–Seyyed Hossein Nasr, George Washington University
“Eclectic and rich in scope...All the essays are tightly argued and beautifully written; a few are sure to be controversial. A perfect companion to The World Religions and necessary reading for anyone interested in religious studies.” –Library Journal
“Marked by clarity, rare philosophical
depth and a truly global perspective, these 19 essays are filled with
challenging ideas and bold speculations.”
–Publishers Weekly
A challenging and provocative collection of essays on comparative philosophy, religion and culture from one of the foremost thinkers of our time, this volume gathers Huston Smith’s most insightful and important reflections on the state of the human spiritual life. With a range and depth seldom seen in contemporary religious studies, Smith examines the contributions of religion and philosophy to the world’s great civilizations, both past and present. He explores the traditions of East Asia, South Asia, and the West, discusses the importance of comparative studies in a religiously pluralistic world in energetic prose that can be appreciated by both the layman and the student.
Table of Contents
Foreword by Huston Smith
Acknowledgments
Introduction
I. Foundations
Accents of the World’s Philosophies
Accents of the World’s Religions
Truth in Comparative Perspective
II. The Splendid Prism
East Asia
Transcendence in Traditional China
Tao Now: An Ecological Testament
A Note on Shinto
Spiritual Discipline in Zen and Comparative Perspective
“Celestial Mirages”: Reflections on Thought and Truth
South Asia
India and the Infinite
Vedic Religion and the Soma Experience
The Importance of the Buddha
Tibetan Chant: Inducing the Spirit
The West
The Western Way: An Essay on Reason and the Given
The Conceptual Crisis in the Modern West
Western Philosophy as a Great Religion
III. Consequences: Social, Educational, and Ecumenical
The Relevance of the Great Religions for the Modern World
Another World to Live in, or How I Teach the Introductory Course
This Ecumenical Moment: What Are We Seeking?
Postmodernism’s Impact on the Study of Religion
Bibliography
Index
HUSTON SMITH, author of The Religions of Man, is the Thomas J. Watson Professor of Religion and Distinguished Adjunct Professor of Philosophy, at Syracuse University; Sometime Visiting Professor of Religious Studies, University of California, Berkeley.
M. DARROL BRYANT, is professor of Religion and Culture at Renison
College and Chairman of the Department of Religious Studies at the
University of Waterloo in Ontario.