Buddhism A to Z

by Ronald Epstein, PhD

A Readable Reference Guide

What do sangha, karma and Bodhisattva really mean? Who were the major disciples of the Buddha? Find out in this lively and easy-to-read, alphabetical listing of major Buddhist terms and figures. Written by a practicing Buddhist scholar for the beginner, many entries read like short stories. Cross references.

$21.95 trade paper, 284 p with illustrations
ISBN: 088139-353-3, includes bibliographies and indicies
BQ130.E76 2003
294.3’03—dc21

What others are saying about Buddhism A to Z

A highly recommended introductory reference . . . a "user friendly" and recommended addition to personal and academic Buddhist Studies reference collections.
Midwest Book Review

Have you confused karma with dharma? Amida with Gautama? The Five Desires with the Eightfold Path? Then Ronald Epstein's Buddhism A to Z can provide a little enlightenment. Geared for English-speaking Westerners who want to know more about Buddhism, this alphabetical dictionary covers everything from the role of an abbot to the contributions of Zen. The format is very user-friendly, with a dual-column layout, 100 illustrations, and explanatory quotes from Buddhist masters.
Publishers Weekly

the right mix of scholarly attention and accessible language.
David Batsone, Department of Theology & Religious Studies, University of San Francisco

a comprehensive handbook, not only useful for the interested beginner but also a treasury of teachings for the experienced practioner.
Ajahn Amaro, Co-abbot of Abbhayagiri Monastery

Author Ronald Epstein

received his PhD from UC Berkeley in Buddhism. He collaborated in the translation of the Heart Sutra and the Shurangama Sutra under the direction of Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua. He has been teaching philosophy and religion at San Francisco State University for 30 years and is also a research professor at the Institute for World Religions in Berkeley.

An excerpt from Buddhism A to Z

copyright Buddhist Text Translation Society 2003

Chan is an abbreviation of chan-na; the Chinese characters sounded slightly different in the past and were used to represent the sound of the Sanskirt word dhyana. The general meaning of dhyana is meditation. In the Chan School the practice of meditation is foremost. The Japanese pronounce the character for chan as zen.

The Chan School is foremost among the Five Great Schools of Buddhism in that it transmits the Buddha's Mind Seal, pointing directly to the mind so that one sees one's nature and becomes a Buddha. When the Patriarch Bodhidharma came from India, he widely propogated this method. At that time the practitioners of Buddhism were still very enamored of the language of prajna, exerting their efforts in the compostion and phrasing, vying on the sutras they argued over each other's strong and weak points, and in speaking Dharma they would praise themsevles and deprecate others.

Different schools were set up, and doing battle with words was the mode of the times. Some resorted to individualism and in an attempt to be unique, they set up theories that were distinctly different from the mainstream, and they perfected the art of unobstructed and clever debate. People wrote books and set up doctrines, disparaging others while promoting themselves. In this way they forsook what was fundamental and pursued superficialityies; the theories of teaching schools flourished widely.

The four main enlightened teachers in China just prior to the introduction of the Chan lineage were the Venerable Daosheng, Vinaya Master Daoxuan, the Great Master Zhiyi and the Venerable Dayuan. Each taught mediation in the context of the teachings of his own school.

---

Sixth Patriarch Sutra



with commentary by Tripitaka Master Hsuan Hua

The classic reference on Chan

Filled with Chinese Tang Dynasty history, instructions on Chan meditation and practical advice for meditators, the Buddhist Text Translation Society’s version of the Sixth Patriarch’s Sutra is easy to read and understand. The core text describes the life and teaching of Master Hui Neng, an illiterate monk of the Tang Dynasty who expounded the doctrine of no-thought and sudden enlightenment through meditation.

What others are saying about the Sixth Patriarch Sutra

. . . impressive and reader accessible English translation . . . highly recommended reading.
Midwest Book Review.

The most distinguishing feature of the book compared to other translations is that it also includes detailed commentaries after each line of translated text. Theset commentaries are hightly helpful for our understanding of their real intended meaning.
Amazon.com customer review

Commentary by Master Hsuan Hua

Master Hua founded the Buddhist Text Translation Society and the Dharma Realm Buddhist University in California. Born near Harbin, Manchuria China in 1918, he became a monk at the age 19. In 1948 he became chief instructor at the Nan Hua Vinya Academy in Canton, China, the same monastery where Master the Sixth Patriarch Hui Neng taught in the 7th century. Before his passing in 1985, Master Hua had established 28 monasteries and temples in Asia and north America and had lectured the sutras daily for over 50 years.

News from True Cultivators



by Heng Sure and Heng Ch'au

A Pilgrimage for Peace

Two young American men from the Midwest with bald heads, dressed in Buddhist ceremonial robes bowed up the entire coast of California to the sacred site of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

From 1977 to 1979, modern American Buddhist monks Heng Sure and Heng Chao undertook the ancient ascetic practice of bowing once every three steps, on a two and a half year pilgrimage from Los Angeles to Ukiah, California.

They took with them only their faith and a wish for world peace. Who helped feed the monks? Where did they sleep? How did they diffuse the anger of drunks and overcome the hostility of law enforcement? What lessons did they learn in compassion and humility? And most important, what can we learn from them?

Celebrating the 24th anniversary of the completion of the journey (Oct. 15, 1979), News from True Cultivators is a collection of letters Heng Sure and Heng Chau wrote on their pilgrimage reporting their activity and progress to their teacher, Master Hsuan Hua, founder of the City of Ten Thousand Buddhas.

Heng Sure is Director of the Berkeley Buddhist Monastery and teaches on the staff at the Institute for World Religions. He lectures monthly at Gold Sage Monastery in San Jose. He has an M.A. from University of California, Berkeley, and Ph.D. from the Graduate Theological Union.

Heng Chau, Martin Verhoeven, graduated with his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. He is a professor at the Graduate Theological Union (GTU) and Dharma Realm Buddhist University.


ISBN: 0-88139-425-4
Trade: $13.95, 336 pages with b& w photos

Buddhist Text Translation Society
4951 Bodhi Way, Ukiah, CA 95482