About the Book The Light of Asia Two and a half thousand years ago there lived in North India a Prince, Siddharth, whow renounced his worldy wealth and a position and wandered the land in search of understanding and the secret of sorrow. After many experiences, as he sat one day in Meditation, Illumination came to him and he became the Buddha, the Enlightened one. Thereafter, throughout his life, he taught the law of righteousness, the Middle Way.
About the Author Sir Edwin Arnold has tendered in exquisite poetic form the story of the Buddha's search. Enlightenment, and teaching. First Published in 1879. The Book has become a classic and has been published in many editions and in many languages. Not only is it deeply philosophical in nature. But because of its poetic from and is narrative of the dramatic incidents in Siddhartha's life. It is delightful and absorbing reading.
Preface In the following Poem I have sought, by the medium of an imaginary Buddhist votary, to depict the life and character and indicate the philosophy of that noble hero and reformer, Prince Gautama of India, the founder of Buddhism. A generation ago little or nothing was known in Europe of this great faith of Asia, which had nevertheless existed during twenty-four centuries, and at this day surpasses, in the number of its followers and the area of its prevalence, any other form of creed. Four hundred and seventy millions of our race live and die in the tenets of Gautama; and the spiritual dominions of this ancient teacher extend, at the present time, from Nepal and Ceylon, over the whole Eastern Peninsula, to China, Japan, Tibet, Central Asia, Siberia, and even Swedish Lapland. India itself might fairly be included in this magnificent Empire of Belief; for though the profession of Buddhism has for the most characteristic habits and convictions of the Hindus are clearly due to the benign inuence of Buddha's precepts. More than a third of mankind, therefore, owe their moral and religious ideas to this illustrious prince, whose personality, though imperfectly revealed in the existing sources of information, cannot but appear the highest, gentlest, holiest, and benecent, with one exception, in the history of Thought. Discordant in frequent particulars, and sorely overlaid by corruptions, inventions, and misconceptions, the Buddhistical books yet agree in the one point of recording nothing-no single act or word -which mars the perfect purity and tenderness of this Indian teacher, who united the truest princely qualities with the intellect of a sage and the passionate devotion of martyr.
**Contents and Sample Pages**
