Light of Asia

The Light of Asia is a poetic and philosophical work by Edwin Arnold that tells the story of the life of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. The book is divided into eight parts and begins with a description of the world into which Siddhartha was born. It then goes on to describe his early life, his spiritual awakening, and his decision to leave his life of luxury and privilege to seek enlightenment. The book also includes a detailed description of the Buddha’s teachings and the impact they had on the people of his time. The Light of Asia is known for its vivid descriptions of the landscapes, people, and cultures of ancient India, as well as its lyrical and inspirational language. The book has been widely praised for its ability to convey the essence of Buddhism in a way that is accessible to readers of all backgrounds and beliefs.1879. In the following Poem I have sought by the medium of an imaginary Buddhist votary, to depict the life and character and indicate the philosophy of that noble hero and reformer, Prince Gautama of India, the founder of Buddhism.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world’s literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.