Indian Influence on the Art of Japan by Sampa Biwas

Indian Influence on The Art of Japan (AD 538-1333) provides a comprehensive study of how Buddhist Philosophy and religious concepts completely changed the socio-religious environment and consequently the artistic creations of Japan. The remarkable ability of the people of Japan to comprehend the essence of Buddhism was the key element which helped in transforming the existing Japanese society into a much higher and elevated level of culture. This book makes a meticulous study of the truimphant march of Buddhism and the power of the Japanese people to assimilate the foreign culture, effected through the study of the translations of Buddhist Sutras and also in transforming the art scene which was essentially derived from the cultural heritage of India, as well as that of the Orient.

Temporally, the scope of the book is expansive, the period covered is from the fifth millennium bc to mid-fourteenth century AD.

• The book traces the development of the formative arts, through Archaic (pre-historic and proto-historic) Age, – sometime around the fifth millennium BC, which continued until the introduction of Buddhism in the sixth century AD.
• It studies Japan’s ancient beliefs, that is, Shinto, and the impact of Buddhism on Shinto ; the creation of Ryobu Shinto and the emergence of Shinto art.
• It concentrates on the arts of the Early Historic Age or an era of Buddhist culture, which is subdivided into the Asuka Period (late seventh  century-early eighth century AD), and Tempyo Period (eighth century AD)
• The final chapters are devoted to the study of the arts of the Early Heian Period (AD 794-897) when Buddhist sculpture and painting were dominated by the metaphysical cults of esoteric Buddhism; the Late Heian Period (AD 897-1185) when under the refined culture of the aristocratic class there was considerable artistic experimentation giving rise to the Yamato-e, a native Japanese style of painting; and the rise of a new distinctive popular cult, the Jodo cult or faith in Amitabha Buddha, which inspired a new type of religious painting
• A study of the arts of the Kamakura Period (AD 1185-1333) when the spirit of the new age was reflected in the works of the great masters in Buddhist sculpture and the rapid growth of picture scrolls or e-makimono, especially religious scrolls inspired by Buddhist sects.

This book would be of great interest to students and research scholars, and also serve as an important reference work for teachers of Japanese art and culture.

Hindu Gods and Goddesses by Catherine Kapahi

The purpose of evolution on planet earth and the goal of human life is the realization and manifestation of divinity. Hindu Gods and Goddesses are divine aspects and energies within human beings and the universe. Sathya Sai Baba, world teacher discourses on the deep inner meaning of the symbolic Gods and Goddesses of Hinduism as an aid to understanding and attaining one’s divine nature, a state of Enlightenment.

Economics of Buyer’s Behaviour by Shalini Yadav

Buyer’s Behaviour  has assumed a lot of significance under customer oriented planning and marketing. The study deals with the economics of household  buyer’s behaviour of  colour television and audio system in Patna and Ranchi town and is based on the survey method. It covers various aspects of  buyer’s behaviour i.e. decision making process in the  purchase of the two products, roles played by the buyers in the purchase, brand loyalty, comparative analysis of Indian and foreign brands, relationship between income, education, social background and purchase of CTV and audio system, comparison of price with variables like quality, technical features, design, after sales service, warranty period, etc., and the satisfaction level of the respondents with the two products. The  theoretical perspective of different factors – psychological, social, cultural, demographic and economic influencing the decision making process is also discussed at length.

Dr Ambedkar’s Approach to Buddhism by B.L. Mungekar

This book, probably for the first time, considers how Dr Ambedkar’s historic conversion to Buddhism in 1956, in Nagpur, with lacs of his followers, was a step towards carrying out a socio-cultural and democratic revolution in India.
Dr. Ambedkar held that a religious or cultural revolution always precedes a political revolution. According to the author, India’s resolution to establish a new social order based on the principles of Liberty, Equality, Fraternity and Justice as enshrined in her constitution, is a peaceful democratic revolution.
Viewed in this context, the author argues that, by bringing back Buddhism to its place of origin.
Dr. Ambedkar sought to provide the cultural foundation to India’s post-Independence socio political revolution.

Poetes de les Illes Balears

Ramon Bassa i Martín (Mallorca, 1949): Doctor en Ciències de l’Educació per la Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB). Catedràtic d’escola universitària. Director del Servei Lingüístic de la UIB (des d’octubre de 2003). Professor de l’àrea de Didàctica i Organització Escolar del Departament de Pedagogia Aplicada i Psicologia de l’Educació de la UIB. Els seus treballs se centren en la didàctica de la llengua i la literatura, la literatura infantil i juvenil, i en textos escolars, temes dels quals ha publicat més de cinquanta llibres i nombrosos articles.

Buddhist Psychology

Mind is a problematic concept; sundry attempts have already been made from different view points to clear up the problem. However, in this book an endeavour has been made to deal with the problem from Buddhist point of view. An attempt has been made not only to show how Mind functions, rather the task is undertaken to reveal what Mind is. Of course, Mind is not a material object, it is a stream of consciousness, a flow of thought and the body which rooms it is, according to Buddha, an aggregate of four great elements.

Buddhist-Psychology