Introduction to Buddhism. Torchinov E.A.

Buddhism. One of the oldest and the most philosophical of the great world religions, literally turned upside down in the twentieth century, the attitude of Western and Russian intellectuals and firmly entered our modern cultural codes. Religion, origin, formation and development of which is devoted to this book based on a course of lectures given by E.A. Torchinov in 1994 - 1999 at the Faculty of Philosophy of St. Petersburg State University.

What is this religion of self -deepening and denial of passions, created, according to legend, in the VI in BC. The sad prince from the ancient Indian family of Shakya, who dreamed of riding humanity from suffering? What was its basis, which schools and directions were subsequently divided, in its triumphal procession in the Far East? And what, finally, was its influence on the culture of the West and Russia?