Superiority conceit in Buddhist traditions : a historical perspective / Bhikkhu Anālayo ; foreword by Richard Gombrich.

Includes bibliographical references (pages [141]-152) and index.

I. Buddhist androcentrism -- Nuns -- Decline and revival -- The legal problem -- Apprehensions -- The prediction of decline -- Problems with the prediction of decline -- After the Buddha's demise -- The Buddha's refusal -- Narrative strategies of devaluation -- Ancient roots of misogyny -- Positive images of women -- The Buddha as a male -- Only males become Buddhas -- The Buddha's past lives as a male -- II. Mahayana Buddism -- The conception of the Buddha's marks -- The role of the Buddha's mark -- Past and future Buddhas -- Maitreya and Kassapa Buddha -- The Buddha Gotama's motivation -- Changing conceptions of compassion -- Burning for the Buddha -- The superiority of Bodhisattvas -- The luminous mind -- The need for authentication -- Hinayana rhetoric -- The superiority of the Mahayana -- Superior among superiors -- In defence of Mahayana -- III. Theravada Buddhism -- Theravada -- Pali -- The Bodhisattva ideal -- The Buddha's omniscience -- Authenticating the Abhidharma -- The five aggregates and mindfulness -- Mindfulness of breathing -- The divine abodes -- Dependent arising -- Momentariness - Dukkha -- Not self -- Clinging and awakening -- The stages of purification and awakening -- Insight meditation -- Absorption -- IV. Secular Buddhism -- The colonial heritage -- The construction of Buddhism -- Buddh-ism -- Monasticism -- The Buddha -- Awakening -- Nirvana -- Rebirth -- The four noble truths -- The notion of truth -- Subjective belief -- Methodology.

"In this thoroughly researched but accessibly written book, the respected scholar-monk Bhikkhu Anālayo explores-and sharply criticizes-four examples of what he terms "superiority conceit" in Buddhism: the androcentric idea that women are not suitable for monastic roles and less capable of becoming advanced bodhisattvas the Mahayana notion that those who don't aspire to become bodhisattvas are inferior practitioners the Theravada belief that theirs is the truest, most original expression of the Buddha's teaching the Secular Buddhist opinion that Buddhism is best practiced divorced of ritual and dogma Armed with his rigorous examination of the canonical records, Ven. Anālayo challenges the scriptural basis for these conceits and points out that adhering to such notions of superiority is not, after all, conducive to practice. "It is by diminishing ego, letting go of arrogance, and abandoning conceit that one becomes a better Buddhist," he reminds us, "no matter what tradition one may follow."" Provided by publisher.