Buddhism and Its Social Significance for the Asian World : Proceedings of the First International Conference of the Centre for Buddhist Studies 2007 Book

Contents: Governor’s message/Gopal Krishna Gandhi. Message/Mr. Manop Mekprayoothing, Consul-General Thailand. Message/Prof. Rajat Kanta Ray, Upacharya – Visva-Bharati. Introduction/Andrea Loseries. Keynote address/Suniti Kumar Pathak. I. Strategies and source materials: 1. Buddhist social stratification/K. Sankaranarayan. 2. The concept of Sat in Buddhism/Raghunath Ghosh. 3. Prajnaparamitavadin’s influence on proto-Mahayana in its incipient stage–an hypothetical approach/Sangwhan Shin. II. Case studies: 4. The Bodhs of Spiti, Himachal Pradesh: a case study/R.K. Bhattacharya. 5. The Chakma: a missing link of the Sakya tribe?/Prajnalankar Bhikkhu. 6. Russian scholar’s contribution to Buddhist studies/Aruna Mukherjee. III. Art and archeology: 7. Ratnatraya in inscriptions and archaeological remains of ancient Bangladesh/Enamul Haque. 8. Socio-religious significance of Buddhist art in Santiniketan/Kalpika Mukherjee. 9. Treasures of Buddhist art at Visva-Bharati–The Tibetan Thanka collection/Andrea Loseries. IV. Women studies: 10. Historical women in Buddhist India–a Theravadin tradition/Meena V. Talim. 11. Women in Indian society: a Buddhist view/Vakul Mitta. 12. Tagore’s Candalika and its Buddhist background/Bela Bhattacharya. V. Best practices–solution models: 13. Buddhist economics: where people not goods matter/K.T.S. Sarao. 14. Dr. Ambedkar’s contribution to social Buddhist philosophy/Chandra D. Naik. 15. Tradition, globalisation and cultural identity/Asha Mukherjee.

"The work reflects the Buddhist scenario and philosophic guidelines that over a period of many centuries have marked the customs and practices of the Asian world along with its arts and sciences. The diversity of Buddhist Asian cultures expressed in various styles and languages is a rich palette with congruent and non-congruent layers, collectively presenting a picture of unchallenged beauty, similar to a peacock’s feather which very charm is the variety in an ensemble of unity. In the course of time the holistic Buddhist framework of living based on the philosophical views and practical approaches of various gateways or vehicles (Yanas) developed models or ideals for enlightened mind and action. These syncretistic strategies have infiltrated Asian thought and culture in various ways. Buddhist Asian societies in the past and present reflect the plurality of a value system, which can help to preempt the negative, emotional, social and economic conditions of life.

The book presents a selection of papers held at the occasion of the First International Conference of Buddhist Studies organized by the Department of Indo-Tibetan Studies, Visva-Bharati, Santiniketan (September 2007) on the topic, focusing on the cultural changes of strategies based on source materials and case studies, art and archeology, women studies and solution models in Asian societies in the mirror of Buddhist ideals." (jacket)