Aspect of Early Buddhist Social Thought

Sociology is a discipline through which Buddhism could be gainfully looked at. Ven. Dr. Gnanarama, with his erudite knowledge of Buddhism and formal training in Philosophy endeavours to look at early Buddhist Sociological Thought. In the first chapter he starts with an apt definition of early Buddhism in the perspective of various philosophies. In chapter two, Buddhism and Buddhist teachings are looked at from the perspective of medicine. In the further chapters we find an in-depth elaboration of the socio-religious significance of Buddhist chanting, the Buddhist art symbols, the socialization for death, the cause and cure for social conflicts and the woman’s social role.