Buddhism through 108 objects in Scotland: Object 3 – Amida Buddha Statue in the National Museum of Scotland This statue in the collection of the National Museum of Scotland is a Japanese depiction of the Amida Buddha. It was bought in 1902 by the Scottish trader James Douglas Fletcher to decorate his large estate, Rosehaugh, […]

Buddhism through 108 objects in Scotland: Object 2 – Buddha statues for sale in Edinburgh supermarket The vast majority of Buddhist images in Scotland are purely decorative, such as these Buddha statues for sale in my local supermarket. A Buddha image is bought, alongside a gnome, as an ornament for one’s garden, home or business. […]

Buddhism through 108 objects in Scotland: Object 1 – A Gandharan relief of the Dipankara story This image at the National Museum of Scotland Edinburgh shows the Buddha-to-be in a past life, taking a vow to future buddhahood at the feet of the past buddha Dipankara. Confused? A few things to keep in mind: The […]

With so many introductory books about Buddhism out there, most written by and for Buddhists, how can you find a good scholarly textbook to educate yourself or your students? Here are Naomi Appleton’s top three introductions to Buddhism: Damien Keown – Buddhism: A Very Short Introduction The books in this very short introduction series are […]