This book contains twenty articles which have been contributed by scholars who are prominent figures in their own field. They deal with various aspects of Buddhism including the early life of Lord Buddha before he attained enlightenment, his main teachings i.e. the four noble truths, the eight-fold noble path, the middle path, moral precepts, three fold training in attaining nirvana i.e. prajna, sila and samadhi, the philosophy of Buddhism, its different branches, cause of its rise and fall in India and recent insurgence, its humanistic aspect, reasons for its expansion in countries outside India, role of Buddhism in the field of Art and Architecture including painting, music and dance, its impact in providing welfare services particularly by King Asoka, its impact on ecological environments, similarities and differences between Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and some other world religions and future of Buddhism in the present world as depicted by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR G.R. Madan
Dr. G. R. Madan, M.A. (Econ.), M.A. (Socio.), Dip. In Com., LL.B., Ph.D. (born 1923), had a good academic career. He worked in a research project “Socio-economic Survey of Lucknow City†sponsored by the Research Programmes Committee of the Planning Commission, under Dr. Radhakamal Mukerjee, Director, J.L. Institute of Sociology and Human Relation, Lucknow University, between 1954 and 1956. From 1956 onwards he taught in the Department of Sociology and Social Work, Lucknow University till his retirement from the university service in 1984. During 1966-67 he was Post doctoral fellow at the Social Science Research Centre, Mississippi State University (U.S.A.) as well as a Fulbright Visiting Lecturer. He worked there with Dr. Harold F. Kaufman in the field of Rural Sociology. During 1970-71 he went to England under the British Council Commonwealth University Interchange Scheme and worked with Professor S.L. Anderski, at the University of Reading. His work Western Sociologists on Indian Society has been published by the International Library of Sociology, London. In 1973, he was invited to deliver some special lectures on “Social Disorganization and Social Reconstruction in India†at the Karnataka University, Dharwar, and 1976 on “Community Development in India (Some Recent Trends)†at the Bangalore University. He has published several book and articles on India’s social and economic problems. He is associated with a number of social welfare voluntary organizations. Currently he is Visiting Professor of Sociology, Maharaja Surajmal Institute, Janakpuri, New Delhi.
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