Ancient Buddhist Scrolls from Gandhara

Ancient Buddhist Scrolls from Gandhara

By Richard Salomon

Book Description

A remarkable archaeological discovery offers modern spiritual seekers an unprecedented glimpse into the earliest foundations of Buddhist wisdom. This scholarly exploration unveils twenty-nine ancient birch bark scrolls, written in Gandhari Prakrit and Kharosthi script, that emerged from inscribed clay vessels to reveal Buddhism's formative period in India.

Dating to approximately the dawn of the Christian era, these manuscripts represent what may be the oldest surviving Buddhist texts ever uncovered. Their significance parallels that of the Dead Sea Scrolls in transforming our understanding of religious history, yet these fragments illuminate a crucial chapter in Buddhism's development that has remained hidden for nearly two millennia.

Richard Salomon guides readers through the painstaking process of deciphering these fragile documents, providing detailed examination of the manuscripts alongside preliminary interpretations of their profound contents. The work includes sample texts with translations, offering direct access to voices from Buddhism's ancient past.

For those drawn to Buddhism's spiritual teachings, comparative religious studies, or the intersection of archaeology and wisdom traditions, this volume opens a unique window into how Buddhist thought evolved during its earliest centuries. The scrolls promise to deepen our comprehension of Buddhism's historical roots while potentially revealing forgotten aspects of its original teachings.

This groundbreaking research makes ancient wisdom accessible to contemporary readers seeking to understand Buddhism's foundational period.

Who Is This For?

📖 Reading Level: Medium (200-400 pages) (~8 hours)

📄 Length: 273 pages

What You'll Discover

  • ✓ Explore Sources
  • ✓ Explore Kharoshthischrift
  • ✓ Explore British Library. Dept. of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books
  • ✓ Explore Manuscripts, Kharoṣṭhi
  • ✓ Explore Antiquities
  • ✓ Explore Boeddhisme
  • ✓ Explore 06.14 catalogues and inventories of manuscripts
  • ✓ Explore History

Topics Covered

Sources Kharoshthischrift British Library. Dept. of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books Manuscripts, Kharoṣṭhi Antiquities Boeddhisme 06.14 catalogues and inventories of manuscripts History Handschriften British Library. Department of Oriental Manuscripts and Printed Books Sarvāstivādins Handschrift Buddhist antiquities British Library London Buddhism Buddhistische Literatur

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