Saturday, October 31, 2009

Ghosts in Buddhist Literature

Serinity Young (Courtesans and Tantric Consorts: Sexualities in Buddhist Narrative)


For brief but good general discussion of karma along with excellent bibliographies, see Nancy Auer Falk, "Karma, in EOW, Vol. I, 560-61; and Mizuno Kogen, "Karma: Buddhist Concepts," in EOR, Vol. 8, 266-68. Warren, Buddhism in Translation, Chp. III, has excerpts from Buddhist texts on karma, 209-79.

Two Pali texts, the Vimanavatthu and the Petavatthu, contain brief stories about the acts that earned individuals an extended stay in heaven or hell [realms not to be confused with Christian lore]. B. C. Law has translated some of these in The Buddhist Conception of Spirits, 2nd ed. (1923, Delhi: Pilgrims Book Pvt. Ltd: 2007).

See also the Maha-karma-vibhanga and J. Gonda's discussion of its representation at Borobodur, "Karman and Retributive Justice in Ancient Java," in J. Gonda, Selected Studies, Vol. IV (Leiden: E. J. Brill, 1975), 337-49.
  • See also Wheel of Life, 31 Planes of Existence (Rebirth) by Egerton C. Baptist