress the comedic recitations. As Thailand has changed from a feudal to a capitalist society, this famous story about giving away possessions is paradoxically being employed to promote tourism and wealth.

Recounts the story of Prince Siddhartha and how he became Buddha, the Enlightened One.

Among one of the older subfields in Buddhist Studies, the study of Theravāda Buddhism is undergoing a revival by contemporary scholars who are revising long-held conventional views of the tradition while undertaking new approaches and engaging new subject matter. The term Theravāda has been refined, and research has expanded beyond the analysis of canonical texts to examine contemporary cultural forms, social movements linked with meditation practices, material culture, and vernacular language texts. The Routledge Handbook of Theravāda Buddhism illustrates the growth and new directions of scholarship in the study of Theravāda Buddhism and is structured in four parts: Ideas/Ideals Practices/Persons Texts/Teachings Images/Imaginations Owing largely to the continued vitality of Theravāda Buddhist communities in countries like Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, and Laos, as well as in diaspora communities across the globe, traditions associated with what is commonly (and fairly recently) called Theravāda attract considerable attention from scholars and practitioners around the world. An in-depth guide to the distinctive features of Theravāda, the Handbook will be an invaluable resource for providing structure and guidance for scholars and students of Asian Religion, Buddhism and, in particular, Theravāda Buddhism. The introduction and chapter 20 of this book are available for free in PDF format as Open Access from the individual product page at www.routledge.com. It has been made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives 4.0 license.

India in Primitive Christianity by Arthur Lillie: Unearth the historical connections between India and early Christianity with "India in Primitive Christianity." Arthur Lillie uncovers compelling evidence and parallels that link the ancient traditions of India with the early Christian movement. The book offers a fascinating exploration of cultural exchanges and spiritual influences, shedding light on a lesser-known aspect of early Christian history. Key Aspects of the Book "India in Primitive Christianity": Cultural Intersections: "India in Primitive Christianity" delves into the intriguing cultural intersections between ancient India and early Christian beliefs and practices. Historical Revelations: The book presents compelling evidence of historical connections and exchanges between Indian spiritual traditions and the rise of Christianity. Interfaith Dialogue: Lillie's exploration encourages readers to engage in interfaith dialogue and appreciate the shared spiritual heritage of diverse cultures. Arthur Lillie was a respected historian and writer whose works focused on historical and cultural connections between different civilizations. Born in the late 19th century, Lillie's fascination with cultural exchanges led him to study the interplay between ancient Indian traditions and early Christianity. In "India in Primitive Christianity," Lillie presents a compelling case that highlights the influence of Indian thought on the nascent Christian movement, fostering a deeper understanding of the rich tapestry of human history and spirituality. His contributions to historical research continue to inspire scholars and curious minds alike.

The Story of The Buddha tells the legendary life of Siddhartha, founder of the Buddhist faith. He was born in Nepal in the 5th century B.C. as a prince. His father tried to protect him from sights of human suffering, but he eventually escaped palace life to embark on a spiritual quest. Siddhartha eschewed wealth and became a monk to contemplate the meaning of life. After becoming enlightened, Siddhartha is said to have traveled throughout India spreading his doctrines and founding monasteries. "I am going to tell you the story of the life of a very great man. He was not great as the world usually regards greatness, being neither a conqueror nor a hero in any worldly sense-in fact, for many years of his life, he was a beggar. Buddha is, the name by which he is generally known; but before I begin my story I must tell you something of the lands where he lived and taught-in the great mysterious East, which is so different in every way from the part of the world we live in..."