Spanning centuries, covering the globe, and encompassing politics, philosophy and religion, The End of Suffering is both unprecedented in its scope and immaculate in its execution. An accomplished and impressive history of the Buddha, it separates the man and his beliefs from the many myths and ideologies that have since become synonymous with his name. On a more personal level, Mishra describes his travels in search of the Buddha and, in doing so, offers glimpses into his own quest for enlightenment, from childhood to ...
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Spanning centuries, covering the globe, and encompassing politics, philosophy and religion, The End of Suffering is both unprecedented in its scope and immaculate in its execution. An accomplished and impressive history of the Buddha, it separates the man and his beliefs from the many myths and ideologies that have since become synonymous with his name. On a more personal level, Mishra describes his travels in search of the Buddha and, in doing so, offers glimpses into his own quest for enlightenment, from childhood to September 11, from family background to friends met and made, from lessons learned to achievements as a writer. The End of Suffering also provides an account of India's post-colonial past -- and hope for its future. A moving and occasionally horrifying description of a country in chaos, the India that emerges in Mishra's writing is one struggling to forge an independent identity for itself amid talk of revolution, amid the legacy of imperialism, the violence and brutality of an oppressive caste system, and the continued influence of the West. In so combining stories of the Buddha, India and Mishra himself, the latter reveals the parallels between their respective jou
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Add this copy of An End to Suffering: the Buddha in the World to cart. $2.29, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Atlanta rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Austell, GA, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Picador USA.
Add this copy of An End to Suffering: the Buddha in the World to cart. $2.29, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Dallas rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Picador USA.
Add this copy of An End to Suffering: the Buddha in the World to cart. $2.29, good condition, Sold by ThriftBooks-Baltimore rated 5.0 out of 5 stars, ships from Halethorpe, MD, UNITED STATES, published 2005 by Picador USA.
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In "An End to Suffering", (2004) Pankaj Mishra, has written a personal and eloquent account about the history and basic teachings of Buddhism and about his own life. Mishra, (b. 1969,) a young Indian author, has written a novel, "The Romantics" and a recent collection of essays, "Temptations of the West" (2006) following-up his book about his search to understand Buddhism.
For those new to Buddhism, Mishra offers an excellent, informed introduction. He describes well the Indian society into which the Buddha was born with its moves towards centralization and urbanization with the attendant religious change and skepticism. He discusses what Buddhists texts and legends have to say about the Buddha's life, and he presents a good overview of the Buddha's teachings, with close attention to specific suttas such as the Fire Sermon and the Parinibanna Sutta (which recounts the death of the Buddha.) Mishra also gives a brief and lucid information about how Buddhism was rediscovered in the West as a result of the efforts of a number of European travelers and British colonial officials during the 19th Century. Most importantly, Mishra explains well the appeal Buddhism, a religion without a God, has to him. This discussion will resonate with many contemporary readers who are fascinated with Buddhist teachings.
But what makes this book work is not merely the factual treatment of basic Buddhism which can be learned from many sources. Rather, Mishra relates his interest in Buddhism (not the religion of his birth) to his own life and ambition. The book comes alive as Mishra learns to understand Buddhism through his own experiences. In this book, we meet a young man born into a poor family in rural India with a driving urge to become a writer. Mishra takes the reader through his childhood and college days. We meet his family and companions and share in his travels. At the outset of the book, the reader joins Mishra as he moves to a small hut in a north Indian village called Mashobra where he studies, wanders, and reads in the process of becoming a writer. We meet his landlord, Mr. Sharma, and many of Mishra's friends in the course of the book. I got the feel, in reading this account, of the life of a struggling young author, who is committed to his chosen path in life, and who achieves a degree of success and fame and still finds the need to ask spiritual questions.
Mishra's book alternates chapters dealing with autobiographical matters with chapters dealing with the Buddha. This juxtaposition is convincing for showing his growing understanding and appreciation of Buddhism. The book also displays an impressive degree of learning and reading, as Mishra discusses and relates his interest in Buddha to Plato, Thoreau, Emerson, de Tocqueville, Schopenhauer, and, in particular, Nietzsche, among others.
I found some of the portions of this book that deal with world politics rather short, free-wheeling and superficial. Perhaps Mishra was overly-ambitious in his aims. But in discussing the teachings of Buddhism and in showing the author's reflection on these teachings, Mishra's book is moving and successful. It struck deep chords with me.
Robin Friedman
Barrie
Oct 9, 2008
Stunning piece of writing combining deep knowledge of Western philosophical thought with experience and curoisity about one of the most fascinating discoveries of all times. Reads better than fiction. Absolutely a page turner. The writer is a must read for anyone looking for a contemporary Indian writer who has travelled extensively and has deep sensitiviites towards all cultures. Pankaj is also a gifted writer of political commentary.
