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Gautama Buddha

The Life and Teachings of the Awakened One

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Gautama Buddha

By: Vishvapani Blomfield
Narrated by: Jonathan Keeble
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About this listen

While many accounts of the Buddha’s life mix legend and history, this compelling new biography discriminates between fact and fiction to reveal Gautama, the remarkable human being behind the myth, and sheds new light on his teachings.

Plunging us into the noises, smells and jostling streets of Gautama’s world, Vishvapani Blomfield brings the Buddha to life as a passionate and determined individual - a strikingly modern figure who rejected contemporary beliefs and found his own answers by mastering his mind. Even after he gained enlightenment and became the Buddha (the "Awakened One"), Gautama experienced struggles as well as triumphs as he trod India’s dusty paths.

Vishvapani shows how he sought to establish a community of practitioners amid his society’s divided culture and perilous politics and how the ideas that became the Buddhist teachings grew from Gautama’s efforts to address the needs and beliefs of his listeners. Drawing on years of meticulous research into original sources, Gautama Buddha takes us to within touching distance of one of history’s greatest figures.

©2011 Vishvapani Blomfield (P)2015 Ukemi Productions Ltd Buddhism Biography Inspiring Meditation Physical Exercise Yoga China Ancient History

Critic Reviews

"Master of clariety and simplicity, Vishvapani presents throught the life of the Buddha an understanding of Buddhism of immense relevance to the way we live now." (Dorothy Rowe)
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If you are looking for a concise overview of Buddhism and the life of the Buddha I would highly recommend this text. It is a historical account with little practical application but I found it invaluable in establishing a strong understanding of the Buddhist faith and its history. The narration is exceptional which I find critical in such a long book. Great job.

A great historical overview to Buddhism

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The book touched in the main teachings of the Buddha in a clear and well presented way.

Amazing concise and historical

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Really enjoyed this book, I like that it tries to differentiate of what happened and what has been embellished. I'm going to listen to it again to pick up things that missed.

Enlightening

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Well read, and a fantastic book.
something I can return to time and time again.

highly recommend,

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For anyone who has ever found the history of Buddhism daunting and overwhelming, this book untangles and explains a huge amount.
It provides a clear and personable account of the Buddha and brings him to life in a way that I have not found in other books.
Brilliant!

Very well written and very informative

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Have not found a better book on the life of the Buddha. Captures the key points of the Buddha's Life and their meaning. Brilliantly narrated too.

Excellent Book on the Buddha

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