Lotus in a Stream : Essays in Basic Buddhism

by Hsing Yun, Tom Graham

Over the centuries, Buddhism has produced an enormous quantity of teachings, doctrines, and highly complex systems of thought, making it very difficult to obtain a grasp of the full range of Buddhist philosophy and practice. In Lotus in a Stream , Chinese Buddhist Master Hsing Yun offers a Buddhist primer to organizes the major ideas and practices of Buddhism, from the most basic to the most complex, and presents them in concise, accessible, yet highly insightful mini-essays. An accomplished scholar of Buddhism, Master Hsing Yun also illuminates Buddhist doctrines with the light of decades of practice. Whether read straight through or flipped through as a handy encyclopedia, Lotus in a Stream is the perfect reference for beginners and advanced students of Buddhism alike.

174 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2000

About the author

Hsing Yun was a Chinese Buddhist monk, teacher, and philanthropist based in Taiwan. He was the founder of the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist monastic order as well as the layperson-based Buddha's Light International Association. Hsing Yun was considered a major proponent of Humanistic Buddhism and one of the most influential teachers of modern Taiwanese Buddhism. In Taiwan, he was popularly referred to as one of the "Four Heavenly Kings" of Taiwanese Buddhism, along with his contemporaries: Master Sheng Yen of Dharma Drum Mountain, Master Shih Cheng Yen of Tzu Chi and Master Wei Chueh of Chung Tai Shan.

Reviews

[Rhonda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of essays on Buddhism!

[Jim Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

May pose some difficulties for people like myself who favor the Theravada tradition as this clearly has more of a mahayana approach. Nevertheless, I found it worthwhile to read and contemplate the essays.