---
product_id: 4088730
title: "The Foundations of Buddhism (OPUS)"
brand: "rupert gethin"
price: "$264187"
currency: COP
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.co/products/4088730-the-foundations-of-buddhism-opus
store_origin: CO
region: Colombia
---

# The Foundations of Buddhism (OPUS)

**Brand:** rupert gethin
**Price:** $264187
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Foundations of Buddhism (OPUS) by rupert gethin
- **How much does it cost?** $264187 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co](https://www.desertcart.co/products/4088730-the-foundations-of-buddhism-opus)

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- rupert gethin enthusiasts

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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Best book I've read on the "shared core beliefs" of Buddhism
  

*by T***T on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on October 4, 2022*

Occasionally, you read a book so rich, informative, and well-written, you're a bit sad about finishing it.  This was one of those books for me.  I had read a handful of books about Buddhism before, so I knew the basics.  But this one really tied it all together and deepened my knowledge of those basics.And while this book certainly isn't simplistic, it is focused on the basics.  As Gethin puts it in his Introduction: "The approach I have adopted in the present volume, then, is to try to identify and focus on those fundamental ideas and practices that constitute something of a common heritage shared by the different traditions of Buddhism that exist in the world today."  In other words, the focus here is on the unity, not the diversity, of Buddhist belief.Thus, it might be fruitful to pair this book with one that explicitly focuses on the diversity of Buddhist belief.  I can't yet make a firm recommendation about a book that focuses on the diversity of Buddhism; but the next book on my own reading list (Buddhism: Introducing the Buddhist Experience by Donald W. Mitchell) is one that certainly *seems* to fit that bill.One last word of praise for Gethin's book has to do with his superb balance of factual information and evaluative editorializing.  The book is, by and large, simply factual.  However, Gethin would occasionally switch into evaluative mode (e.g.: Yes, Buddhist's have said such-and-such about there being "no self," but is this idea actually philosophically coherent?)  It's very difficult for authors to insert this kind of evaluative material into an introductory book without being overbearing, but Gethin manages it, and I think this comes down to two aspects of how he does it: (1) the critical evaluation of Buddhist beliefs is rarely in his own voice, rather it feels like he is summarizing what others have said when critically evaluating Buddhist beliefs; and (2) the critical evaluation never took up a disproportionate amount of space.  In my opinion, it's important to have the critical evaluation in there - that's what makes it a scholarly work, and not simply the work of a religious "insider" telling you about his own beliefs without being able to step back and be critical about them - but it's difficult to insert scholarly criticism with a "light touch," as it were.  Gethin manages to do it with a light touch, better than most authors I've come across in the broad field of religious studies.Overall, just a wonderful book.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    A really amazing and fascinating book
  

*by G***H on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 6, 2001*

The other reviewers have spelled out the many ways in which this book is excellent.So I will boil my review down to one word: RELIABLE.  When you are struggling with Abhidhamma or other questions, go to this book first for a RELIABLE overview and summary.Yes, I am utterly familiar with "What the Buddha Taught," an excellent book.  But it says little or nothing about the two main streams of Buddhism, Theravada & Mahayana --- and yes, I am aware that some people hate these terms.  I also live in a Buddhist country --- have done so for many years --- and am quite interested in the subject of "Export Buddhism" versus "Buddhism in our Daily Life in Thailand.""Export Buddhism" seems to have been fashioned as a replacement product for Unitarianism or other forms of nearly-godless Protestantism.  A lot of Americans, including myself, used to say that Buddhism was really more of a philosophy than a religion, since it was not a God-religion like Christianity.Well, welcome to Thailand.  Sure, you're right, Buddhism is not a God-religion; it's a religion with a thousand gods, demigods, and Arahants.  Rather than being a "pure philosophy" which preaches the doctrine of reincarnation, Thai Buddhism embraces both the idea of going to heaven AND the idea of being reborn.  For example, if you have been a really good person, you may go to Heaven for a thousand years, and then be reborn as a great spiritual leader.  If you messed up, you may go to Hell for a while, and be reborn as a snake.  The central Buddhist ritual in Thailand is "tham boon" == "making merit."  This is done in the frank hope of having a better life to come.  Rupert Gethin mentions such things, and so the consumers of "Export Buddhism" are naturally shocked!By the way, my current interest is in dhyana / jyana states in meditation.  Apparently, these are states of mind available to anyone willing to put in the time and work.  And, for a quick look to remind me about this, Gethin's book is RELIABLE.That's pretty high praise!

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    I agree best introduction to Buddhist thought and practice.
  

*by G***S on Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 11, 2021*

I have read nearly every introduction and history of Buddhism and Buddhist thought. Rupert Gethin has written  in what I consider the best yet. Very well written; he evidences a very deep understanding of the tangled complexities. It is an excellent introduction, his bibliography will inform the reader to more specific facets of Buddhist thought and practice. He is very good explaining ambiguities of Buddhist philosophical terminology without getting bogged down in convoluted explanation. I highly recommend this book to one who is interested and wants to know something about Buddhism, as well as to those who are informed. My only criticism is that I think his discussion of Tibetan Buddhism was a little weak, while good at describing the schools of Buddhism in Tibet. He did not mention the reme movement that arose toward the end of the nineteenth century. to put it awkwardly, an unrestrictve approach to the teachings of all Buddhist schools. A lot can be said of this movement. I recommend the wikipedia as a point of departure for better a understanding.

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*Product available on Desertcart Colombia*
*Store origin: CO*
*Last updated: 2026-02-25*