The Life of the Buddha (The Buddha's Path)
In the centuries that followed the Buddha’s death there were many fanciful and mythologized accounts of his life. Unfortunately these stories gained traction, and even today movies and television programs are often based on these accounts. The Life of the Buddha goes back to the original sources in order to reconstruct his life from the oldest material. This helps answer important questions about the nature of the Buddha and his quest for Awakening.
Despite some assertions that there is little biographical information about the life of the Buddha, quite the opposite is true. In fact, a major hurdle for any biographer of the Buddha is the enormous amount of information that is scattered throughout the thousands of pages of canonical literature. This information is enhanced by some extraordinary research and archeology from the past 200 years.
But this is not simply a scholastic biography. The important question is “What can I learn from the life of the Buddha?” How does it help me become a better person, and a better meditator? How can I learn from the many inspirational people in the Buddha’s life? The Life of the Buddha looks at the often subtle lessons in his teaching. This brings us closer to understanding the man and his Dharma, and how it helps us become happier, wiser, more useful people.
BEST DEALS
About the Author
Eric Van Horn was born and raised in Lower Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania. He graduated Pottsgrove High School in 1970 and went to college at Goddard College in Plainfield, Vermont. He graduated from Goddard in 1973 with a B.A. in Liberal Arts. His senior thesis was about his experience as a community organizer for a drug abuse prevention program in Pottstown, PA.
After graduation he worked in a number of social service jobs, but eventually discovered a love of computer programming. He spent the next 33 years working as a software engineer. In his last job he spent 18 years working in the field of medical informatics at the PKC Corporation in Burlington, Vermont. He retired from PKC in 2011 to devote his life to his Buddhist practice.
His interest in Buddhism began in 1991 when he attended a "spiritual support group" at the Burlington Unitarian Church. Over the next 20+ years he attended many retreats at the Insight Meditation Center in Barre, MA, the Barre Center for Buddhist Studies in Barre, MA, the Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Temper, NY, the Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY, the Bhavana Society and Monastery in High View, WV, the Embracing Simplicity Hermitage in Asheville, NC, Kharme Choling in Barnet, VT, and Maple Forest Monastery in Woodstock, VT. He went to India on Buddhist Pilgrimage in 2004.
Eric has written several papers on Buddhism, including "Jhāna in the Majjhima Nikaya" and "Reverse Engineering the Buddha's Enlightenment." These can be found at http://nobleeightfoldblog.com/resources/. In 2015 he published the "Travel Guide to the Buddha's Path," a practice guide that provides an outline of the whole of the Buddha's path as described in the Pāli canon. This volume has since been replaced by a greatly expanded three-volume set "The Buddha's Path Series," which includes (1) "Foundations of the Buddha's Path," (2) "The Heart of the Buddha's Path," and (3) "Awakening on the Buddha's Path." He has also written a biography of the Buddha called "The Life of the Buddha" and is currently editing and illustrating the Buddhist Jātaka Tales literature.
He moved from Vermont to New Mexico in 2014 because it was "sunnier, warmer, and cheaper." He also found a living situation that is quieter and more conducive to meditation. He has an ongoing love of the Land of Enchantment, its rich cultural heritages, breathtaking landscapes, and ancient history. He has two adult children, Seth and Rebecca, a daughter-in-law Britomarte, a grandchild Jay, and a Toby.