From Library Journal
"Mainstream" is defined here as the early Indian teaching of Buddha himself but is not restricted to the canon written in the Pali language. It reflects Hinayana texts also accepted by Mahayana adherents. A London Buddhist Society scholar and lecturer, Cheetham is a seasoned Buddhist of 40 years. Using major texts and commentaries, he tackles the difficult concepts of dependent arising, reassembly of one's constitution after rebirth, karmic ripening, etc. But the meditative techniques he presents are more suitable for committed Buddhists than novices. While helpful metaphors abound, Cheetham's writing style is thorough but unexciting. Concerned with the purity of the Buddha's teachings, he uses many Sanskrit and Pali terms in the belief that students must gain a familiarity with the Hinayana foundations of the Mahayana ideals. Not for the neophyte, this book is recommended for academic and large public libraries.
Dara Eklund, Los Angeles P.L.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Dara Eklund, Los Angeles P.L.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Midwest Book Review
Prepared by the Buddhist Society of London, Fundamentals of Mainstream Buddhism presents the major topics of the first phase of Indian Buddhism, sometimes referred to as the Hinayana or "the Small Vehicle. " The material is drawn from major texts and commentaries, translated from the Pali and Sanskrit languages, that were recorded and accepted by the Indian Buddhists of the first centuries after the death of Shakyamuni Buddha. The teachings of this early period can be broadly classified as "mainstream" Buddhism and consist of the sutras that are believed to have been spoken by the Buddha himself. This work offers a clear presentation of the Buddha's teachings that the reader can use as a foundation for further study or actual Buddhist practice, regardless of the tradition he or she wishes to follow.
