The acclaimed volumes of Princeton Readings in Religions present the remarkable range of all that is encompassed in the practice of religions, across the centuries and across the world. Religions of Asia in Practice: An Anthology brings together into a single volume the most important and fascinating selections from the volumes on Buddhism, India, China, Tibet, and Japan to give an overview of how religions have been lived by both ordinary and extraordinary people throughout the continent of Asia. These materials--many of which had never before been translated into any Western language--include ritual manuals, hagiographical and autobiographical writings, popular commentaries, instructions to children, poetry, and folktales. Each is preceded by a substantial introduction in which the translator discusses the text's history and influence and guides the reader through points of potential difficulty and particular interest. The volume includes, in addition, clear and compelling introductions to each of the major traditions. Religions of Asia in Practice: An Anthology offers a fascinating look at the spectrum of religious practices in Asia over almost three millennia. As such, it is ideally suited for use as a textbook in courses on world or Eastern religions as well as for the general reader.

Table of Contents:
Princeton Readings in Religion v Contributors xi Religions of India in Practice Introduction: A Brief History of Religions in India by Richard H. Davis 3 1.Bengali Songs to Kali by Rachel Fell McDermott 51 2.Women's Celebration of Muhammad's Birth by Marcia Hermansen 73 3.Encountering the Smallpox Goddess: The Auspicious Song of Sitala by Tony K. Stewart 79 4.Jain Stories Inspiring Renunciation by Phyllis Granoff 88 5.Mother Ten's Stories by Ann Grodzins Gold 94 6.The Life of Guru Nanak by Hew McLeod 109 7.Ascetic Withdrawal or Social Engagement by Patrick Olivelle 122 8.The Exemplary Devotion of the "Servant of Hari" by Tony K. Stewart 136 9.The Origin of Linga Worship by Richard H. Davis 150 Buddhism in Practice Introduction by Donald S. Lopez, Jr. 165 10.Consecrating the Buddha by Donald K. Swearer 197 11.Sutra on the Merit of Bathing the Buddha by Daniel Boucher 206 12.The Whole Universe as a Sutra by Luis O. Gomez 216 13.The Book of Resolving Doubts Concerning the Semblance Dharma by Kyoko Tokuno 222 14.Auspicious Things by Charles Hallisey 237 15.Daily Life in the Assembly by T. Griffith Foulk 252 16.Awakening Stories of Zen Buddhist Women by Sallie B. King 270 17.Death-Bed Testimonials of the Pure Land Faithful by Daniel B. Stevenson 282 Religions of China in Practice Introduction: The Spirits of Chinese Religion by Stephen F. Teiser 295 18.Laozi: Ancient Philosopher, Master of Immortality, and God by Livia Kohn 330 19.The Lives and Teachings of the Divine Lord of Zitong by Terry F. Kleeman 342 20.A Sutra Promoting the White-robed Guanyin as Giver of Sons by Chun-fang Yu 350 21.Body Gods and Inner Vision: The Scripture of the Yellow Court by Paul W. Kroll 359 22.Teachings of a Spirit Medium by Jean DeBernardi 366 23.Spellbinding by Donald Harper 376 24.Record of the Feng and Shan Sacrifices by Stephen Bokenkamp 386 25.The Law of the Spirits by Valerie Hansen 396 26.Shrines to Local Former Worthies by Ellen Neskar 405 27.The Scripture in Forty-two Sections by Robert H. Sharf 418 28.The Scripture on Perfect Wisdom for Humane Kings Who Wish to Protect Their States by Charles Orzech 430 29.Stories from an Illustrated Explanation of the Tract of the Most Exalted on Action and Response by Catherine Bell 439 Religions of Tibet in Practice Introduction by Donald S. Lopez, Jr. 451 30.The Royal Way of Supreme Compassion by Matthew Kapstein 482 31.Guidebook to Lapchi by Toni Huber 490 32.The Yogin Lorepa's Retreat at Lake Namtso by Nalanda Translation Committee 505 33.A Fasting Ritual by Roger Jackson 517 34.The Regulations of a Monastery by Jose Ignacio Cabezon 539 35.A Prayer for Deliverance from Rebirth by Donald S. Lopez, Jr. 556 36.Turning Back Gossip by Matthew Kapstein 572 37.A Prayer Flag for Tara by Donald S. Lopez, Jr. 583 Religions of Japan in Practice Introduction by George J. Tanabe, Jr. 591 38.Kaibara Ekken's Precepts on the Family by Mary Evelyn Tucker 613 39.A Refutation of Clerical Marriage by Richard Jaffe 629 40.The Contemplation of Suchness by Jacqueline I. Stone 638 41.Chido's Dreams of Buddhism by William M. Bodiford 649 42.The Confucian Monarchy of Nara Japan by Charles Holcombe 660 43.Nationalistic Shinto: A Child's Guide to Yasukuni Shrine by Richard Gardner 666 44.The Founding of Mount Koya and Kukai's Eternal Meditation by George J. Tanabe, Jr. 672 45.Motoori Norinaga on the Two Shrines at Ise by Mark Teeuwen 678 46.Sasaki Shoten: Toward a Postmodern Shinshu Theology by Jan Van Bragt 694 47.Contemporary Zen Buddhist Tracts for the Laity: Grassroots Buddhism in Japan by Ian Reader 713 Index 725