Paul Williams is Professor of Indian and Tibetan Philosophy and Co-director of the Centre for Buddhist Studies at the University of Bristol. The author of six books and an editor of a further eight, he is a former President of the UK Association for Buddhist Studies. Among his other books for Routledge is Buddhist Thought: A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition (2000).
"As a reference book, which guides readers through the labyrinth of
the enormous Buddhist textual tradition, this work is
unsurpassed... Summing up: Recommended." -- A.L. Miller, Miami
University, Choice
‘The publication of Paul Williams’ Mahayana Buddhism: The Doctrinal
Foundations in 1989 was a milestone in the development of Buddhist
Studies, being the first truly comprehensive and authoritative
attempt to chart the doctrinal landscape of Mahayana Buddhism in
its entirety. Previous scholars like Edward Conze and Etienne
Lamotte had set themselves this daunting task, but it had proved
beyond them. Williams not only succeeded in finishing the job, but
did it so well that his book has remained the primary work on the
subject, and the textbook of choice for teachers of university
courses on Buddhism, for 20 years. It is still unrivalled. This
makes a second edition all the more welcome. Williams has
extensively revised and updated the book in the light of the
considerable scholarship published in this area since 1989, at the
same time enlarging many of his thoughtful discussions of Mahayana
Buddhist philosophical issues. The result is a tour de force of
breadth and depth combined. I confidently expect that Williams’
richly detailed map of this field will remain for decades to come
an indispensable guide to all those who venture into it.’ - Paul
Harrison, Stanford University, USA
Ask a Question About this Product More... |