Buddha by Karen Armstrong | Book Club

Pages to read: 206
ISBN: 0670891932 (Originally listed edition, and edition I am using)

While reading the book, consider the below questions:
•What is the raison d’etre of the book? For what purpose did the author write the book?
•What are some limitations of the book?
•What does Buddha mean?
•What do we know of the Buddha?
•How do we know what is known of the Buddha?
•What is enlightenment?
•How does someone achieve enlightenment?
•What is the historical Indian tradition and culture before the Buddha?
•What were the social conditions during Buddha’s lifetime?
•What is the Middle-Way?
•What are the renouncers?
•What is the caste system?
•What is the Axial Age?
•What were the spiritual traditions before the Axial Age?
•How did Buddhism interact with the alternative spiritual ways?
•Why was there a spiritual crisis during the 6th century B.C.E.?
•How did merchants influence spiritual thought?
•How did people consider the cycle of life?
•What was Buddha’s personal history?
•Why did Buddha leave palace life?
•What happened when Buddha found teachers?
•How did the Buddha spread Buddhism?
•How was Buddha’s Sangha organized?
•For whom is Buddhism for?
•What did Buddha think about charismatic leaders and deities?
•What is Nibbana?
•Why consider pain and suffering?

Your questions are important and will take priority. If you have questions about the book's content or related ideas, either let me know what your questions are or raise them during the discussion.

My review of the book:
https://www.inquiryreviews.com/2022/06/review-of-buddha-by-karen-armstrong.html

Upcoming event:
https://www.meetup.com/Inquiry-Non-Fiction-Book-Club-for-Inquiring-Minds/events/

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Summary from Goodreads:
Karen Armstrong has been acclaimed for her scholarship and vision, in works The New York Times Book Review calls "penetrating, readable and prescient". Her rich, timely, highly original portrait of the Buddha explores both the archetypal religious icon and Buddha the man. Armstrong follows the Buddha -- born Siddhama Gotama -- as he leaves his wife, his young child, and his prominent caste position for a life of spiritual enlightenment.Following his quest from renunciation to revelation to a wellspring of wisdom, Buddha expands the focus to meditate on its place in the spiritual history of humanity and its special relevance to our own society, as we again face a crisis of faith. It is a profound blend of biography, religion, history, and philosophy that will engage an audience that continues to be fascinated by Buddhism.