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BOOKS IN BRIEF | EASTERN HORIZON 59

BOOKS IN BRIEF BOOKS IN BRIEF

Buddhist Publication Society
P.O. Box 61, 54 Sangharaja Mawatha, Kandy, SRI LANKA
www.bps.lk

The Navel of the Earth. The History and Significance of Bodh Nature and the Environment in Early Buddhism. S Dhammika.
Gaya. S. Dhammika. 2018. pp 137. 2018. pp 259.

The town of Bodh Gaya in the northern Indian state of Bihar This book is an in-depth investigation of the natural environment
is the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment and the most sacred that the Buddha lived in, as depicted in the Pāli texts. It discusses
place in the Buddhist world. For over 2000 years pilgrims the contribution of Buddhism to environmental awareness and
have made their way to Bodh Gaya from every corner of Asia, the development of environmental ethics in three sections.
often leaving records of their visits in inscriptions, memoirs, The first part examines how north Indian Buddhists tried to
travelogues, and even graffiti. Using these and other sources explain, define, and classify their natural world: everything
this book chronicles the place’s long and fascinating history. from its topographical features to metrological phenomena
It recounts the magnificent ceremonies that once took place and of course its flora and fauna. The second and largest part
there, the saints and scholars associated with it, and the various lists alphabetically the Pāli names of every animal and plant
legends that grew up around it. Including previously overlooked mentioned in early Theravāda scriptures. The last part lists the
information, the book also challenges the popular belief that medicinal herbs mentioned in the scriptures together with their
Bodh Gaya was destroyed at the end of the 12th century and was traditional application and modern usage. Comprehensive,
forgotten and unvisited by Buddhist pilgrims for the next 700 detailed, and well-referenced, this book will be an essential
years. The author of this fascinating book was born in Australia companion for anyone interested in the early Buddhist
and was ordained as a monk in India in 1976. Since then he has understanding of the natural world. EH
lived and taught Buddhism in Sri Lanka and Singapore and now
resides in Australia. EH