About the Book
This book delves into "The Pilgrimage of Buddhism and a Buddhist Pilgrimage" and offers a comprehensive and intimately personal exploration of Buddhism. It is structured into chapters that delve into diverse facets of Buddhism, encompassing moral teachings, spiritual liberation, human fate, and the historical evolution across regions like India, Ceylon, Burma, China, Korea, and Japan. Drawing from extensive research and two journeys to Buddhist sites, the author provides readers with a holistic perspective on Buddhism and insight into its contemporary practice. Through a blend of historical narratives and personal reflections, the book aims to render Buddhism understandable and relatable to readers. The preface underscores the author's intention to convey both the intellectual and emotional dimensions of Buddhism, encouraging readers to grasp the essence of being a Buddhist. Additionally, the author expresses gratitude towards individuals who contributed to the exploration of Buddhist traditions worldwide.
About the Author
James Bissett Pratt (1875-1944) was renowned philosopher and president of the American Theological Society, held the prestigious Mark Hopkins Chair at Williams College. Born in Elmira, New York, Pratt's scholarly journey began at Williams College and continued through the University of Berlin and Harvard University under the mentorship of William James. He authored influential works like "The Psychology of Religious Belief" and "Matter and Spirit," exploring themes of philosophy, religion, and consciousness. His legacy endures through his insightful writings and contributions to philosophical discourse.
Preface
THERE are so many books on Buddhism already that I shall not apologize for writing another. But the reader, if there be such an one, who cares enough for Buddhism to embark upon so large a volume as this may be interested in knowing how I happened to undertake the years of investi-gation that made it possible. The answer is quickly told: I wanted to get a synthetic view of Buddhism, to grasp it as a whole, and also to discover the actual conditions of the religion as it is believed and lived to-day. To do these things the reading of many books was helpful, but most important of all were the two pilgrimages that my Fellow Pilgrim and I made, in two Sabbaticals, to Buddhist lands. And now that I have gained some of the understanding I sought, it seems only right I should hand it on to others who may be as interested as I was.
I hope, in other words, that my book will give the reader two things which he may not find in more learned volumes. First I want him to get, with me, a sense for Buddhism as a whole, for the organic unity of its life and growth, for the organic identity of the Buddhism of contemporary Japan with that which originated nearly twenty-five hundred years ago in India. I want him to share with me the tremendous impression of the advance of this religion from land to land, gathering further enrichment in every stage of its progress, growing like an immense snowball as it goes, yet assimilating its increments as an organism its food, moving irresistibly onward till it reaches "the sea that ends not till the world's end." I hope that at least faintly this way of conceiving Buddhism may be suggested to the reader by the title I have chosen.
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