For hundreds of millions of people, the Buddha is still an object of worship. For countless others, he is a figure of quiet admiration and inspiration, someone to reflect on, learn from and return to. In The Buddha, Mario Poceski brings this towering figure into focus, exploring the Buddha’s path of spiritual cultivation, his teachings on the Dharma, and the social, cultural and religious world that shaped his life. Poceski also follows the Buddha’s legacy forward, tracing how later generations – monastic male and female disciples and his most prominent lay followers – reshaped his story to fit their own beliefs and times. The result is a vivid, accessible introduction to Buddhist history, philosophy and practice, and the many ways the Buddha has been represented and reimagined around the world and across the centuries. ‘Poceski has written the ideal modern biography of the Buddha: balanced, insightful, and beautifully crafted. Combining rigorous scholarship with compelling storytelling, this is an indispensable guide to one of humanity’s most influential figures.’ – Michael Zimmerman, University of Hamburg ‘The Buddha: Life, Legend and Legacy offers an accessible account of the Buddha’s life, his early teachings, and the evolving concepts of Buddhahood for introductory courses on Buddhism and for the interested general public. Poceski truly succeeds in making the material highly engaging, dynamic, and informative.’ – Vesna A. Wallace, University of California, Santa Barbara
