Copleston published this book in the last decade of nineteenth century and, mainly, addressed to Europeans. Exactly one century after its first publication the present edition, in the context of secularization, is addressed not only to Europeans but to others, as well. Secularization or in other words ‘De-divinization of human consciousness’ an historical process has created a crisis of conscience for a modern man who has lost faith in the existence of God, but wants to become a Saint. The people with similar crisis of conscience, can fruitfully seek guidance from the Buddha an Asian from ancient India who discovered the path to solve the ‘only problem’, which not only modern Europe is seized with, but is also influencing the rest of the civilized world. The Buddha delineated the path which can lead such reasonable persons to discover the Nibbanic state of mind and consequently become Saints, arahats in Buddhist terminology, however, without professing faith in Almighty God, thus simultaneously resolve the crisis and solve the ‘only problem.’
ABOUT THE AUTHOR Harcharan Singh Sobti
Born in 1937 at Dhamial, District Rawal Pindi, now in Pakistan. Migrated to Delhi in 1947 after partition. Pursued interdisciplinary studies in a regular way. Passed M.A. in Punjabi Language and Literature (1961); L.L.B. (1978); M.A. in Philosophy (1980); all from University of Delhi. Awarded Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Buddhist Studies by the University of Delhi in 1983. Teaching Panjabi Language and Literature for last four decades. Retired as Reader, Head, Department of Panjabi, Dyal Singh College (Evening) University of Delhi. Published doctoral thesis ‘Nibbana in Early Buddhism’ based on Pali Sources from 6th B.C. to 5th A.D., in the year 1985; Studies in Buddhism and Sikhism in 1986; Studies in Panjabi Fiction in 1987; Edited E. Obermiller 1. Nirvana in Tibetan Buddhism and 2.Prajnaparamita in Tibetan Buddhism and published in 1988 and working on Buddha and Nanak: In Comparative Light. Presented papers creditably in the 9th International Buddhist Conference, held in December 1983, at Bodhgaya, Bihar; First International Conference on Buddhism and National Cultures, held in October, 1984 in New Delhi; International Symposium on India and World Literature, held in New Delhi, in February 1985; International Symposium on Folklore in Slavonic Fino-Ugrian and Indian Literature held in New Delhi in 1989. Edited Foundation Course of Panjabi off Idira Gandhi National Open University, New Delhi, in 1989. Published The Sikh Psyche : A Study of Fictional Writings of Bhai Vir Singh in 1990, Theravada Buddhism, in 1993; My Buddhist Writings in 1994; Ths Sikh Gurus in 1996; Mirror of Buddhism in 1997 and The Sant Nirankaris in 2003.
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