The Great Renunciation The Light of Asia , is a book by Sir Edwin Arnold. The first edition of this book was published in London in July 1879.
In the form of narrative poetry, this book attempts to describe the life and time of Prince Gautama Siddhartha, who, after attaining enlightenment into the Buddha, the Awakened One. This book presents his life, character, and philosophy, in a series of verses. This is a free adaptation of Lalitavistara.
A few decades before the publication of the book, very little is known outside Asia about Buddhism and Buddhism, the religion he founded, and which has existed for some twenty-five centuries. Arnold's book is one of the first attempts to popularize Buddhism for Western readers.
This book has gained high recognition since it was first published, and has been the subject of several reviews. It has been translated into several languages, including Hindi.
Video The Light of Asia
Adaptations
The film adaptation of the poem directed by Franz Osten and Himansu Rai was made in 1928, titled Prem Sanyas ( The Light of Asia in English). Dudley Buck uses this book as the oratorio basis, The Light of Asia , first shown in 1887.
In the 1945 film version of Oscar Wilde The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891), as the protagonist turns into a life of depravity, a friend tries to turn him back into a good life by lending him a copy of The Light of Asia .
Maps The Light of Asia
Chapter
The first six chapters deal with the early part of Buddha's life - his birth as Siddhartha, the prince of Kapilavastu; he gained direct knowledge of the suffering of mankind; he turned to meditation; and its main transformation as the "Enlightened One" after years of long meditation. The later chapters talk about the Buddha's journey and the important elements of the message he spreads are discussed - for example, that suffering is an embedded aspect of existence; the desire for sensuality and identity is the root of suffering; and the suffering could end. This requires correct understanding; right thinking; right speech; right action; true livelihood; right effort; right mindfulness; and concentration is correct. Throughout its peregrine period, mostly in eastern India, Gautama Buddha was followed by thousands of disciples and admirers from all walks of life.
References
Clausen, C., "Sir Edwin Arnold's Light of Asia and Reception," Eastern and Western Literature , XVII (1973), 174-191.
External links
- Asian Light in Project Gutenberg
- Bengali Drama Based on The Light of Asia
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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