Buddhism is a subject of absorbing interest to student of comparative religions, ethics, history and social philosophy. Its historical foundations have been discussed by Senart, Oldenberg and C.A.F. Rhys Davids. In this book there has been presented not only an objective and scholarly exposition of the teachings and philosophy of early Buddhism but the Vedic roots of its concepts have been demonstrated. The methods of Sociology of Religion have also been followed. The section entitled Buddhism and the Social Sciences (chaps. XV-XIX) constitutes an original contribution to knowledge from the pen of an eminent teacher of political philosophy.


Early Buddhism and its Origins, Vishwanath Prasad Varma, New Delhi, India, Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers, 2016, Hardcover, 505 pp, $25.00