A Historical Perspective Av Bhikkhu Analayo, Richard Gombrich

<B>Renowned scholar-monk writes accessibly on some of the most contentious topics in Buddhism—guaranteed to ruffle some feathers.</B><BR><BR>Armed with his rigorous examination of the canonical records, respected scholar-monk Bhikkhu Analayo explores—and sharply criticizes—four examples of what he terms “superiority conceit” in Buddhism:<BR><ol><li>the androcentric tendency to prevent women from occupying leadership roles, be these as fully ordained monastics or as advanced bodhisattvas</li><li>the Mahayana notion that those who don’t aspire to become bodhisattvas are inferior practitioners</li><li>the Theravada belief that theirs is the most original expression of the Buddha’s teaching</li><li>the Secular Buddhist claim to understand the teachings of the Buddha more accurately than traditionally practicing Buddhists</li></ol><BR><BR> Ven. Analayo challenges the scriptural basis for these conceits and poi