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William Montgomery McGovern's Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism was
one of the first books on Mahayana Buddhism written for a Western
audience. It predates influential English language overviews of
Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki, A. Watts, and W. Rahula. The author was
born in New York City in 1897 and spent his latter teenage years
(1914-1917) training at the Nishi Hongwanji Mahayana Buddhist
monastery in Kyoto, Japan. He founded the Mahayana Association at
age eighteen and edited and published the journal "Mahayanist"
while completing his studies at the monastery. Introduction to
Mahayana Buddhism was written as part of a thesis which secured him
his Buddhist degree and an honorary ordination as a Buddhist
priest. Intended as a simplified and introductory text for a lay
audience, the book reflects the unique perspective of a Westerner
trained in Japan at a time when Mahayana Buddhism was little known
in the West. Referencing Buddhist literature, it gives a short
history of Buddhism and the divergence of schools of Buddhist
philosophy, introduces the four noble truths, the philosophy of
Karma, the nature of Buddhahood, reincarnation and the road to
nirvana, Buddhist cosmology, and psychological and philosophical
elements of Buddhist teachings. Although the divisions of non
Mahayana Buddhist sects and philosophy described may be considered
dated, Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism remains significant for
its historical value in presenting Eastern religious and
philosophical thought to Westerners at a pivotal time in history.
This book calls attention to the impact of stigma experienced by
people who use illicit drugs. Stigma is powerful: it can do untold
harm to a person and place with longstanding effects. Through an
exploration of themes of inequality, power, and feeling ‘out of
place’ in neoliberal times, this collection focuses on how stigma
is negotiated, resisted and absorbed by people who use drugs. How
does stigma get under the skin? Drawing on a range of theoretical
frameworks and empirical data, this book draws attention to the
damaging effects stigma can have on identity, recovery, mental
health, desistance from crime, and social inclusion. By connecting
drug use, stigma and identity, the authors in this collection share
insights into the everyday experiences of people who use drugs and
add to debate focused on an agenda for social justice in drug use
policy and practice.
Many of the problem's children face in relation to their personal
lives, educational experiences and attainment are caused by factors
that exist outside schools. Yet despite this, all educational
establishments and all school staff now have a clear 'duty' and
'responsibility' to respond to safeguarding and vulnerability
concerns. All school staff are expected to be particularly alert to
specific risks and the needs of children in particular groups or
sets of circumstances children face in their daily living
experiences. In policy documents and academic texts on safeguarding
and vulnerability it is relatively easy to identify and define
individuals, groups and sub-groups who are deemed to be more at
risk. A key gap in the existing literature is that no consideration
is given to explain and understand why children and young people
find themselves in these positions of risk or vulnerability in the
first place. This book fills this gap in the literature, building
on current government publications, and collectively supports and
compliments the endeavours of schools, universities, trainee
teachers/ECTs and school support staff in relation to understanding
and meeting the needs of pupils who may be at risk. This is
achieved by bringing together subject area experts and academics
(teaching and non-teaching) from a range of subject areas to
explore three main areas: understanding the concepts of
vulnerability, enhancing pupil engagement and teaching practices,
and social problems, risk and resilience. This timely and
accessible work will be vital reading for academic and professional
teaching staff, trainee teachers and ECTs
This book calls attention to the impact of stigma experienced by
people who use illicit drugs. Stigma is powerful: it can do untold
harm to a person and place with longstanding effects. Through an
exploration of themes of inequality, power, and feeling 'out of
place' in neoliberal times, this collection focuses on how stigma
is negotiated, resisted and absorbed by people who use drugs. How
does stigma get under the skin? Drawing on a range of theoretical
frameworks and empirical data, this book draws attention to the
damaging effects stigma can have on identity, recovery, mental
health, desistance from crime, and social inclusion. By connecting
drug use, stigma and identity, the authors in this collection share
insights into the everyday experiences of people who use drugs and
add to debate focused on an agenda for social justice in drug use
policy and practice.
William Montgomery McGovern's Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism was
one of the first books on Mahayana Buddhism written for a Western
audience. It predates influential English language overviews of
Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki, A. Watts, and W. Rahula. The author was
born in New York City in 1897 and spent his latter teenage years
(1914-1917) training at the Nishi Hongwanji Mahayana Buddhist
monastery in Kyoto, Japan. He founded the Mahayana Association at
age eighteen and edited and published the journal "Mahayanist"
while completing his studies at the monastery. Introduction to
Mahayana Buddhism was written as part of a thesis which secured him
his Buddhist degree and an honorary ordination as a Buddhist
priest. Intended as a simplified and introductory text for a lay
audience, the book reflects the unique perspective of a Westerner
trained in Japan at a time when Mahayana Buddhism was little known
in the West. Referencing Buddhist literature, it gives a short
history of Buddhism and the divergence of schools of Buddhist
philosophy, introduces the four noble truths, the philosophy of
Karma, the nature of Buddhahood, reincarnation and the road to
nirvana, Buddhist cosmology, and psychological and philosophical
elements of Buddhist teachings. Although the divisions of non
Mahayana Buddhist sects and philosophy described may be considered
dated, Introduction to Mahayana Buddhism remains significant for
its historical value in presenting Eastern religious and
philosophical thought to Westerners at a pivotal time in history.
There were two Asian lands forbidden to Westerners in the early
twentieth century. The region of the sacred Muslim cities of Mecca
and Medina was well known for being off-limits. The second was
Tibet, located high up on the roof of the world. This windswept,
snow-covered Himalayan kingdom was the home of the Dalai Lama, the
living reincarnation of the Buddha. Hidden behind stony mountains
and a phalanx of xenophobic warrior monks, the high Lama resided in
his isolated realm, serenely cut off from the outside world. Yet
erect an obstacle and human beings will endeavor to get around it.
Secretive Tibet was no different. A number of foreigners tried to
get to Lhasa, the off-limits capital of the kingdom. They were all
eventually discovered and turned back. Then in 1912 an unlikely
candidate for geographic romance appeared. His name was William
McGovern. He was an Oxford trained scholar, and more surprisingly,
an American, for no one from that faraway country had ever
attempted to beard the Tibetan lion in his den. McGovern was no
ordinary Yankee traveler though. An excellent student of Tibetan
culture, art, and language, he also brought a hitherto undisclosed
talent in the search for Lhasa s secrets. McGovern was a scholar of
Buddhist thought and prayer. It was because of this religious
sympathy that Tibetan authorities grudgingly allowed the American,
and his tiny caravan, to enter their country. He was ordered to go
to the first border town, and stop. However as To Lhasa in Disguise
explains, McGovern had no intention of stopping before he reached
the forbidden city. What follows is one of the most intriguing
tales of travel ever penned. McGovern made his way over dangerous
mountain passes, avoided prowling Tibetan patrols, and finally
reached his goal, only to be recognized and arrested. Still a vivid
tale after all these years, if it is adventure and hair-raising
travel you are seeking, then go no further. To Lhasa in Disguise
delivers all that and more.
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