The doctrinal history of Mahâyâna Buddhism is very little known to Occidental scholars. This is mainly due to the inaccessibility of material which is largely written in the Chinese tongue, one of the most difficult of languages for foreigners to master. In this age of liberal culture, it is a great pity that so few of the precious stones contained in the religion of Buddha are obtainable by Western people. Human nature is essentially the same the world over, and {vii} whenever and wherever conditions mature we see the same spiritual phenomena; and this fact ever strengthens our faith in the universality of truth and in the ultimate reign of lovingkindness. It is my sincere desire that in so far as my intellectual attainment permits I shall be allowed to pursue my study and to share my findings with my fellow-beings. In concluding this prelude, the author wishes to say that this little book is presented to the public with a full knowledge of its many defects, to revise which he will not fail to make use of every opportunity offered him. /Daisetz T. Suzuki/. {viii} CONTENTS. {ix} Preface Introduction (1) _The Mahâyâna and Hînayâna Buddhism._ Why the Two Doctrines?--The Original Meaning of Mahâyâna.--An Older Classification of Buddhists.--Mahâyâna Buddhism defined. (2) _Is the Mahâyâna Buddhism the genuine teaching of Buddha?_ No Life Without Growth.--Mahâyânism a Living Religion. (3) _Some Misstatements about the Mahâyânism._ Why Injustice Done to Buddhism.--Examples of Injustice.--Monier Monier-Williams.--Beal.--Waddell. (4) _The Significance of Religion._ No Revealed Religion.--The Mystery.--Intellect and Imagination.--The Contents of Faith vary. Chapter I. A General Characterisation of Buddhism. No God and No Soul.--Karma.--Avidyâ.--Non-âtman.--The Non-âtmanness of Things.--Dharmakâya.--Nirvâna.--Intellectual Tendency of Buddhism. Chapter II. Historical Characterisation of Mahâyânism. Sthiramati’s Conception of Mahâyânism.--Seven Principal Features of Mahâyânism.--Ten Essential Features of Mahâyânism. {x} Speculative Mahâyânism. Chapter III. Practice and Speculation. Relation of Feeling and Intellect.--Buddhism and Speculation.--Religion and Metaphysics. Chapter IV. Classification of Knowledge. Three Forms of Knowledge.--Illusion.--Relative Knowledge.--Absolute Knowledge.--World-Views founded on the three Forms of Knowledge.--Two Forms of Knowledge.--Transcendental Truth and Relative Understanding. Chapter V. Bhûtatathâtâ (Suchness). Indefinability.--The “Thundrous Silence.”--Suchness Conditioned.--Questions Defying Solution.--The Theory of Ignorance.--Dualism and Moral Evil. Chapter VI. The Tathâgata-Garbha and the Âlaya-vijnâna. The Garbha and Ignorance.--The Âlaya-vijñâna and its Evolution.--The Manas.--The Sâmkhya Philosophy and Mahâyânism. Chapter VII. The Theory of Non-âtman or Non-ego.