The 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 follows Siddhartha's journey from his privileged upbringing as a prince to his eventual enlightenment and transformation into the Buddha.Arnold's writing is highly descriptive and evocative, painting vivid pictures of the landscapes, cultures, and people that Siddhartha encounters on his journey. Along the way, the book explores themes of suffering, compassion, and the nature of existence, as well as the various spiritual teachings and practices that Siddhartha encounters and ultimately incorporates into his own philosophy.The Light of Asia is widely regarded as a classic of Buddhist literature and has been highly influential in shaping the Western understanding of Buddhism. Its poetic and philosophical approach has also inspired many artists, writers, and thinkers over the years.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.