Review of Bride of the Buddha
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José Cortez
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Review of Bride of the Buddha
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Bride of the Buddha" by Barbara McHugh.]
Bride of the Buddha is a breath of fresh air. As a deeply personal account from the eyes of Yasodhara, the wife of the Buddha, it presents a unique eyewitness account of Siddhartha's journey and the origin of Buddhist theology that compels readers to reanalyze the extent of their knowledge while appreciating a beautifully written story. Barbara McHugh presents a much-needed perspective on the subject of early patriarchal limitations of Buddhism, concurrently telling an emotional story of an individual's search for identity, truth, and spiritual enlightenment while still staying very close to the canonical accounts (the Pali Canon). This is a Herculean task, indeed!
The story follows Yasodhara's (Yasi) transition from a young girl mourning the tragic loss of her two sisters to a happily married wife in a blissful union with the man she loves to a lone mother struggling to raise a son in a family of domineering males to a student attempting to learn the workings of the universe and the soul from her teacher (Stick-woman) and finally to the guise of a man with the name Ananda - a seeker of knowledge with which to dispel spiritual blindness.
Personally, I appreciate the thought and effort put into making Yasodhara an emotionally rounded character through loss, laughter, pain, and discovery. From these stages emerge a strong character whose ideas and experiences are poignant and valid—for instance, the deaths of Deepa, Bahauk, Rahula, and Siddhartha. Secondly, the narrative is interesting and flowing, never for once descending into tedium or repetition, and the events fit together nicely with no loose holes or unplugged gaps—for instance, Prince Vidudabbha's anger at the Sakyan's deceit and disrespect and his resultant retaliation. Finally, the work is very well-edited, with minimal typographical, structural, or narrative errors. Also, as a whole, the story is interesting (although it's difficult to believe Yasi's true gender was never discovered).
However, although the book is excellent in all respects, I felt that some more information could have been given about some characters in order to properly direct our final conclusions as to their motives and motivations, e.g., Devadetta, Jagdish, Stick-woman, Kassapa, Vasa, and so on.
Apart from that, every detail was properly conceived and delivered. This book is greatly recommended for adherents and practitioners of Buddhism, as it will give them a new perspective and a deeper appreciation of the origin and tenets of their faith. I rate it 4 out of 5. I deducted a star due to the negative aspect I found. The book had wonderful qualities, so I could not give it a lower rating.
******
Bride of the Buddha
View: on Bookshelves
Bride of the Buddha is a breath of fresh air. As a deeply personal account from the eyes of Yasodhara, the wife of the Buddha, it presents a unique eyewitness account of Siddhartha's journey and the origin of Buddhist theology that compels readers to reanalyze the extent of their knowledge while appreciating a beautifully written story. Barbara McHugh presents a much-needed perspective on the subject of early patriarchal limitations of Buddhism, concurrently telling an emotional story of an individual's search for identity, truth, and spiritual enlightenment while still staying very close to the canonical accounts (the Pali Canon). This is a Herculean task, indeed!
The story follows Yasodhara's (Yasi) transition from a young girl mourning the tragic loss of her two sisters to a happily married wife in a blissful union with the man she loves to a lone mother struggling to raise a son in a family of domineering males to a student attempting to learn the workings of the universe and the soul from her teacher (Stick-woman) and finally to the guise of a man with the name Ananda - a seeker of knowledge with which to dispel spiritual blindness.
Personally, I appreciate the thought and effort put into making Yasodhara an emotionally rounded character through loss, laughter, pain, and discovery. From these stages emerge a strong character whose ideas and experiences are poignant and valid—for instance, the deaths of Deepa, Bahauk, Rahula, and Siddhartha. Secondly, the narrative is interesting and flowing, never for once descending into tedium or repetition, and the events fit together nicely with no loose holes or unplugged gaps—for instance, Prince Vidudabbha's anger at the Sakyan's deceit and disrespect and his resultant retaliation. Finally, the work is very well-edited, with minimal typographical, structural, or narrative errors. Also, as a whole, the story is interesting (although it's difficult to believe Yasi's true gender was never discovered).
However, although the book is excellent in all respects, I felt that some more information could have been given about some characters in order to properly direct our final conclusions as to their motives and motivations, e.g., Devadetta, Jagdish, Stick-woman, Kassapa, Vasa, and so on.
Apart from that, every detail was properly conceived and delivered. This book is greatly recommended for adherents and practitioners of Buddhism, as it will give them a new perspective and a deeper appreciation of the origin and tenets of their faith. I rate it 4 out of 5. I deducted a star due to the negative aspect I found. The book had wonderful qualities, so I could not give it a lower rating.
******
Bride of the Buddha
View: on Bookshelves
Latest Review: Beyond the Golden Door (Audiobook Version) by Ali Master
