Santideva and the Dynamics of Tradition - by Stephen Harris & Perry Schmidt-Leukel (Hardcover)

About the Book

This collection analyses the dynamic role of tradition in understanding the thought and impact of the eighth century Mahayana Buddhist thinker Santideva.

Book Synopsis

This collection analyses the dynamic role of tradition in understanding the thought and impact of the eighth century Mahayana Buddhist thinker Santideva.

Organised into three interconnected sections, it highlights Santideva's Guide to the way of life of a Bodhisattva (Bodhicaryavatara) as a product of and major contributor to the 7th and 8th-century Mahayana Buddhist intellectual tradition.

Across a series of cross-cultural case studies, a team of philosophers and scholars of religion demonstrate how the Guide, a religious and philosophical classic, is being taken up into contemporary academic conversations. They analyze key Buddhist concepts developed by Santideva, including effort, compassion, wisdom and the spirit of awakening (bodhicitta), explicating the role they play in his thought and the impact they made on the tradition. Covering his attitude towards woman, they discuss his use of sarcasm revealing his conception of human beings and examine social hierarchy as reflected in his writings and traditional biography.

Unique in the attention it gives to social dynamics, this is the first collection to incorporate interreligious dialogue into its framing of the Guide. This interdisciplinary approach showcases the benefits of employing multiple methodologies in the study of Santideva's thought. A valuable addition to cross-cultural philosophy, Buddhist ethics, interreligious dialogue and Mahayana Buddhism.

Review Quotes

Some of the foremost scholars of the Bodhicaryavatarahave come together to make this provocative and illuminating volume a unique contribution to understanding Santideva. They show readers how Santideva takes up classical Buddhist ideas and how he influenced later traditions, as well as exploring his social context and bringing him into conversation with other traditions. The essays collected here chart new territory in Santideva scholarship and will be of benefit to students, scholars, and practitioners who want to deepen their understanding of Santideva's approach to Buddhist thought and practice.
William Edelglass Director of Studies Barre Center for Buddhist Studies

The enigmatic figure of Santideva and his seminal work on the character traits of the bodhisattva, the Bodhisattvacaryavatara, lie at the heart of Mahayana Buddhism. This collection is essential reading for anyone interested in the cumulative tradition that surrounds both. Bringing together scholars from different disciplines, with diverse perspectives, it sheds new light on Santideva's work, demonstrating its relevance not only within Buddhist Studies but also within cultural history, feminist studies and interreligious contexts. I highly recommend it.
Dr Elizabeth J. Harris, University of Birmingham, President of the UK Association for Buddhist Studies, United Kingdom

About the Author

Stephen Harris is University Lecturer in Indian and Comparative Philosophy at Leiden University, The Netherlands.

Perry Schmidt-Leukel is Senior Professor of Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology at the University of Münster, Germany.