佛教起源于印度。自汉末传入我国以来，它植根、繁衍、发展、演化，并且绵延至今，成了中国历史文化不可或缺的重要组成部分。本书是著名学者南怀瑾先生撰写的一部佛教史著作。全书分为五章，对古代印度的社会与宗教；佛教创始人释迦牟尼的生平事迹；汉代至清代佛教的兴衰变迁；二十世纪中国佛教的现状与思考；以及亚洲和欧美各国的佛教概况等，作了简明扼要的叙述。书末所附的《禅宗丛林制度与中国社会》，乃是研究佛教丛林制度的由来、内容及其社会影响的重要文章，颇具价值。

CHAPTER 1.Buddhism and the Culture of India

The Development of Indian Culture

The Rise of Various Philosophical Trends

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 2.Shakyamuni Buddha, the Founder of Buddhism

Shakyamuni' s Lineage

Leaving Home and Awakening to the

Path

The Founding of the Teaching

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 3:The Transmission of Buddhism to China

The First Period of the Transmission

The Heyday of Chinese Buddhism la

Chapter Summary 1E

CHAPTER 4:Buddhism in Other Countries

Buddhism in Asia

Buddhism in Europe and America

Chapter Summary

CHAPTER 5.Buddhism in the 20th Century

The Decline of Chinese Buddhism Since

the Qing Period

The Buddhist Revival of the Late Qing

and Early Republican Periods

Conclusion

APPENDIX:The Zen Monastic System and Chinese Society

The Different Societies of Eastern and

Western Civilization

The Early Buddhist Monastic System

The Origin of the Zen Monastic System

The Zen Monastic System: Its Regula-

tions and Guidelines

The Influence of the Zen Communities

The Zen Halls:Cultivation of Practice

The Legacy of the Zen Community Pure Rules

The Zen Community and Patriarchal Clan Society

The Zen Monastic System and Chinese Culture

The Zen Monastic System and the Secret Societies

Closing Comments

Indx

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