Buddhist Thought in India: Three Phases of Buddhist Philosophy

Conze was and probably remains the Western expert on the Prajnaparamita literature, but this text covers the extent of Buddhist thought in India. Conze was a German intellectual transplanted to England and eventually the U.S. in a flight from fascism. Despite his eccentricities, which can come across in his writings as curmudgingly, his writing is filled with fascinating insights into Buddhist thought and comparisons with Western philosophical and contemplative figures. I believe this text (now almost 50 years old) is not used in college courses much any more, but it is certainly worth a close reading by scholars and practitioners of Buddhism alike. I read it first in 1974 after taking a few courses with Conze. I have been reading it again after 35 years and am even more impressed by its perspicuity in conveying the abstruse ideas in Buddhist thought as well as its perspicacity into the modern human condition and Buddhism's potential to alleviate it. And I now more clearly see what an imprint this man's writings -- and especially this text -- had on me in formative years regarding how I understand the Buddhist tradition and myself.

The previous reviewers failed to acknowledge this book for what it is, so I felt compelled to write the following: This book is so important, and still so relevant more than 45 years after it's publication, despite lots of recent scholarship on the early development of Buddhism. If you have some background in the development of early Buddhist schools, or some sense of Buddhism in India over the first few hundred years, and better yet, if you also have some experience of Buddhist practice, then you might just find this book hugely enjoyable. I am re-reading it for the first time in thirty years or so, and cannot begin to express my delight in Conze's scholarship and clarity. He is opinionated, perhaps; curmudgeonly, as one previous reviewer suggests, hardly. You should however be advised that this is NOT a general introduction to the history Buddhist thought, nor is it particularly light reading; though it is very well written, as such scholarly works go. Regardless, it is a classic of western Buddhist scholarship, and invaluable no matter what your Buddhist doctrinal inclinations are, or what your background in formal practice might be.

I obtained this book in order to write a term paper for my World Religions class in college and found it's explanation of the three phases of Buddhist philosophy clear, concise and extremely helpful. Got an A on the paper, by the way.