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Eastern Philosophy and Religion: Getting Started

A library resource guide to support classes such as HUP 121 - Eastern Philosophy and Religion.

Buddha

[Tian Tan Buddha, also known as the “Big Buddha”, at Ngong Ping, Lantau Island, in Hong Kong. source: https://sco.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Buddha_lantau.jpg]

Hinduism

[Ganesha, source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hindu_God,Ganpathy.jpg]

Encyclopedias - Start here

The entries in these specialized encyclopedias will give you a good place to start. This will help you understand the basics about philosophical concepts like metaphysics and the fundamentals of religious and historical traditions.

Gale Virtual Reference Library -- This reference database includes numerous specialized encyclopedias. Here are some sample entries:

  • Fohr, Sherry. "Jainism." Worldmark Encyclopedia of Religious Practices. Ed. Thomas Riggs. Vol. 1: Religions and Denominations. Detroit: Gale, 2006. 399-421. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
  • West, Cornel. "Metaphysics." Encyclopedia of Religion. Ed. Lindsay Jones. 2nd ed. Vol. 9. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2005. 5989-5992. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
  • Conee, Earl, and Richard Feldman. "Epistemology." Encyclopedia of Philosophy. Ed. Donald M. Borchert. 2nd ed. Vol. 3. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2006. 270-277. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
  • Young, Serinity. "Buddhism." Encyclopedia of Sex and Gender. Ed. Fedwa Malti-Douglas. Vol. 1. Detroit: Macmillan Reference USA, 2007. 189-194. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 20 Mar. 2014.
 
Credo Reference -- also has a lot of basic information.

Background Research

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