f Hisory ond Philosphy his 2.[ASSOCIATED BOOK AGENCY 7.0. Bor, No. 1, ASHOK RAJPATH PATNA 900 006, INDIA ok may be sproduced in any form without wan Ne tam lahore forte quoi of Bt ‘Sheo Kumar Singh, Firat Published 1982 x History ond Philosophy of Buddhism Duiske by Bi. sinh for Astociated Book Aree. ‘Rank Roath Paine 800 006 Printed et ein Pons 48, Santos Pek Ean Nevaen Shohdort, ‘am 110032, FOREWORD gives me genuine pleasure to writ this foreword tothe work of Prof, Sheo Kumar Singh at.p.urrr. This work is mainly based vpon his doctorate thesis and is named History ‘and, Philosophy of Buddhism. la mote than one respects iis a unique eck. It gives a historical sketch of the ‘origin and growth of Buddhism during the life-time of Gautam Budsha, the promalgatoc of the creed and the expansion of ‘Buddhit in the different countries of Asa in later sive «fll scale vivid picture ofthe ethics and. pil Buddhism, The teatment of the momentous doctrine’ of Nirvdna isan illuminating contribution based upon the Pali ‘ripitaka and Buddha Ghosn's Visuddhi-Maggs.” The chapter on the decline and disappearance of Buddhism fom its native land is bound to be considered a8 an original dissertation, It is wa intriguing problem which has exercised the minds ofall lovers of Buddhism. Dr. Singh proves with conviacing argu sents the destruction of monasteries by Tucks whose ances= tors were Buddhists by ith and Inter on embraced Islam is the proximate cause of ths obliteration of Buddhism from India. Ic is the sad tale hich is only 2 repetition ofthe process which uprooted Buddhism fiom the Afghanistan and (Central Asia and also Java. Later documents have almost clinched te issue. am confident that this single book will acquaint the readers With the salient points and land-marks of the expa- sion and decline of this international religion. was a first missionary religion and Christianity imitated ite important institutions. Islam thrived at the cost of Buddhism which they called Buaparast ie. Buddhaclatry have no dovbt thi his wark will find = place in. the Uratis ofthe universities of the West and the East and also rofessors of Buddhalogy. It deserves to be made a text book for the higher cadres of Buddhist studies. 1 thank the Dublisher forthe moral courage in undertaking this momentous Dublietion Bains, Dattigram SATKARI MOOKERIEE storPREFACE ‘The tite of ths book is broadly suggestive of the subject treated in it. My purpose is to present a comprehensive sccount of Buddhism as a new religion and philosophy to- father with the historial background. I have indicated in the introduction the influence of the environment and jon of the country upon the life of the founder of a new religion. The Buddha succeeded in bringing about & veritable revolution in the country which, however, was quite peaceful and bloodless. The Buddta "was an intellectual Siant and a great debator and this marks him out from Christ and Mohammed. Christ_was brought up in the tradition of his country and is religion was only a reformed Judaism, The Arabian tradition and even rituaism were totally accepted by Mohammed. The innovation introduced byhim consisted in the eradication of idolatry and replace” ment of polytheism by monotheism. These two Semitic creeds, Christianity and Islam, are characterised by. blind faith and thete is very litle scope for logical justification, which may be said to come as an afterthought. Ihave shown in the course of my research that high philosophy and lofty ethics could not save Buddhism from the onslaught of Islam and Christianity. Buddhism was noted for its advocacy of non violence. ‘This was its strength and weakness too. It has enlisted the sympathy and suppott of the lite, but has been rather to abstruse for the masses. Further, it was pre- ‘eminently a religion of the monks. It did little’ to reform the society of the time. With the destruction of the Buddhist ‘monasteries by the Muslims it simply withered away and the masses easily transferred thei allegiance to the religion of the conqueror. The present work unfolds this sad tale and sug- tests measres that might protect this religion from decay and decline 1 shall feel amply recompensed if this humble work of rine. which cost me years of labour, receives sympathetic consideration end attention. 1 offer my grateful thanks to Scholars who encouraged me and gave helpful suggestions also, My debt to my predecessors is much too. immense. to permit Git) gonial acknowledgement. 1 rather increases for the ‘enerosity in making it possible for me Tuned ' posible for me to ertcize them whet ‘the then Vice-Chancellor, Vishwa i Santee, De TRY. Muth. Palcsor of coment Shs on the haps Dr. N. Tatiay Director, Jain Vishs is. Nagar (Rjostan) and Ue eh gga, Lana, ERE of the Dept 'of Aint indi ara ones reg umes hae aio cbized me wih nat ce wassions a dient pas ie! oe Nalanda Mahavihar and Dr, ee hana ae apd no ETRE rial pone he was te " 'iwary Fessor and Head of the Deptt. of ‘ Stats, Di Univenityaiged ne gig RES Bu 1 iy ms Tn tank Protos a ee CH 288M. Chausbary Depe of Bagi cet © ieee io taking Pains fo check the language in the ma - “pt. EC owe much to Dr. P. Dayal the former Vices Seger Be, Parmanaad Singh, Development Geen | FO, a ont ot ase OB a 1am obliged to mention th : ion that my wile Sm A.M. Rani 0d my ele on Vinay and aus Acs oa, AME: rig patent all ods in course of wing eae