Eastern Wisdom

An accessible and penetrating guide to the major spiritual and philosophical traditions of Asia, this text explores the Hindu traditions of India, the richly varied Buddhist faith, the Confiucian and Daoist beliefs of China and the Shinto religion of Japan. Each chapter focuses on a single tradition, examining its central ideas and placing them in the social and historical contexts from which they have emerged. Theories of the individual and society, of nature and the universe are clearly presented, illuminating such concepts as Karma, reincarnation and immortality.