Mahayana Buddhism

Contents: Preface. Introduction. 1. Political and cultural background of Mahayana Buddhism. 2. Mahayanic traces in the Nikayas. 3. Three main phases of Buddhism. 4. Pre-Bodhisattva stage. 5. Conception of Trikaya. 6. Exposition of Nirvana. 7. Conception of the truths. 8. Conception of the absolute. Index.

"The book Mahayana Buddhism is an excellent piece of outstanding work of Dr. Nalinaksha Dutta consisting of  detailed and dependable account of various historical events relating to the growth and development of philosophy and doctrines of Buddhism in general and Mahayana in particular propagated and flourished in India and abroad from the reign at the Great Buddhist King Ashoka and upto the 12 century.

The comparison of important and essential aspects of Mahayana and Hinayana with special reference to the advance stages of Arhat and Bodhisattva undertook by the author are quite magnificent and appreciable.

Besides, the concepts of Nirvana, Parinirvana and Buddhahood, the truths and the absolute enshrined in chapter-vi, vii and viii respectively of the book are marvelous and will be helpful to those who are determined to attain the excellence in the stream of Buddhism.

The author has extensively used all the literary, philosophical and epigraphic sources available on the subject and analysed them with all cares and cautions.

The book in most educative/illustrative and highly impressive/useful for students, research scholars, Buddhist devotees and also in national and international libraries for their information and reference purposes." (jacket)