Hinduism and Buddhism

Name: Hinduism and Buddhism
Author: Ananda K. Coomaraswamy

The renowned Sri Lankan metaphysician presents his enlightening insight into the essential kinship between Hinduism and Buddhism.

In this probing work, Ananda K. Coomaraswamy examines the foundational myths and spiritual underpinnings of Hinduism and Buddhism. Discarding the Western narrative of philosophical divergence, Coomaraswamy instead explores the essential unity between these two major religions. In his perspective, one is merely an outgrowth of the other.

Dividing the book into two parts, Coomaraswamy begins each section with an overview of each religion’s foundational myths. The section on Hinduism then covers concepts such as karma, maya, reincarnation, sacrifice, and caste. In the section on Buddhism, he demonstrates that Buddha never intended to start a new religion, but to deepen the spiritual understanding of the existing one.

Ananda K. Coomaraswamy

A highly original discussion of problems of philosophy of religion from the lndian point of view. The exposition shows that the Christian theologian who will take the trouble to study Indian religion seriously, and not merely “historically,” will find in its teachings abundant extrinsic and probable proofs of the truth of Christian doctrine; and may at the same time realize the essential unity of all religions.

Ananda Kentish Coomaraswamy (22 August 1877, Colombo - 9 September 1947, Needham, Massachusetts) was a Sri Lankan philosopher. He wished to be remembered as primarily a metaphysician, but he also was a pioneering historian and philosopher of Indian art, especially art history and symbolism, and an early interpreter of Indian culture.