{"collection":"Sacred Texts: Buddhism","full_text_available":false,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/sacred_texts_v1_bud_ami_ami09_htm/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/sacred_texts_v1_bud_ami_ami09_htm","id":"sacred_texts_v1_bud_ami_ami09_htm","license":"unknown_pending_legal_review","rights_basis":"sacred_texts_v1_preview_gate_primary_text_only; acquisition-method/ToS and compilation-copyright questions still open, not resolved by this gate","source":"sacred_texts_v1","source_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/bud/ami/ami09.htm","summary":"*Amitabha, A Story of Buddhist Theology* (1906) by Paul Carus is a historical fiction set in ancient India during the reign of King Kanishka, a powerful conqueror who has recently made peace with the king of Magadha. The excerpt follows the two monarchs on a Buddhist pilgrimage to sacred sites \u2014 including the birthplace of the Buddha and the Deer Park at Benares \u2014 culminating in a joint celebration of the Buddha's birthday. During the procession, Kanishka is struck by the beauty of the king of Magadha's daughter, Bhadra\u00e7r\u00ee, and privately vows to make her his queen if she will accept him. The peace between the former enemies is formalized by the gift of the Buddha's sacred bowl and arrangements for the philosopher A\u00e7vaghosha (or a younger proxy) to accompany Kanishka back to Gandh\u00e2ra as a spiritual advisor. Carus uses the historical Kushan Empire as a backdrop to dramatize Buddhist ideals \u2014 mercy toward defeated enemies, the civilizing power of the Dharma, and the intertwining of political authority with religious devotion. The work is notable for presenting Buddhism as a unifying, cosmopolitan force whose influence spread from Gandh\u00e2ra across Asia, reflecting Carus's broader project of making Asian religious thought accessible and sympathetic to Western readers.","tags":["Amitabha Buddha","Mahayana Buddhism","Paul Carus","Pure Land Buddhism"],"text":null,"title":"Amitabha, A Story of Buddhist Theology: A\u00e7vaghosha","tradition":"Sacred Texts: Buddhism","translated_text":null,"word_count":1061}