Description
The book bases Buddhist psychology on a sophisticated and thoroughgoing empiricism. Jamesean psychological concepts are used in order to clarify the Buddhist ideas. The first part of the book outlines the principles of psychology that can be traced to the Buddha himself with detailed comparison to James. The second part deals with the understanding of these principles by later disciples of Buddha. The substantial appendices present analyses of Maitreya's Madhyantavibhaga and Vasubandhu's Vijnaptimatratasiddhi.
David J. Kalupahana is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Hawaii, and author of Nagarjuna: The Philosophy of the Middle Way, also published by SUNY Press
Reviews
"Despite the exotic character of its content for Western readers, the book is written in a clear and accessible prose. It is a very detailed introduction to the most interesting features of Buddhist thought. " -- John J. McDermott, Texas A&M University
"The work is very significant and will be a major contribution to Buddhist studies, giving a refreshing and daring interpretation of some of the Buddhist doctrine that has grown stale from dated sources and ideas. " -- Diana Yoshikawa Paul